To be honest, after losing 17 seniors from the journalism staff last year, I had no clue what The Feather would be like this year. I thought, “You know what, it will be a rebuilding year; a year to teach the younger students. There is no need to get my hopes up because realistically, we probably won’t be able to accomplish what we did last year.”

But no. Once again, the staff exceeded my personal expectations by receiving the All-American award from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) in Nov., and three All-Columbian Honors and a Gold Medalist placement from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Feb. 27.

While physically receiving an award is satisfying, it is not just the plaque that gives me encouragement for everything the staff has done. It is witnessing the long hours each journalism student has put into writing articles, making