Meet the 2024-2025 NCSMA Student Officers
East Mecklenburg High, Incoming Editor in Chief, Newspaper Reach out: cleopatrastrauss@gmail.com What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? Around this time last year, I remember Mr. Allen, who was our old advisor, and he was like, “Hey, they have like an empty spot like they need somebody, would you be interested?” And I was like, “Sure!” I didn’t know what the whole thing was gonna be. And I appreciate that he offered me that opportunity. Getting to work on this this year has been so fun. I have loved going here for the past two years and being able to plan it, come up with a theme, work with everybody, and come early and set everything up. I want to say thanks to Mr. Allen. I was interested because I loved coming to the camp so much and wanted to help. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? I want to go to a four-year college. I’d love to go to UNC-Chapel Hill. I’m interested in studying journalism. There are a couple of other things I’m interested in but right now it’s at the top of my list — Something related to journalism or writing. I’d love to attend Chapel Hill or some other school with a good journalism program. I would love to go out of state, though. I’d love to look at other schools in Georgia, Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia, and stay in the area, but I know there are a lot of great in-state schools. I won’t limit myself by saying I have to stay in state. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? One lesson is that I think it’d be valuable for every high school journalist to know that what I’ve learned here is to put yourself out there and not be scared. It’s for fun and it’s only embarrassing if you’re embarrassed and it’s only scary if you’re scared, and honestly, it’s no big deal. West Brunswick High, Editor, Newspaper Reach out: jotho698@netmail.bcswan.net What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? My teacher, Ms. Saunders. She inspired me to do this because when I first started doing journalism, I didn’t have any dreams of doing it. But since I started doing it last year, it has helped me. I did broadcast and it helped me meet new people, and she wanted me to go out and be social. I want to do that more, and just be a better person and show people that they can do the same thing I did. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? I want to go to a four-year college. I want to do something with sports teams with journalism, or photography, because I enjoy doing that too. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? Like I said, being social and meeting new people, because last year, I made a couple of new friends. I still talk to them to this day and it’s just great, you know? Riverside High School, Design/Reporter, Newspaper Reach Out: irby.sadie@gmail.com What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? My faculty advisor, Mr. Christopher, really took the reins on that. My friend and head editor of my school staff, Elena, She’s the VP of news right now (and journalist of the year). She couldn’t attend (this year’s workshop) because she’s out of the country. But she was the reason I said yes to this opportunity. It’s awesome. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? I want to go to college. I love the idea of being a student for a long time. So getting a master’s in something would be awesome because I love learning. Right now, I’m saving money for college. So if I do need to take a gap year to save up some extra money, then probably do that. Also, both of my parents are from other places and it’s not normal to leave your house when you’re 18. So taking a gap year, it’s probably something I’d feel more comfortable with. I don’t know what I want to do. I’d love to do something like early childhood education. I love the idea of working with kids. But I also want to do journalism too. I want to do a lot of things. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? I will say that this camp has really taught me that it’s OK to be a beginner in something and just want to try something new. Last year I did photojournalism — I’ve never touched the camera before. And yes, it does feel kind of awkward at the beginning because a lot of the kids taking photojournalism have done it before and continue to do photography, but this camp has been super welcoming to people who just want to do one of the sections to learn.
Watauga High, Editor-in-Chief, Newspaper Reach Out: miagrace.llibre@gmail.com What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? I had an interest in writing throughout my academic career. My English teacher told me to apply for journalism. During my freshman year, I went to NCSMA and I went into it without even knowing anything about journalism. So coming here really opened my eyes to all of the compelling aspects of journalism and the stories that you can tell. Also, there are many things you can learn through journalism and many skills. Your skills are developed, not just in reporting but also in writing, personal skills, and communication. I decided to come back this year because I liked it. Being a writer is progressive; you’re never really going to stop learning. It is a thing that you keep working on. I came back this year, and my teacher told me that they had a position available. I didn’t know which position. When they announced it to me, oh my gosh, I was so surprised. I was just so, so happy. I’m going to assume this leadership position and be able to show people what I’ve learned and tell people my story. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? I want to go to a four-year college. Honestly, I don’t know if I would do anything in journalism. Although I would like to be in the newspaper of that said school that I go to and I’d love to keep it going throughout my college career, I’m interested in medicine. I do think that journalism is so important because, again, it helps you in so many aspects and it’ll help me even in medicine when I have to write a bunch of papers. It’s always going to be in your career in some way. it’s helped me so much with becoming more career-ready. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? I’d say to be open to learning about anything, you can’t be close-minded, you have to branch out socially. You have to incorporate all ways of expressing yourself and engaging your audience. You have to know your audience and you have to be able to demonstrate that because that’s what NCSMA is all about, just improving and getting more skillful. Kinston High, Yearbook Reach Out: avanniholt123@gmail.com What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? One of my teachers thought it would be good for me to put myself out there more. I have only been here for a year but it has been so fun. I wanted to get more involved and I am glad I am. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? I’m not sure yet. I do want to go to college and pursue higher education, but I do not know what I want to do yet. I think journalism will have a really big part in my decision, though. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? Don’t be ashamed. I was really shy and quiet for the first year, but I have learned to be more open and branch out and it has helped me a lot. North Buncombe High, Editor, Yearbook Reach Out: Mila.blakeney@gmail.com What inspired you to be a student leader for the NCSMA 2024-2025 year? I think it’s an opportunity that opens a lot of doors, whether that be for college, or just making new friends and socializing. I wanted to lead other students, whether that be in a big way, or something small. You meet a lot of new people who might have connections this way. What are your plans post-high school? Has journalism affected your decision? You know, I’d like to do something in biology. I also love taking photos, so something in photography. I think some portion of journalism does help, even if you don’t pursue a career in this field. What is one lesson from NCSMA that you would want to share with other journalists? I think it is eye-opening for other people to see that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Being able to express yourself through words or photos is incredible. -Compiled by Katia Torres, East Mecklenburg High
President
Cleo Strauss ’25
VP of Magazine
Jordan Thomas ‘26
Vice President of Newspaper
Sadie Irby ‘25
Vice President of Visual Communications
Mia Llibre ‘25
Vice President of Yearbook
Avanni Holt ‘26
Vice President of Broadcasting and Podcasting
Mila Blakeney ‘26