NCSMA Student Officers
Each year, NCSMA elects six students to its student board to plan the summer Institute. NCSMA’s president presides at the opening and closing sessions of the Institute, works closely with the director during the year and serves on the Institute Planning Committee. The student president also leads all student activities. Vice presidents serve on the Institute Planning Committee, as well, and work directly with the director and the president to carry out Institute activities. Officers contribute columns for the NCSMA Scoop and give an Institute activities report.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary, NCSMA Assistant Jessika Virtanen asked the 2015-16 NCSMA Student Officers about their position on the student officer board and about the importance of student media. Below are the interviews, conducted by email.
Sam Claypoole, NCSMA President
School: Providence High School
Publication Name: Roars and Whispers
Publication Type: Literary Magazine
Position: Managing Editor
# of Years involved with student media: 3
Adviser: Marva Hutchinson
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
A: My sisters started on the literary magazine at my school about seven years ago. I basically grew up with stories of their times on staff. So, to me, journalism is family. It’s a place to learn and express yourself and a thousand other things, but I love it because it’s somewhere to connect.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
A: Journalism allows for mass communication: In newspapers, you find out daily information and surprising truths; In yearbooks, you commemorate a year and the people who we attended high school with; In literary magazines, to appreciate the written and visual works of a talented student body. Journalism connects all of us to each other.
Q: Why is NCSMI important?
A: It keeps vigor in student publications in North Carolina and in the community. It helps guide younger publications, teaches the staffs of old hats and gives us all a reminder that there are other people out there doing the same crazy job.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
A: To be an NCSMA officer means to aid in creating a space for other students, a space to guide, to learn, to party (safely), to be free, to eat and to get to know each other better. I love participating in making this happen.
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
A: I hate to be repetitive, but you should be involved in a program like this because it offers a chance to sharpen your skills and because it can be a real connection point for a staff. A week together, working and eating and probably annoying each other? It’s great preparation for the year, and you’ll always come out of it better.
Zila Sanchez, NCSMA Vice President of Newspaper
School: East Mecklenburg High School
Publication Name: The Eagle
Publication Type: Newspaper
Position: Managing Editor
# of Years involved with student media: 3
Adviser: Bill Allen
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
A: Journalism is important to me because not only does it help become aware of current events, but it also gives me a reason to serve the community in a special way.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
A: Journalism is an important part of our society, as it serves to fulfill our natural curiosity. Students should support journalism because it helps them become informed about events and issues that may affect them.
Q: Why is NCSMI important?
A: NCSMI is important for students who are curious about how journalism works in its many fields. The Institute is a great way for everyone to discover what they enjoy about journalism and learn more about the journalism skills that they can improve on. The publications that schools across the state share may provide inspirations for others, which is a reflection of the unique education NCMSI offers.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
To me, being an officer for NCSMA means that my work has been recognized, and that I have proved myself to my adviser, Bill Allen, and to others. I feel extremely honored to be a part of the NCSMA 75th anniversary, and to be able to provide my knowledge with others. Thank you, NCSMA!
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
During the three summers that I have been to NCSMI, and on my school’s newspaper, I have learned a tremendous amount of how the world of journalism works. I think that it is very important for me to pass on my knowledge so that others can experience success in the way that I have. I want everyone to be confident in their work, so that they may pass on their knowledge, too. Being involved with NCSMI is a way for me to learn and grow.
Caitlyn Simmons, NCSMA Vice President of Visual Communications
School: Hickory Grove Christian School
Publication Name: Exodus
Publication Type: Yearbook
Position: Editor-in-Chief
# of Years involved with student media: 4 years
Adviser: Brandy Caton
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
Journalism is important to me because it’s how stories are told, and I love a good story.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
Thousands of things are happening during the seconds, minutes and hours of the day. Journalism is a way to tell stories, whether through a news article, photo or broadcast. These stories educate the viewer and keeps them informed about the world around them. Students should care about journalism because they live in this world, ergo they should care about the things going on around them.
Q: Why is NCSMI important?
NCSMI is important because it provides insight and motivation to aspiring journalists.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to be an officer and help carry my knowledge and love for journalism and the arts to those who come after me, for years to come.
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
I would love to see more high school students wanting to be involved with their school publications. Whether that simply be more people picking up and reading a newspaper, someone scrolling through their school’s online news site or even joining the journalism class. I believe this program helps develop ideas and guides students and advisers to creating the best publications possible.
Claire Douglass, NCSMA Vice President of Yearbook
School: Fayetteville Christian School
Publication Name: Centurion
Position: Senior Yearbook Editor
# of Years involved with student media: 2
Adviser: Disa Perry
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
A: Journalism is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to think outside of the box. It is not a regular, required class. This class allows you to use your own intellect, be creative, and write about things someone else will enjoy reading.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
A: Without journalism, students would not have a yearbook or news magazine. I think that having these publications allow you to look back on your year and see the things you were involved in and also the things you have accomplished. Other students should also care because it allows the student body to have a voice on their campus.
Q: Why is NCSMI so important?
A: Lessons taught by professionals and well known journalists allow you to see the different aspects of journalism. It also shows you the different career fields you could go into if you chose journalism as your major in college.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
A: I think it has been a great opportunity and honor to represent the state of North Carolina as a voice of the students. It is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
A: It is a great experience working with people you do not know, and it helps you get out of your comfort zone. This program allows you to work with people on a more advanced level and allows you to recognize skills that you didn’t know you had.
Ayana Edwards, NCSMA Vice President of Literary Magazine
School: Community School of Davidson
Publication Name: Eloquer
Publication Type: Literary Magazine
Position: Design Editor
# of Years involved with student media: 2
Adviser: Ms. Keia Pannell
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
A: Journalism gives people a voice; it allows us to share information and new ideas with the world.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
A: Everyone should care about journalism. Whether we realize it or not, it affects our daily lives. Every day we are confronted by new material that often changes or enhances our point of views.
Q: Why is NCSMI important?
A: NCSMI is an opportunity for students to further explore their love of journalism. Whether the person is an experienced pro looking for new ideas or a novice who wants to try something new, NCSMI provides the tools and environment to do so.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
A: To be a student officer is a dream come true. It’s unbelievable to think that I am a part of an organization that touches so many lives. Each summer, NCSMI brings students together to inspire each other to be better. We share ideas, make new friends, and overall just have a good time. Knowing that I contributed to that is truly rewarding.
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
A: NCSMI is a great program. Every year, journalism educators from across the state spend their time tirelessly working and critiquing and planning, just to make sure that the NCSMI summer program is one worth remembering. If these stewards of journalism can love and care for this program so whole-heartedly, it has to be pretty special.
Molly Horak, NCSMA Vice President of Electronics
School: TC Roberson High School
Publication Name: Golden Fleece
Publication Type: Newspaper
Position: Executive Editor of Digital Media
# of Years involved with student media: 3
Adviser: Mark Harrison
Q: Why is journalism important to you?
A: I love the way that journalism allows stories and issues that would otherwise never be shared or discussed to surface. By sharing the struggles and stories of others with the world, I am constantly trying to make a difference in the lives of the reader and prompting conversations about the facts, and the effects of these facts, throughout the world.
Q: Why should other students care about journalism?
A: Journalism is so important in the lives of everyone — from hard news to sports updates and celebrity gossip. Without caring about the spread of accurate, reliable information, students would remain uninformed and uneducated about the world around them.
Q: Why is NCSMI important?
A: NCSMI is where I first discovered my passion for writing and where I met others who were equally dedicated to this passion. By meeting other aspiring journalists from across the state, I’ve gained so much knowledge from improving my own skills to how to set up and structure a functional newspaper.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a NCSMA student officer?
A: I am so honored to have a chance to work with the other officers and to help other young journalists have the same wonderful experiences at NCSMI as I did. Planning the summer Institute and making sure that each participant has fun and expands their skills is so exciting.
Q: Why be involved in a program like this?
A: NCSMI is where you learn the real-life skills needed to become a journalist, and it is such a great opportunity to meet new people and have fun! For me, attending programs like this have dictated the way I approach reporting and have made me want to pursue journalism as a life-long profession.