Vincent Pilling Staff Writer for the Minnehaha Talon.

“During my years in debate and student reporting, I’ve learned to recognize the rare type of person who can hold truth and empathy in the same hand, and Sophia Blew is one of the few who embodies that balance with an almost disarming naturalness. I first met her when she was still finding her footing as a writer, and even then there was something unmistakably steady in the way she approached complicated stories; this quiet insistence on understanding the people behind the claims, not just the claims themselves. Over time, I’ve watched her move from hesitantly asking questions to drawing out perspectives that would’ve remained invisible without her patience and genuine curiosity. Whether she is interviewing a classmate with an unpopular opinion or navigating a topic that requires great sensitivity, she has an instinct for creating space where people feel both heard and respected. That instinct, paired with her unwavering commitment to accuracy, has shaped her into someone who seeks the fuller picture rather than the convenient one. In rooms where voices collide and nuance is often the first casualty, she brings a steadiness that keeps conversations anchored in good faith. Seeing her grow more confident, more discerning, and more attuned to the moral weight of telling someone else’s story, has truly been a highly rewarding parts of my time in both debate and journalism.”