Everyone has had a passion. Now, imagine if that dream could not happen because "it was too expensive" and "not worth the investment." My 18 newspaper students have a passion for reporting the news. These students began the paper last year - and have made it amazing. It all comes at a HIGH price.
If overcoming obstacles could have a picture in the dictionary, my 18 newspaper students and 80 introduction to Journalism students would be there.
For many of them, the school newspaper has become a source of pride - one of the few that these students have. Each issue brings an incredible confidence that is lacking. These students range from high achievers to those who only have a decent grade in Journalism. It is probably one of the most interesting class demographics at our high school. Many of them come from less than adequate home lives - school becomes a safe haven.
Our school is called a "moderately" low-income school - 24.7% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. The student body is about 1100 - a rural-suburban district in the southwestern part of Ohio.
My Project
Purchasing a new camera for these students will drastically improve the quality of our school newspaper. It will be yet another confidence booster for these students who have worked tirelessly to spread the school culture at our high school. Quality photos mean everything - it is the first "look" that people get when reading our publication. Having a new camera will enhance the writing as well for that reason.
This camera does not only impact those in my newspaper class - but the entire student body. Many of those in our student body lack access to outside news sources. For that reason, students depend on our school newspaper to be in touch with all things that occurred. Quality pictures have an incredible amount to do with this. A small request could have a tremendous impact at our school.
Also, my students hope to compete in state Journalism competitions this coming year - it is important to have a great picture to showcase the writing and design my students have done.
Our school newspaper is a self-supporting venture - we get little to no funding otherwise.
These students have raised the funds in order to print - with not much left over. With the hundreds of hours of work put into upstarting and maintaining our newspaper, these students deserve a new camera.
A donation to this project impacts an entire school - a school that could not afford to do this otherwise. Thank you for helping my students.
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