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ODYSSEY FOUNDING CLASS - FALL 2003
ODYSSEY FOUNDING CLASS - FALL 2003
Now
SIPA 2023
Then
banquet agenda
SLIDESHOW
PRODUCED BY LUNA REICHERT, ODYSSEY 2022 ALUMNA
PHOTO BOOTH
WELCOME
MOLLY HARWELL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ODYSSEY
WORD OF INTRODUCTION
DR. CLAIRE STICE STEPHENS, ODYSSEY ALUMNI CHAIR
A WORD FROM THE OMG BOOSTER CLUB
MINDY MCCAGE, PAST PRESIDENT
FILM PRESENTATION
PRODUCED BY LAURA BENSON GRIFFIN, ODYSSEY 2005 ALUMNA
FEATURED SPEAKERS
DR. MAXINE P. EASOM, RETIRED CLARKE CENTRAL PRINCIPAL
NATALIE R. WILSON, ODYSSEY FOUNDER AND WGHP FOX 8 ANCHOR
DR. SWADE HUFF, CLARKE CENTRAL PRINCIPAL
DR. ROBBIE P. HOOKER, CCSD SUPERINTENDENT
CLOSING REMARKS
DAVID A. RAGSDALE, ODYSSEY ADVISER/FOUNDER
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welcome
Honored guests, We made it! The ODYSSEY is 20!
DAVID
RAGSDALE
I’m grateful to have collaborated with you, whether you were a student of the ODYSSEY or a member of our support system through the years. I wanted to invite you here this evening as we celebrate a legacy you helped create. I can honestly say this is a special program and the people who’ve been associated with it are some of the best folks I know.
Through the years, we’ve had a blast working at UGA football games, hosting silent auctions, attending local, regional and national conferences, and the production of quality magazines, broadcast features and web content. More importantly, though, we’ve provided an open public forum for student expression and an opportunity for young people to learn to lead. As the years go on, we continue to welcome new teammates and work diligently to continue to grow and evolve the ODYSSEY legacy and brand.
My hope is that this anniversary celebration will allow us to connect the various generations of ODYSSEY and to reflect on the times we shared. In addition to a time of reflection , this event allows space for gratitude. Without the supportive adults who have contributed to this program, I wouldn’t be able to continue doing what I love: engaging young people in community storytelling.
This event allows space to offer many thanks not only to the staffers who made up the ODYSSEY but to all parents/guardians who’ve helped to pitch in with snacks, lunches, dinners, car rides, hours at the University of Georgia football games, service as chaperones on trips and support for your kids’ journalistic endeavors. Additionally, this event allows me to show gratitude to our school administration for the time and transparency they’ve offered us through the years and to our supportive school district and Board of Education who empower us to do the work we started in 2003.
I hope you’re as excited as I am to celebrate this momentous occasion.
David A. Ragsdale, Founder and Adviser Odyssey Media Group4
Letter from the Alumni Relations Committee
JULIA WILSON MILLSMy journalism journey began in the fall of 2003. What I didn’t know then, was I would carry journalism with me for my entire life. As the daughter of two English teachers, writing came naturally to me. I loved using it as both an outlet and a way to express myself. When I didn’t know how to use my spoken voice, I could put my words on paper.
During my time with the ODYSSEY, I grew not only as a writer but as a person. My words and voice became stronger both on paper and in all facets of my life. When I graduated high school and declared a major at University of Georgia, it was an easy choice to decide on journalism school. The ODYSSEY prepared me for writing, interacting with others and being well-versed in all areas of publication.
After graduation, I was the managing editor of an academic journal. While I often questioned the amount of red ink I used against impressive academic figures, I had confidence in the copyediting skills – which began from my high school years.
Now, as a mother of two, I find myself constantly encouraging my children to use their voices, use their words, express how they feel and positively influence others. I always emphasize to them that if they know how to write, they can be successful in almost every area of life.
That’s why the ODYSSEY is so important to me: it is creating a generation of strong journalists that will find success and use these skills in whatever profession they choose. I am grateful for everything I was taught those 20 years ago, as it created a foundation that has helped bring me to where I am today. My hope is that current and future students will treasure the wealth of resources at their fingertips and continue providing valuable information to the Clarke Central community.
Julia Wilson Mills, ODYSSEY 2003-2005 Alumni Relations Committee5
Meet our Speakers
Dr. Maxine Pinson Easom has spent her entire life in the Clarke County School District - first as a student K – 12, graduating from Athens High School, and then as a professional educator for 32 years. Easom was an elementary teacher at David C. Barrow Elementary School, the principal at Gaines Elementary School for nine years, Fourth Street Elementary School for five years, W. R. Coile Middle School for four years and Clarke Central High School for nine years. Easom has a Bachelor of Arts from LaGrange College and an educational specialist and doctorate degree from the University of Georgia. In 2000, she received one of the Athens area’s most notable awards, the Athena Award, honoring women who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, excel in their chosen field, and devote time and energy to their communities.
Easom retired in 2009 receiving the high honor by having an elementary school named for her (Maxine Pinson Easom Elementary School) by the Clarke County School District Board of Education. In 2019, Easom and Patsy H. Arnold published “Across The River, The People, Places, and Culture of East Athens,” as the first single-document history ever written of East Athens.
Easom was married to the late, Dr. Ken Easom, former President of Athens Technical College, and is the mother of two daughters, Dr. Meg Hines and Merideth Miller, both of whom are educational professionals, and is the grandmother of five grandchildren.
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DR. MAXINE PINSON EASOM
NATALIE WILSON
Natalie Wilson served as co-editor-in-chief of the ODYSSEY during its first year of publication. She has a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Howard University and a master’s in communication from Johns Hopkins University. Wilson has more than 15 years of journalism experience covering news in Washington, D.C.; Prince George’s County, Md.; Charlottesville, Va. and North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad. She currently anchors the FOX 8 WGHP 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. newscasts weekdays and is the reporter and producer of “Good for Her!,” a series that highlights the women who are making waves in the Piedmont Triad. Wilson’s work has been recognized by the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, the National Black Programming Consortium, the White House Correspondents’ Association, the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Nashville/Midsouth Chapter in which she was nominated for two Emmy Awards. In 2019, Black Business Ink named her one of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential African Americans in the Triad.
DR. SWADE HUFF
Dr. Swade Huff was raised in Athens, Ga., and is a 1991 Clarke Central High School graduate. He was the assistant principal of Alps Road Elementary, the coordinator of special education in Gwinnett County Public Schools, the associate principal at Cedar Shoals High School, and the principal at Crossroads Alternative School, Statham Elementary School and Indian Creek Middle School. He was named Clarke Central High School principal in 2018.
Huff received his bachelor’s degree and his master’s from Piedmont College, his leadership certification from the University of Georgia, his educational specialist degree from Piedmont College and his educational doctorate degree from Georgia Southern University.
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He is married to Dr. Jaime Johnson-Huff and the father to Adonis Huff (Tennessee State University) and Addisyn Huff (Clarke Central High School).
Dr. Robbie P. Hooker began his career in education as a classroom teacher at W.R. Coile Middle School, where he was named Teacher of the Year for 1995-96. He was then at Westside Middle School in Barrow County, where he served as assistant principal from 1997-2003, before returning to Clarke County School District as principal of BurneyHarris-Lyons Middle School from 2003-2008. In 2008, Hooker was named principal of Clarke Central High School, a position he held until 2016. In that role, he received many honors, which included being named Georgia High School Principal of the Year in 2013 by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.
After leaving Clarke County School District, Hooker became Assistant Superintendent for High Schools in Henry County from 2016-2019 before assuming the role of Superintendent of Social Circle City Schools. He took on his most current role as Clarke County Superintendent in October of 2022.
Hooker holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in behavior disorders from Valdosta State University and earned his doctorate in educational leadership from Clemson University. Additionally, he holds certifications in educational leadership from the University of Georgia and school counseling from the University of West Georgia.
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Hooker and his wife Karen have two children, Kaitlyn and Johnathan.
DR. ROBBIE P. HOOKER
Meet the Alumni Relations Committee
Dr. Claire Stice Stephens is a 2006 Odyssey and Clarke Central High School alumna. In 2010, Claire graduated from the University of Georgia and earned a doctorate degree in 2015 from Cornell University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the OB/GYN Center for Reproductive Health Science at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine where her work revealed a novel mechanism and therapeutic target critical for decidualization, implantation and overall pregnancy outcomes.
Stephens joined Elanco Animal Health in 2016 as a clinical efficacy and target animal safety scientist. Currently, Stephens leads Elanco’s early pipeline companion and food animal parasiticide product development.
She continues to effectively communicate innovation inside and outside her organization by publishing numerous manuscripts, a book chapter and leading cross-functional scientific forums and workshops. She loves traveling, a good DIY project, cycling, and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and their two boys.
David A. Ragsdale, CJE, has advised student publications since 2001 at Clarke Central High School, where his duties include advising the ODYSSEY Media Group and Iliad literary-art magazine. Additionally, he serves as Co-Chair of the English department at CCHS, coordinates student internships with the University of Georgia, serves as the Gifted Coordinator and teaches senior English.
Ragsdale received the Crystal Apple Award, an honor given to University of Georgia alumni in K-12 education who have made a significant impact on student, school or school district performance in 2007, was the CCHS Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008 and its Star Teacher in 2014. He was named an ASNE Reynolds High School Journalism Fellow in 2014, an Elizabeth Dickey Distinguished Service Award recipient by the Southern Interscholastic Press Association in 2015, and was the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Adviser of the Year in 2007 and 2020. Additionally, he was named a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Distinguished Adviser in 2019 and the National Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2022.
DAVID RAGSDALE
He served on UGA’s College of Education’s Alumni Board for several years, and currently serves on the National Council of Teachers of English’ REALM committee, as the Journalism Education Associations’ State Director for Georgia, and as the SIPA Executive Committee Vice Chair and on the GSPA Advisory Board.
Ragsdale and his partner Kate are parents to Lavender, Clover and the ODYSSEY’s mascot, Homer.
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DR. CLAIRE STEPHENS
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Molly Harwell is a junior at Clarke Central High School and the editor-in-chief for the ODYSSEY Media Group. She hopes to learn about leadership and create strong connections with her peers. Harwell also wants to create quality pieces that spark the interest of others within the Clarke Central community. In her spare time, Harwell enjoys reading, dancing, baking and spending time with friends.
MOLLY HARWELL
Mindy McCage has a BA in Mass Communications and her MEd in pre-K - 5 education. She is the proud mother of two Odyssey/CCHS graduates: Connor McCage, Class of 2019 and Ireland McCage, Class of 2022. McCage served was a Booster Club Volunteer from 2015-2018 and Booster Club President from 2019-2022. She volunteered at countless UGA football games as a stand worker, stand manager and parent volunteer coordinator. McCage also chaperoned numerous ODYSSEY field trips.
She currently teaches K-5 Gifted in Barrow County. McCage cherishes the small victories in the classroom, such as a student enjouing a class novel or when she sees the light bulb of understanding go off in class.
McCage has been happily married to her husband Kevin for 22 years and is a pet mom to Tater, Tiger, Abby, Akira and Ouija.
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Now
MINDY McCAGE
ODYSSEY Alumni Planning Committee
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journalism organizations
The ODYSSEY Media Group belongs to several high school journalism organizations. Participation ranges from attending annual events and summer workshops to submitting numerous items for judging and evaluation. A summary of these organizations follows:
BALL STATE UNIVERSITY’S JOURNALISM DAY (JDAY) brings middle and high school students and teachers to Ball State University’s campus in Muncie, Indiana once a year to learn about different aspects of journalism. The conference, hosted by Ball State’s College of Communication, Information and Media, provides sessions that cover many different journalistic topics and contests that take place throughout the day. Ball State University first started offering journalism workshops in 1966 which have continued to grow and develop over the years. This year the conference was held on April 29th.
COLUMBIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION (CSPA), founded in 1925, unites student editors and faculty advisers--working with them to produce student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks and online media. Students come from public, private and church-related schools and colleges throughout the United States and from overseas schools. The association is owned by Columbia University and operates as a program affiliated with its prestigious Graduate School of Journalism. A few ODYSSEY staff members have enjoyed attending CSPA summer workshops in New York.
THE GEORGIA SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION (GSPA) assists Georgia high school journalism programs and students by encouraging their production of quality publications through instruction and contests. GSPA was organized in 1928 by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, which has continued to direct its activities, providing information through the newsletter and instruction through convention sessions, judging, speakers upon request and fall workshop sessions. This year the GSPA conference was held at UGA and most of our students were able to attend.
THE INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION (IMCA) is a hybrid scholastic media marketing organization built for the 21st century headquartered at the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media. The IMCA that seeks to help high school students blend together the previously-siloed functions of public relations, marketing, social media management, creative design.
THE NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION (NSPA) is a nonprofit membership organization exclusively for high school and other secondary school publications--yearbooks, newspapers, magazines, broadcast programs and online publications. Since 1921, NSPA has offered its members resources to help their publications improve, including national high school journalism conventions, prestigious contests and scholarships, a publication service and much more.
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HIGH SCHOOL
THE QUILL AND SCROLL SOCIETY is a high school honor society devoted to fostering interest and excellence in the field of journalism. It has member chapters in all 50 states and in 44 countries around the world. Quill and Scroll fulfills its mission by awarding scholarships and sponsoring contests.
THE SOUTHERN INTERSCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION (SIPA) is a nonprofit organization of public schools, including middle, junior and senior high schools. Its purpose is to encourage a high degree of professionalism in scholastic journalism and mass communications in the Southeast. Founded at Washington and Lee University in 1926, SIPA moved to the University of South Carolina in 1972. Members are from District of Columbia and 15 states- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. CCHS was well represented in Columbia, SC with most of our students in attendance.
Scan the QR code to view awards garnered by the ODYSSEY during the last 20 years.
ODYSSEY Booster Club Donations
Celebrate 20 years of the ODYSSEY by donating $20 to support the continuing education of journalists at Clarke Central High School. Your donation will go toward educational enhancement opportunities such as attending state conferences, paying for critiques and evaluations to help us grow, and supporting our annual end of the year banquet. All donations are tax deductible.
ODYSSEY Subscriptions
Continue your support of the ODYSSEY, and help us continue to provide top-notch experiences for our students, alumni, staff and community members by subscribing to the 2022-23 ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School.
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20th Anniversary Sponsors
PEGGY GALIS
REIGN STREITER
NEW WORLD GRAPHICS
GREATER GEORGIA PRINTERS
THE GEORGIA CLUB
@odysseynewmag
odysseynewsmagazine.com
Program contents compiled and edited by Alumni Relations Committee
Program designed by Brittney Butler based on a design by Eleanor Sams and Eva Orobock
Special thanks to Audrey Enghauser, Maya Clement, Lucas Donnelly, Adah Hamman, Cooper Jones, Evan Cornish, Eva Orbock, Bryn Adamson and the OMG Booster Club
Photos courtesey of OMG archives, Rachel Allen, Alumni Relations Committee and ODYSSEY Alumni.
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