The newest addition to the award winning online newspaper, The Feather Online, is The Feather Social. Many might be skeptical of the launch of this social media site that it has tied with the newspaper, but fear not, it is just for Fresno Christian students.

The developer and creator of The Feather Social is freshman Zack Lehman, who has been the head of the idea for quite a while. Lehman joined The Feather in order to further his programming and coding skills but more importantly he joined the newspaper in the hope to take home another Crown (an award given by Columbia Scholastic Press Association {CSPA} in New York City), Pacemaker (an award given by the National Scholastic Press Association {NSPA}) and to be given the title of All American high school newspaper (an award given by the NSPA). The three competitions are the most important to the newspaper, and The Feather has been known to place in each one for the last seven years.

“I joined The Feather to help the newspaper win again by redesigning their website with up-to-date features that could give them the upper hand during competition second semester,” Lehman said. “Mr. Stobbe motivated me, and after a while I gave in; I have no regret joining, this is probably one of the best decisions I have made in my high school career so far.”

Lehman’s passion for programming has been heightened after the success of his two previous top selling applications in the ITunes Store: Doodle Flood HD and A Spy’s Handbook. Programming is not an ability that comes easy to most, one must understand the complex coding of a computer which can take years to understand, depending on the eagerness and determination one has to learn and obtain the skill.

The idea was first conceived a couple of months ago when some of Lehman’s friends were not allowed to create a Facebook due to the paraphernalia that can be posted. With much anticipation Lehman appraoched Journalism Adviser Greg Stobbe about the idea and gave him the green light to start programming.

“Jr. high students are preparing to enter a stage of there life where they are no longer being treated like children anymore,” Lehman said. “Their maturity and ability to make there own decisions are coming fast; and sometimes bringing that on them quickly is not always helpful. Facebook is crowded and unclean, as where The Feather Social provides students and parents with the confidence in The Feather Social staff to keep our website clean and interesting to all who use it.”

Although, some may argue that The Feather Social is just like Facebook, but The Feather Social is safer and more student interactive which promotes diversity. The website will offer contest and other online events that will help integrate and unify the school as one. Lehman plans to expand to something bigger and is always updating the program; no other school in the nation has its own social site linked tho their newspaper.

“The Feather Social is planning on expanding to activities such as the the funniest pictures, raffling for prizes and student voice section,” Lehman said. “By adding these options I hope I can increase the number of users on the site.”

The FC community has decided to participate in this new addition and The Feather is promoting it to the best of their abilities. Lehman hopes to see a large increase of users after the Christmas break comes to an end. Currently The Feather Social has 47 users from its launch date in late October. Leehman is currently helping The Feather redesign its website and is in the final steps of publishing an app for Apple and Android users.

This will change in the weeks to come, however The Feather Social can be accessed by clicking on the icon at the bottom of the right menu bar. To join, click on the red join button and fill out the requested forms.

For more features, read the Nov. 8 article, Fenton’s welcome twin girls into family of six (VIDEO).