Freshmen Andréas Dillies, Grady Dunston, Iliana Tejada, and Sam Harwell (front row, left to right) and junior Jesse Dantzler (back row) attend the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Fall Conference at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center on Oct. 24. As a new student in the program, Dunston was paired with an older partner for mentorship. “As a Journalism I student, my first year at the Georgia Scholastic Press Association conference was great,” Dunston said. “I went to a wide variety of sessions with my partner Jesse Dantzler, from educational sessions to scary sessions, and even fun sessions.” Photo by Aza Khan
On October 24, 40 Clarke Central High School students attended the annual Georgia Scholastic Press Association fall conference.
The Georgia Scholastic Press Association, which celebrates its 97th anniversary this year, held its Fall Conference at the University of Georgia’s Tate Student Center on Oct. 24.
Forty members of the ODYSSEY Media Group, iliad Literary-Art Magazine and Journalism I class attended the conference with more than 800 teachers and students from 44 schools across Georgia. First-time attendee and Journalism I student Andréas Dillies, a freshman, was among the Clarke Central High School delegation.
“I came into GSPA with the expectation that it would be one boring conference on how to write better. I walked out with experience in AI, student journalism ethics, building a brand, project management, and business ideas,” Dillies said. “It turned out to be a formative experience that has set the pace for my time in (Journalism I) and hopefully (OMG) production in the future.”
“I came into GSPA with the expectation that it would be one boring conference on how to write better. I walked out with experience in AI, student journalism ethics, building a brand, project management, and business ideas. It turned out to be a formative experience that has set the pace for my time in (Journalism I) and hopefully (OMG) production in the future.”
— Andréas Dillies,
Journalism I student
Two members of Dilles’ J1 class, Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell and Photography Editor Aza Khan, seniors, presented sessions with fellow staffers. Khan co-presented “How to play a great game: coverage” with Lead Copy Editor Wyatt Meyer, a junior, followed by the session “Who are we covering, Who is on staff? Who cares?” along with OMG adviser David Ragsdale and Sports Editor Cadence Schapker, a senior. Harwell co-presented “Let It Bleed: How to Craft Engaging Designs Like a Pro” with Variety Editor Jane Ripps, a junior.
“I presented last year with former OMG Visuals Coordinator Lucas Donnelly at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, but I actually thought that this presentation went better,” Meyer said. “We had a big crowd and I think presenting with Aza Khan really brought out the best in the presentation and I hoped the audience felt so, as well.”
Ragsdale was accompanied by UGA’s Mary Frances Early College of Education Teacher Candidate Jesus Hernandez, who chaperoned his first field trip as a pre-professional. For Hernandez, who spends two days a week at CCHS with Ragsdale’s students, the trip was positive.
“Overall, I think the Fall GSPA was a good experience for the students to have. I saw a fair amount of engagement, and especially enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm rise for some students as they attended more sessions that piqued their interests,” Hernandez said.
UGA’s Mary Frances Early College of Education Teacher Candidate Jesus Hernandez debriefs with students after the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Fall Conference on Oct. 24 at the UGA Tate Student Center. Hernandez co-chaperoned his first field trip as a pre-professional along with OMG adviser David Ragsdale. “I did hear that there were some panels that felt a bit disappointing and misleading, but overall it seemed to be an experience that the kids very much enjoyed. I’m happy that some of them have found new passion and direction for their path in ODYSSEY,” Hernandez said. Photo by Aza Khan
GSPA Director Stephanie Moreno was pleased with the 2023 Fall Conference, which was the fifth fall event she coordinated.
“It was exciting to see conference attendance back up to pre-pandemic levels. The enthusiasm of Georgia’s scholastic journalists was palpable,” Moreno said. “I hope students and teachers felt inspired, gained some insights and sparked new friendships.”
Ragsdale saw the inspiration Moreno hoped for shortly after the conference concluded with the OMG’s traditional debriefing session.
“I think the most meaningful moment for me was the day after the conference — I logged into my email at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday and a student wrote me to tell me how moved he was by our OMG community, my closing remarks in the circle discussion and that he wanted to come back next semester,” Ragdale said. “It’s moments like this one that remind you of how powerful conferences can be not only for learning but for the mentorship-social piece.”
