ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in Chief Molly Harwell, a senior, presents the ‘Editor of the Year’ award to OMG senior Isabella Westrich at the ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet at 1055 Barber St. on May 19. Harwell has looked forward to her senior banquet for four years. “All of us that have been in the program since freshman year will tell you the banquet is such a big thing,” Harwell said. “It’s a great chance to recognize all of the hard work that everyone has put in throughout the years, and it’s such a great way to wrap the year up and acknowledge the hard times and really good times.” Photo by Violet Cantarella
The ODYSSEY Media Group community celebrated its seniors and achievements at the 2023-24 ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet at 1055 Barber St. on May 19.
ODYSSEY Media Group staff members, family and friends came together at 1055 Barber. on May 19 for the 2023-24 ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet to celebrate the accomplishments made during the 2023-24 school year.
The banquet served as a send-off for the 12 graduating ODYSSEY seniors, with each giving a speech reflecting on their time within the program. Prior to these speeches, the event began with a film presentation by Broadcast Staffer Daniel Cruz, a senior, and in-house awards.
For Journalism I student Lea D’Angelo, a Clarke Central High School freshman, the banquet created mixed emotions.
“(The banquet is) a little bittersweet. It’s fun getting to see all the seniors have their moment, but it’s also really sad to see them go. Just getting a chance to be together one last time before a lot of things change is really nice,” D’Angelo said. “This really shows how much you get to grow over the course of four years or even just one semester and seeing that is like, ‘I want to stay as long as I can.’”
News Editor Isabella Westrich, a senior, poses with Social Media Coordinator Isabelle Duncan, another senior, at the ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet at 1055 Barber St. on May 19. For Westrich, the banquet helped to provide closure to her journey in ODYSSEY. “(The banquet) is a really good way to round out your career in ODYSSEY for seniors. It was something I was waiting for. It’s a good way to wrap (my ODYSSEY career) up because it was so meaningful and it meant so much to me, and so it would have been kind of anti-climactic if I didn’t get to acknowledge that, so I’m really glad I had the opportunity,” Westrich said.
For ODYSSEY Newsmagazine News Editor Isabella Westrich, a senior, the banquet helped to provide closure to her journey in ODYSSEY.
“(The banquet) is a really good way to round out your career in ODYSSEY for seniors. It was something I was waiting for. It’s a good way to wrap (my ODYSSEY career) up because it was so meaningful and it meant so much to me, and so it would have been kind of anti-climactic if I didn’t get to acknowledge that, so I’m really glad I had the opportunity,” Westrich said.
iliad Literary-Art Magazine Managing Editor Cate DeMaria, a junior, opened the event and co-presented the iliad awards with iliad Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot. DeMaria was reflective after the event..
“It’s bittersweet to see all of my friends go but it’s also bittersweet from the lens that this will be my last year as a member of the iliad Literary Art Magazine and as a member of the ODYSSEY,” DeMaria said. “(The banquet is) a really amazing opportunity to represent what the year has looked like to put everything into perspective and also being able to honor everyone for the work that they’ve done.”
“It was (always) incredibly important to present seniors the opportunity to share final thoughts with the team. This group of seniors will hold a fondness in my heart going back to the Zoom days and watching them grow up. It was a privilege.”
— David Ragsdale, ODYSSEY Media Group adviser
“It was (always) incredibly important to present seniors the opportunity to share final thoughts with the team. This group of seniors will hold a fondness in my heart going back to the Zoom days and watching them grow up. It was a privilege.”
— David Ragsdale, ODYSSEY Media Group adviser
The banquet allowed Journalism I student Iliana Tejada, a freshman, to learn more about the seniors and understand the work they have put into ODYSSEY.
“(The banquet) was really emotional, but it showed a different side of people seeing how (the seniors have) grown throughout the years. I always see them working but then I never know how much time and work they put into it,” Tejada said. “The banquet showed how much (the seniors have done) throughout all these four years. It’s an emotional goodbye, but I’m excited to see them go out and start a new chapter. They’re gonna do great things. I’m proud of them.”
While the ODYSSEY is graduating 12 seniors, Harwell is eager to see how the program continues to evolve.
“I’m really excited for next year. I feel confident in the people we’ve selected to be leaders and I know that there are a lot of people who are really eager to get to work next year, so I see a very bright future for the rest of ODYSSEY,” Harwell said. “We’ll be sad to not be in the program anymore, and there will be some things that (ODYSSEY is) losing, but overall, it’s going to be great, and so much great stuff is going to happen next year and in the coming years.”
For OMG adviser David A. Ragsdale, the banquet was his 21st time saying farewell to ODYSSEY seniors.
“I distinctly remember our first banquet, which was held in the then-remodeled Media Center as a potluck with printed certificates, but even then, it was incredibly important to present seniors the opportunity to share final thoughts with the team,” Ragsdale said. “This group of seniors will hold a fondness in my heart going back to the Zoom days and watching them grow up. It was a privilege.”
A video recap of the ODYSSEY’s progress across the 2023-2024 school year, played at the ODYSSEY Media Group’s 2024 Banquet, is shown. For Journalism I student Lea D’Angelo, a Clarke Central High School freshman, the banquet created mixed emotions.“(The banquet is) a little bittersweet. It’s fun getting to see all the seniors have their moment, but it’s also really sad to see them go. Just getting a chance to be together one last time before a lot of things change is really nice,” D’Angelo said. “This really shows how much you get to grow over the course of four years or even just one semester and seeing that is like, ‘I want to stay as long as I can.’” Video by Daniel Cruz
iliad Awards
Lorien Poetry: “Genesis” by Kelbi Phillips
Lorien Prose: “Void of the Unknown” by Aza Khan
Lorien Photography: “Quiet Through Chaos” by Izzy Duncan
Lorien Art: “I’m Stressed” by Sekou Sesay
iliad Editor’s Choice presented by Olivia Hendershot: Margo McDaniel
ODYSSEY In-House Awards
John H. Wells-Chrismon Hinsch “Spirit of the ODYSSEY” (J1): Lea D’Angelo
John H. Wells-Chrismon Hinsch “Spirit of the ODYSSEY” (Production): Peter Atchley and Anna Shaikun
J1 Facilitator of the Year: Isabella Westrich
Rookie of the Fall Semester: Angel Jara
Rookie of the Spring Semester: Violet Cantarella
Rookie of the Year: Angel Jara
Writer of the Year: Janie Ripps
Visual Artist of the Year: Aza Khan
Editor of the Year: Isabella Westrich
Editor’s Choice Awards:
Editor’s Choice, presented by Molly Harwell: Wyatt Meyer
Editor’s Choice, presented by Anna Shaikun: Luke Shannon
Adviser Awards:
Bryan Barks-Caroline Foster iliad Commitment Award: Cate DeMaria
Mary Grace Hager iliad Leadership Award: Olivia Hendershot
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Kim Ripps
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Jenn Shaikun
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Jesus Hernandez
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Susan Atchley
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Maya Clement
Alexander M. Stephens Embodiment of Excellence: Anna Shaikun
Natalie Renee Wilson Leadership Award: Molly Harwell
