HHS PUBS ALUMS ON WHY PUBS IS WORTH JOINING Alex Albanese, ’08 (Northwestern University, ’12): Joining the newspaper at Huntley prepared me more for college than all of the rest of the things I did in high school combined. Learning to manage my time perfectly was a great skill to pick up. My professors compliment me on the clarity of my writing all the time. Overall, I’m proud that as newspaper students, we can challenge the stereotype that all teenagers are lazy, irresponsible, and immature kids. Many of us are passionate, intelligent, hard-working people who are excited to do something productive and meaningful with our time. Felecia DeJong, ’07 (Luther College, ’11): Newspaper was more than just some class; it was something bigger. It helped me prepare for life’s challenges, and taught me how to work hard. I was challenged to do my best, not just for myself, but for the staff as a whole, strengthening my ability to be a team player. The Voice gave me the opportunity to feel a sense of accomplishment and success. It helped build my accountability and understanding of responsibility, which are two very important things, especially after high school. Being on the newspaper was a truly great and irreplaceable experience. I truly value my involvement. Erin Delahanty, ’03 (Drake University, ’07): I guess, more than anything, being in that class helped me figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I realized that I could combine the things I cared about-writing, people, community-into a career. I made new friends, was an active member of the school community and was more aware of what was happening around me. I realized I could make change happen at the school by working for the newspaper. The newspaper helped to shape who I was in high school and I wouldn’t trade any of that. I had wonderful friends who I spent countless hours slaving over page design and copy edits with and in the end we produced a product that we could be proud of. Not a lot of high school kids can say they’ve been a part of something like that. Meagan Flynn, ’11 (Drake University, ’15): Being a part of the publications program was among my best experiences in high school. The countless awards, certificates, and trophies were only the half of it. After working so closely with many of the editors and staff, I’ve met some great friends over the course of those three years. Working on the newspaper taught me a great amount of professionalism, and Mr. Brown’s outstanding program has prepared us so well. We took a lot of pride in our paper as editors, and it was a lot of hard work. If you want to be a part of something great, this is a good opportunity. Tony Merevick, ‘08 (Columbia College, ’12): Publications Production set me at a significant advantage as I entered Columbia College Chicago for my degree in journalism. I learned the ropes of writing, reporting, and editing through writing stories for The Voice and editing the entertainment section. I learned the importance of teamwork, and got a taste of what it’s like to work in a hectic, challenging, and productive newsroom. That’s valuable. The point of Publications Production is to do things and make things and make them well.
Dani Moritz, ’10 (William Woods University, ‘14): Being on the newspaper staff was the best thing I’ve ever done. It taught me so much more than any of my other classes could and inspired me to be who I am today. I am now a confident leader equipped with the skill I need to be successful in life. I’ll never forget all the laughs had and the lessons learned during my time on my high school newspaper staff. It was worth every second! Cassandra Myers, ’09 (Lewis University, ‘13): Publications Productions prepares you more for the real world than any class you’ll take in high school. I learned so much about how to interact with people and how to work in a team. The energy and fellowship I got from Publications has followed me into my college career and has truly shaped who I am today. I learned superior interpersonal skills and greatly improved the clarity of my writing. Beyond that, I look back on Publications as one of my fondest memories of high school. It was a lot of fun, you meet fantastic people, and you learn so many life lessons. Jake Sanches, ’07 (Washington University, St. Louis ’11): Enrolling in Publications and becoming a part of the newspaper staff was without a doubt the best thing I did in my high school career. When I reflect back, it is absolutely the most important influence on my life today, and some of my fondest memories come from being on the staff of The Voice. The life skills you learn in Mr. Brown’s class are invaluable when you get to college and prepare to enter adulthood. The best part is the fun you have and the feeling you get from working with other driven, talented people while putting together an impressive, national awardwinning publication. It’s unmatched by any other high school program. Devon Thompson, ’09 (Roosevelt University, ’13): Publications changed how I think. The skills I honed during Huntley’s Publications Program made me into a better college student, a better prospective employee and prepared me in a way nothing else in high school could have- it prepared me for life. The Publications class creates an atmosphere of such friendship, camaraderie and passionate work that you learn how to be more than a one-trick-pony and to actually be challenged by your work and to relish that challenge. The class changed the kind of student, thinker, and writer I am; High school wouldn’t have been as great without Pubs, I wouldn’t have been as successful without Pubs. It changed my life.
About the adviser: Dennis Brown teaches Newspaper Production, Yearbook Production, and Criminal Law. He has advised both the newspaper and yearbook at Huntley HS for 15 years and has spoken on numerous topics in journalism at local and national conferences. Mr. Brown is the president of the Northern Illinois School Press Association and in 2007 was named a Special Recognition Adviser by the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund. In 2011 he was chosen as one of eight “Those Who Excel” teachers in the state of Illinois, a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year. He has a bachelor’s degree in English/theology from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in Secondary Education (English) from Roosevelt University.
5 REASONS TO MAKE
JOURNALISM PART OF YOUR
4-YEAR PLAN
FIVE GOOD REASONS. . . 1. learn skills
Whether it’s the ability to lay out a page in InDesign, interview with confidence, set up a Web page with Wordpress, post stories to the Internet, problem solve, use social media for marketing, work with a business owner on advertising, shoot quality photos, learn customer service in the School Grounds coffee shop, or write an eye-catching lead paragraph, skills used in the journalism program stretch far beyond the finished product. Former Voice and Chieftain staff members have taken their abilities to top prestigious colleges around the country – whether they are journalism majors or not.
3. go places Publications staff members have attended national conferences in Chicago (2005), St. Louis (2008), Kansas City (2010), and Minneapolis (2011). Pubs students also attend numerous regional and state conferences, including the KEMPA workshop in the fall at the U of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the NISPA conference at the College of DuPage in the spring. Throw in the summer workshops at the University of Iowa and you can learn and have fun in many places.
2. garnish your resume 4. have lots of fun
Publications staff members have plenty to brag about; Huntley HS has one of top journalism programs in the state. Members of both staffs have won numerous awards. A few highlights: NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION: • Two-time All-American publication, The Voice (2007, 2010). • Four First Class Designations (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011), The Voice. COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION:
Wearing PUBS shirts on distribution days. Secret Santa and a Christmas party in December. Individual awards given out for each issue. Shifts in the School Grounds coffee shop. Games of spoons in hotel lobbies at conventions. Marathon layout sessions. End of the year get-togethers. Ultimate frisbee at Mr. Brown’s house. Summer barbecues. Journalism camp for editors at the U of Iowa. Sometimes hard work is just worth it.
• Five gold medalist certificates (their highest honor) in five years for The Voice newspaper. IHSA STATE JOURNALISM TOURNAMENT: • Six top 12 team finishes at the state finals in the last six years, including one second place finish (2011) and two third place finishes (2007, 2010). • Four sectional championships (2006, 2007, 2010, 2011) and two second place finishes (2008, 2009). • Five individual state champions: Mike Sitko, Editorial Cartooning (2006); Brittany Manning, Advertising (2007); Zack Wagner, Newspaper Design (2009); Seth Boster, Sports Writing (2011); and Amanda Svoboda, Copy Editing (2011). • Five second place finishers at the state finals: Katelyn DeAlmeida, News Writing (2007); Alex Albanese, Copy Editing (2007); Matt Bakke, Yearbook Design (2008); Michelle Lisack, Yearbook Design (2010); Grace Borhart, Editorial Writing (2011). QUILL AND SCROLL SOCIETY: Nineteen national award winners since 2002, including Sweepstakes Award Winner Seth Boster (2011) whose “Sammy’s Story” was named best feature in the nation.
5. look to the future In 2011, the Huntley High School Journalism Program launched huntleyvoice.com. Now, more than ever, students are challenged to report stories in a timely fashion, corresponding with editors online and posting news as it happens. In addition, students are encouraged to embrace new techologies such as social media (Facebook and Twitter), Internet content management systems (such as WordPress), and the use of video, podcasting and other forms of multimedia that are being used by professional journalists throughout the country to deliver content in new and exciting ways.
INTERESTED? Go to huntleyvoice.com and apply!