The Red ‘n’ Green staff went to the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest and convention in Madison on March 7. This was the last field trip of the year, and therefore, the last competition for the seniors on staff. The students were given a new experience, as the conference was held by professionals in the journalism world.
“They (WNA) spent so much money on that trip. The people that were there actually care about what they write; they care about us as students and what we write and have to say,” reporter Autumn Nikolai said.
Not only were the feelings surrounding the trip different, but it also brought to light how the professional world worked.
“I feel like I learned a lot of lessons I wouldn’t be able to learn at a regular high school level conference because it was more geared toward adults,” Editor-in-Chief Arianna McCormick said.
In total, The Red ‘n’ Green won 13 awards, 12 of which were won by individual reporters on staff. The other award was the General Excellence Award, the top award offered to the high schools that entered.
“I’m glad I won something, and I’m glad my writing is good enough to win something,” Social Media Manager Tess Kujawa said.
Some seniors also say they enjoyed earning recognition for their hard work one last time.
“It’s nice to be able to report on things and make our voice be heard on bigger topics and be able to be recognized,” Nikolai said.
The Red ‘n’ Green staff knew that they were being entered into the contest, though the decision on what was presented to the judges lay in the hands of the adviser Shannon Kuehmichel.
“She just pulled out what she thought my best articles were and submitted them for me,” McCormick said.
The two-hour trip to the conference was one enjoyed by many of the staff, giving them time to hang out and relax with one another.
“I really liked the bus trip there because I’m really good friends with a lot of the people on staff,” McCormick said.
Each person joined the staff for a different reason, some because people they know were on staff in years prior.
“I had a cousin who was on The Red ‘n’ Green who encouraged me to,” Kujawa said.
Others joined because of goals they have had since a small child.
“I wanted to write for the school paper because I always wanted to be a writer since I was little,” Nikolai said.
As the seniors prepare to leave the Red ‘n’ Green in the hands of the future staff they have advice they would like to share.
“Trust Ms. Kuehmichel’s judgment, and listen to what she says. Try your best to diversify your writing; write about multiple different things,” Kujawa said.
The senior staff also say it’s important for those in the future to enjoy the work they do.
“Have some fun with it. Being creative with it is the best part. I feel a lot of people get stuck on that grind and narrow their mind on what they can do,” McCormick said.
