Sponsor a Talon journalist!
Talon summer journalism camp sponsorships
Do you want good news? Invest in the future of journalism by sponsoring a Talon journalist.
If the journalism program at Ankeny High, particularly the student-run news media outlet, The Talon, made a difference in your life, or if you would like to make a difference in the life of someone currently in journalism and on The Talon staff, then sponsoring a Talon journalist/editor is your chance to make that difference.
Our goal is to send a few Talon editors this summer to the Media Now! summer journalism camp at Drake University or the University of Iowa’s summer journalism workshop. Talon social media editor and senior Joanna Guerrero earned full rides to both camps summer of 2023 due to her hard work and dedication. We hope to send more student journalists!
“The journalism camps helped me network, learn, and soak in advice from professional journalists, and allowed me to become friends with many high school student journalists,” Guerrero said. “I learned and took inspiration [from fellow high school student journalists] on what they do with their publications. It was an amazing experience where I got to deepen and enrich my knowledge of journalism!” Guerrero said.
Thirteen Talon student journalists earned awards from the Iowa High School Press Association’s 2023 spring journalism contest for stellar writing and reporting, which put The Talon in the running for 2023 All-Iowa News Team:
- First Place for Sports Story, Game or Season Recap goes to 2023 graduates Gabby Risk & Sophie Rohlfing for the “The road to state: AHS seniors help take girls’ tennis to new heights”
- Third Place for Sports Story, Game or Season Recap goes to junior Adam Mein for “Inside the life of a student-athlete”
- First Place for School News Story goes to senior Vivian Wu for “The March continues”
- Second Place for School News Story goes to 2023 graduate Sophie Rohlfing for “Social studies teacher opens up on departure from Ankeny Schools”
- Honorable Mention for School News Story goes to 2022 graduate Lauren Kemp for “‘Victory for girls’ sports?'”
- Third Place for News Story goes to 2023 graduate Gabby Risk for “Grades vs. mental health: students voice their concerns”
- Second Place for Editorial Cartoon/Comic Strip goes to senior Julien Noble for “Diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI): What is it?”
- Third Place for Editorial Cartoon/Comic Strip goes to senior Julien Noble for “Locking down language learning”
- Second Place for Reviews goes to 2023 graduate Lejla Ahmetovic for “United in Kendrick: a review”
- Honorable Mention for In-Depth News Story goes to senior Julien Noble for “Locking down language learning”
- Honorable Mention for Personality Profile goes to senior Vivian Wu for “It’s okay, he’s with the band”
- Honorable Mention for Personality Profile goes to senior Joanna Guerrero for “Senior J Walters: All-State bound”
- Honorable Mention for Feature Story goes to 2023 graduate Drew Taylor for “Let’s BeReal about social media”
Talon Co-Editors and seniors Ava Tomlinson & Vivian Wu as they have earned a TOP TEN spot (in the state of Iowa) as Iowa High School Press Association’s… Emerging Journalists.
Nine student journalists, 2023 graduate Sophie Rohlfing, sophomore Lydia Gerety (earned two Best of SNOs), junior Nolan McNulty, and seniors Charlie Christensen, Grace Risk, Scott Kruse, Joanna Guerrero, Josie Babcock, and Vivian Wu have earned the prestigious honor of Best of School Newspapers Online (SNO )awards.
Talon editor and senior Joanna Guerrero earned an honorable mention through Journalism Education Association’s (JEA) student media contest for her profile of JEA member, English teacher, and journalism adviser Alissa Hansen.
We have partnered with the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce and student journalists will be reporting on Chamber events and profiling business for the Ankeny Business Journal. You can check out work from seniors and Talon editors Joanna Guerrero, Ava Tomlinson, and Vivian Wu.
We’re working to earn more distinction as we grow the journalism/Talon program at Ankeny High.
Interested in sponsoring Talon journalists/editors? Email adviser Alissa Hansen at [email protected]. We are planning to make this an annual sponsorship program.
Thank you for supporting student journalism.
