For more than 25 years Feather journalism teams have traveled to the New York participating in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Journalism Conference. This year, 16 students attend the 100th anniversary of distinguished journalism education while also teaching six sessions. The Feather has been honored with a national recognition as a Digital Crown recipient for the 2023-24 year. This is Day 2 as the team tours the Big Apple during the week of March 9-16.
Sixteen students, four chaperones, and two advisors traverse from Fresno to New York City to attend a national journalism conference at Columbia University. Feather adviser Kori James and writing coach Dorina Gilmore Young, along with the editor team, will teach six classes during the three-day conference. But before the staff gets down to the business of teaching and receiving an award, they have the privilege of taking in the historic streets and attractions of New York City.
The first three days of The Feather’s trip, which is dedicated to exploring the wonders of New York, rewards the staff members for the hard work that has been put in this school year.
The Feather’s second day began at 8 a.m. as the crew set out on a walking tour through the city led by advisor Kori James. James, also being the history teacher, had many facts and sights up her sleeves to share with her team before they ventured to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
On the way to the museum, students saw Rockefeller Center, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and Grand Central Station. To reach the museum, students boarded train 4, experiencing the largest terminal that was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1913.
Waiting for entrance into the museum, students took cover from the bitter cold in the Oculus, the newest train station in New York. After a short delay, the group was allowed access into the museum which was built in the space previously occupied by the Twin Towers and its surrounding buildings.
Eight of the 16 acres at the World Trade Center site have been dedicated as a tribute to the lives lost on that fateful day. Following the unforgettable attacks of September 11, 2001, the city of New York paid homage to both the survivors and the courageous Americans who selflessly sacrificed their lives to aid others.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, open six days a week, requires advance ticket purchases for the adjacent museum, but admission to the memorial itself is free. While some may argue that maintaining museums furthers the impact of those who perpetrated the attacks, the memorial stands as a powerful testament to the bravery and resilience of those who perished or survived.
The Twin Towers, once symbols of power and freedom, may have fallen, but amidst the despair, ordinary individuals demonstrated extraordinary heroism and selflessness, uniting to strengthen the city in the face of adversity-which cannot be forgotten. The memorial’s visitor center houses a library of oral and written histories, offering heartbreaking accounts from survivors and last messages from those who perished, ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations. Photo Editor Mallory Friesen describes what was going through her mind as she walked through the visitor center houses.
“From the moment I walked in, a feeling of overbearing sadness fell upon me as I saw the photos of the numerous lives lost in the devastating event,” Friesen said. “It was hard to hear the stories of the individuals who each had lives and families they had to suddenly leave behind, that made it feel so intimately real to me.”
The main centerpiece of this memorial is “Reflecting Absence,” where two pools symbolize the reflection and absence of the Twin Towers that once stood there. Water cascades into the footprints of the towers, creating a poignant reminder of the tragedy. Surrounding the pools, bronze panels bear the engraved names of all 2,977 victims, including their first and last names and where they were during the attacks. Adjacent to the pools stands the Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that endured the devastation and now symbolizes resilience amidst adversity.
The team visited many well-known eateries throughout the laid back day, enjoying lunch, snacks and sweet treats following the museum. For lunch, the New York crew visited Brookfield Place’s food court located in the Battery Park City with an array of choices, including sushi, salads, ramen, gourmet ice cream and more. Students ate with a beautiful view of the Hudson River that the shopping center overlooks.
Heading into the second tour of the day, Trinity Church was a quick, but significant stop for the group as they ventured to the outdoor cemetery. Buried within the courtyard, lies Alexander Hamilton, who was laid to rest in July, 1804. The group plans to take in the Broadway musical “Hamilton” later this week, which unfolds historical and creative perspective on Hamilton’s life.
Passing through a major, iconic New York landmark, Wall Street, was a delightful walk for the group as the sun finally showed its face to the architecturally-significant street. Wall Street holds an original preserved pub called Fraunces Tavern, which is the place where George Washington and other Founding Fathers convened to discuss important matters such as the American Revolution.
Liberty Bagels, home of old-fashioned, hand-rolled bagels offered the team a quick and delicious snack break from the second walking tour of the day. The small kettle-boiled bagel shop offers more than just your regular everyday bagel options. Students indulge in unique varieties, ranging from jalapeño to french toast, cinnamon raisin to blueberry, onion to the multi-colored “Liberty bagel.”
To pair with these unique options, the eatery provides customers with an assortment of fun, outlandish cream cheeses. These included peanut butter nutella, vegetable, oreo, strawberry, avocado & herb, and birthday cake. The team was excited to taste something beyond the regular bagel-and-cream-cheese duo they might have back home. Senior Editor Meilani Gilmore Young, a self-proclaimed bagel connoisseur, is always on the hunt for good bagels.
“Liberty Bagels had such a wide variety of options, which made it a difficult to just pick one,” Gilmore Young said. “I chose the Jalapeño Everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. It was absolutely delicious, and was a new type of bagel that I got to enjoy. I would definitely recommend Liberty Bagels, and go back again.”
Continuing on the tour, the team made their way to Battery Park to see Lady Liberty in all her glory. Unfortunately, due to construction, the park was closed and the team had to push forward to The Flatiron. The Flatiron constructed by Daniel Burnham is one of the city’s oldest surviving skyscrapers, with dimensions of 87 meters by 2 meters. Currently, the iconic building is undergoing construction to be renovated into living spaces after its auctioning last year.
To end the night, the NYC team headed to Eataly, a multi-level Italian market and eatery. The shop offers hand-made Italian delicacies throughout walk-in restaurant dining and market place. Finishing off their experience at Eataly, the team savored gelato for dessert and headed back to the hotel for an early night.
Tune in tomorrow to read more about the NYC Feather team’s adventures.
To read more from The Feather visit, The Feather returns to New York 2024: day 1 or Scholastic Journalism “Here to Stay”
