Satanta Jr./Sr. High School

We’re home and rested after an amazing trip to Nashville for the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention! We attended 13 packed sessions in two days, we connected, learned, and recharged with more than 5,300 attendees — the convention’s largest gathering of scholastic journalists, photographers, designers, advisers, and media educators since 2019.

Sessions ranged across all media types — newsp­aper, yearbook, online, broadcast, magazines — and covered everything from ethics & law, to design & advertising, to leadership & technology, to photography & media, to camera equipment, to use and train artificial intelligence and more. It was an amazing networking and growth-opportunity for all of us: meeting other student photographers, journalists, advisers, professional mentors — and walking away with fresh tools, connections, and energy.

A few highlights from our journey:
-We stayed at the iconic Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which was as grand and gorgeous as you imagine, especially already decorated for Christmas and being upgraded to an interior room with fifth floor balcony views of the annex.
-We saw the Grand Ole Opry, a Nashville must.
-We did Charlie Brown ICE!, walking through two billion pounds of ice sculptures themed around the Peanuts gang. There was music, a sculptor working away at carving a teddy bear to add to Linus, and ice slides. The boys even ventured out to ice skate after our chilly tour in the nine degree exhibit.

One of the most memorable moments was meeting Brian Milford, Satanta resident Jill Hill’s cousin. Brian is the CEO of Abingdon Press in Nashville. He explained how the company assists authors in the writing process, produces video series, translates materials, edits, and creates Bible-study and VBS (Vacation Bible School) resources. It was truly eye-opening to see how this company works completely virtually after closing its office doors during covid, yet still thrives and publishes resources for so many different groups. Brian also taught us how AI has changed the industry and learned ways they combat and train it to be a positive resource. Not only did he bring resources to share and let us ask questions, he treated our group to dinner at Miel, a French bistro owned by his good friend Seema. Seema generously seated us next to the kitchen allowing us to watch Chef Jason and his team prep, cook, and plate — it was awesome to sit and watch through a glass wall while enjoying all the dishes they prepared. This group of Southwest Kansas natives got to try some new things that were definitely unforgettable including
-Raw oysters in apple mignonette
-Roasted oysters in seaweed butter
-Fried green tomatoes with pickled corn remoulade
-Escargot, Maitre d’ butter, toast points
-Duck wings with blood orange gastrique
-The Blackhawk cheeseburger with pork jelly jam, tomato aioli, tender greens
-Honey Cake
-Apple galette with raspberry butterscotch
-Pavlova with fresh fruit & Chantilly cream
Some of us handled the oysters better than others (you’ll see who in the pictures), but every moment — from the convention sessions to the dinner to the ice show — was unforgettable. And to top it off…we ran into Ms. Chelsi Randle, a former Satanta teacher! She now teaches in Nebraska and was there with 13 students from Westside High School in Omaha, who were competing and received national medals!

I am so proud of our team: the way we dove into workshops, asked questions, collaborated, and came away wiser and more excited about photography, photojournalism, design, and how to train AI. It was so fun to see everyone’s excitement for the things they learned and the ideas that immediately sparked. We learned, we laughed, we stayed up too late, got up way too early…we learned that Edgar and Erik are the absolute masters at packing the trunk of a car, and sang an absurd amount of Bohemian Rhapsody…totally absurd…but it was definitely the best experience.

I am so thankful to everyone who made this trip possible: the yearbookers’ parents for letting their students attend, Jill Hill and Brian Milford, Superintendent Burrows and Principal Carpenter, the teachers and our wonderful community. We are already bringing all our momentum to our work here at home!

Students in Courtney Dunn’s Marketing I class recently learned about marketing distribution channels and applied it to the ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. After learning how products move from producers to consumers, they worked together to create a collaborative visual showing each item’s journey from farm to table.

Satanta High School sophomore Gissell Rubio has launched an ambitious FCCLA project entitled "Christmas Around Town,:" which seeks to bring a little holiday cheer to the Satanta community. Her goal is to reach every home in town. She needs your help to do so!

Please consider making a donation to her project in either phystical or monetary form. Donations of any kind are welcome!