In this issue of the Fillmore County Journal, our readers will find a special section dedicated to the Class of 2018.
Every year, this is an enormous project involving all seven school districts in our circulation area. Collectively, there are upwards of 300 students graduating from Chatfield, Fillmore Central, Houston, Kingsland, Lanesboro, Mabel-Canton, and Rushford-Peterson.
Of course, a congratulations is in order! Throughout all of their years in school, these students have followed some sort of guided path. Now, they will chart their own path in life. I remember that feeling — exciting and scary at the same time!
Out of all of the graduates in this year’s Class of 2018, I want to mention a few students who have demonstrated something I hope others will consider.
• Miranda Cox – Mabel-Canton High School
• Ashley Haugerud – Fillmore Central High School
• Abad Macabanding – Lanesboro High School
• Deanna Phillips – Mabel-Canton High School
• Annalise Shupe – Fillmore Central High School
• Travis Vatland – Mabel-Canton High School
• Laura Vettleson-Trutza – Mabel- Canton High School
What do all of these students have in common?
All seven of these students participated in the 19th annual Journal Student Writing Project. For the past 19 years, the Fillmore County Journal has encouraged students from the seven school districts in our circulation area to participate in this writing project. Every year, we see anywhere from seven to 15 students participate in the program. Each student writes on a rotational basis, and they are paid for each of their writing contributions.
Over the years, and this year is no exception, I’ve seen students take on pretty heavy issues. Students have addressed bullying, racism, eating disorders, and many other topics that are relevant to so many people.
And, I think that as a society we should be paying close attention to what these young adults have to say. These future leaders are putting their thoughts on paper, and doing it quite well. Every week, as I read each piece, I internally commended these students for their bravery.
Not everyone is comfortable with attempting to articulate their thoughts in a newspaper such as the Fillmore County Journal. Why? Because it reaches tens of thousands of people in print and online. That comes with great responsibility for any contributing writers.
And, what I have been pleased to see over the years is how all participants of the Journal Student Writing Project don’t take that responsibility lightly.
These students know how to articulate their thoughts in writing, which is important. A college English professor once told our class that how we write is how we speak and how we speak is how we write. So, if we become better writers, we will become better speakers.
And, it cannot be emphasized enough that our graduates of today should strive to master the crafts of writing and speaking. Outstanding written and oral communications will take you very far in life as you embark upon whatever career path lies ahead.
I would especially like to congratulate Miranda Cox for taking on an additional role beyond the Journal Student Writing Project. This past year, as a high school student, she joined our team of reporters to cover local government and write feature stories. This is not common throughout the newspaper industry, to have a high school student write articles for the local newspaper. And, Miranda Cox proved to be very successful!
Years ago, there was a Lanesboro High School student by the name of Abbey Stocker who expressed interest in writing for the newspaper. She did an excellent job covering Chatfield School Board meetings, and she paved the way for another outstanding student writer by the name of Mitchell Walbridge (also a Lanesboro High School student at the time).
For me, it’s refreshing to see so many brave and talented students graduating from of our local schools. I am confident they will do great things, and we will all be proud.
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