Culver student media class presents program, wins state and national recognition

The Culver Community Schools board on Tuesday heard a presentation from the student media class about a program the advisor described as a businesslike communications pathway rather than a simple photography elective.

Advisor Tina Stacy told the board that students run a working budget of about $10,000, purchase most equipment (about $8,000 worth), and follow the Society of Professional Journalists' ethics. "They literally work for every single dollar," Stacy said, adding the program raises most of its funding between January and March and that only one camera was donated this year.

Students described strict deadlines and real-world accountability: Amelia Johnson, assistant editor, said the class teaches teamwork and professional communication; Hazel Tomlin, editor-in-chief, said the program instills leadership and a hard deadline culture in which a late submission can mean a zero that affects a publication's ability to print.

Stacy and students also highlighted recent honors: the yearbook earned a Hoosier Star recognition as one of the state—s top books and a Walsworth national honorable mention, making the small Culver program one of the smallest schools featured nationally. Stacy named students who led the effort and noted several former editors have received college leadership scholarships.

Board members asked about student supports and how staff help students meet deadlines; students and Stacy described one-on-one check-ins, in-class support during production time and use of social-media polls and feature pages to engage peers. The board gave the team a round of applause and invited them to remain for the rest of the meeting.

The presentation concluded without any action items. The board later moved to other agenda business including consent items and action votes.