By Staff Reports

The Luverne Journal’s student journalist program, launched as a pilot initiative in 2023, has successfully laid the groundwork for a unique educational experience in Crenshaw County. 

Last school year students from all four local schools contributed to the program.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year, and students in grades 10-12 now have the opportunity to participate in this innovative program that saw over 30 student-written articles published during its inaugural run.

Among the 2023 participants was Ella-Kate Tomlin, a 2024 graduate of Luverne High School (LHS). Reflecting on her experience, Tomlin said the program significantly enriched her senior year.

“The opportunity with The Luverne Journal allowed me to highlight some of my friends and favorite coaches during my senior year of high school,” Tomlin said. “Being a student journalist also sparked my interest in journalism.”

“I hope my participation in the first-ever Luverne Journal student journalist program, along with that [contributions] of the other students, inspires others to apply and help the Journal expand its coverage. I want to thank Mrs. Haley and The Luverne Journal for the opportunity and for teaching me additional skills to add to my resume and for all they do.”

The program’s success is largely attributed to the efforts of Leslie Flowers, the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) specialist at Highland Home School. Flowers played a pivotal role in recruiting the first student journalists and collaborating with Journal staff to develop the initiative. Flowers also voluntarily provided one-on-one mentorship to the students at Highland Home School.

According to Flowers, this kind of self study is crucial to a student’s success since it helps them to understand which skills they excel at and enjoy and even what profession may suit them best as an adult.

“Confident workers are simply more efficient workers and this program can do so much, when it comes to many things, including bridging a gap of that nature that many students have prior to employability skills training,” Flowers said.

Flowers said that the program is an amazing and invaluable experience for students that has further bolstered the self-assurance of senior Tray Flowers, who according to Leslie has maintained a consistent, profound drive to become a sports reporter since he entered the JAG program in August 2023.

“Tray was already a confident student, but the program provided him with real-world experience in his chosen field and the opportunity to develop skills he has never had the chance to even try,” Leslie said. “It’s very easy to tell students that opportunities like this can transform into realities, but when you can show them what perseverance, learning and determination can lead to, via the end product they produce that lesson becomes far more valuable. What The Luverne Journal is doing has been an invaluable experience for Tray, and will motivate his peers to find a career path they are passionate about. This partnership will not only bring knowledge of journalism and reporting to our school, but will expand new opportunities for editing, and promote the development of a mirage of skills, which is exciting for educators!”

While the opportunity with The Luverne Journal is unpaid, the experience offers students invaluable skills for their future careers and helps supplement coverage of Crenshaw County. 

“The partnership has been a blessing to The Journal,” said Staff Reporter, Haley Mitchell Godwin. “Our student journalists provide coverage that would not otherwise be possible due to limited resources and we are so very thankful for their time, the cooperation from the community on this project and for the experience itself.”

The 2023-2024 student journalists included 2024 Brantley graduate Kaitlyn Piggott and Brantley senior Daniya Jones; 2024 CCA graduate Pierce Royal; Highland Home junior Makayla Clayton and Highland Home seniors William West, Tray Flowers and Savannah Edgar; along with LHS graduates Syloria James and Ella-Kate Tomlin. 

Applications for the 2024-2025 Student Journalist Program are open. Student journalists will be selected by a panel of teachers and Journal editorial staff. Interested students can find the application at www.luvernejournal.com/contests.