PURPLE & GOLD / 2024-25
STUDENT JOURNALISM AT CPA UPPER SCHOOL A LASTING LEGACY
CPA’ s upper school journalism program is well-known for its decorated and resolute student-led publication. This year, the CPA Yearbook won Best In Show- the top national award for high school yearbooks- at the National Scholastic Press Association( NSPA) convention in Philadelphia. This is the fifth time the program has achieved this elite title, a national record.“ These awards are great, but they are not why we do what we do. It takes a village to make it all happen, and I couldn’ t be more proud than to be a part of helping the students reach their potential and develop their passion- what they were uniquely designed to do,” said journalism teacher Heather Nagel. We caught up with the journalism students to hear more about this experience and the skills they are gaining in class.
Ten CPA journalism students attended the convention with 4,000 other“ yerds”(* yerd is a yearbook nerd), and students had the opportunity to meet journalists from all across the country. They attended sessions for two days, which covered various topics like design, photography, writing, and leadership, and received a special invitation to present sessions.
Editors-in-Chief Lainey Green and Ana Ruth Mikos presented on organizing your journalism staff, and Head Designers Emercyn Randolph and Addison Dublin presented on creating a thematic design based on your verbal theme. Both student sessions had packed houses during their presentations, afterward, students were surrounded with questions from other students and teachers because they were so impressed with their knowledge.
Senior Lainey Green reflected on this experience and the confidence she has gained through leadership roles in journalism class,“ I remember being a freshman and having to give presentations in my English class, and my knees and hands were shaking, but now every day I start journalism standing in front of my class. I’ ve taught a session to 100 students and given a presentation to the entire faculty and staff at the beginning of the school year about our theme. And it’ s repeated exposure to things I was scared of that eventually just became second nature. And now it’ s one of my favorite things about being on staff.”
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