ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer, a senior, (left) and Managing Editor Janie Ripps (right) present the “John H. Wells-Chrimson Hinch Spirit Journalism I Spirit of the ODYSSEY” award to Journalism I student Sasha Barkan, a freshman, at 1055 Barber. on May 4. As the banquet celebrated the togetherness ODYSSEY provides, Journalism I student Izzy Hammock, a freshman, highlighted the connections made in the J1 classroom throughout the year. “The whole (JI) class is very special to me, I think that we’re all super close,” Hammock said. “I think the amount of bonding that we’ve done in such a short time, how much we’ve gotten to know each other, it’s just very special.” Photo by Grady Dunston
ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine staff, friends and family gathered at 1055 Barber to celebrate accomplishments earned over the 2024-25 school on May 4.
The ODYSSEY Media Group marked a year of achievements with a celebratory banquet at 1055 Barber on May 4, inviting staff, friends, and family to honor the successes of the program and celebrate its student’s accomplishments.
The banquet tradition began in 2004 in the Clarke Central High School Media Center and has since been held at various venues in Athens, serving as an annual send-off to the graduating seniors. This year, the ceremony bid farewell to 10 OMG and iliad seniors graduating in the Class of 2025.
The event opened with a film presentation by OMG Social Media Coordinator Liya Taylor, a sophomore.
A video recap of the ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine’s progress across the 2024-25 school year, played at the OMG 2025 banquet, is shown. For ODYSSEY Media Group founder and iliad Literary-Art Magazine adviser David Ragsdale, Sunday’s event marked the 22nd end-of-year banquet. “You’d think after this many years, they’d get easier on me emotionally – the saying goodbye part,” Ragsdale said. “When you work this closely with young people throughout some of their most formative years, you truly begin to wonder at the growth, resilience and maturation they undergo. You raise them to let them flourish in the world beyond Clarke Central High School.” Video by Liya Taylor
The film presentation was followed by reflective speeches from seven ODYSSEY seniors, two of whom joined staff this semester, along with three iliad seniors, two of whom were engaged in the program throughout high school. Speeches discussed memories of students’ time in the program, including their challenges, accomplishments and cathartic moments.
For Journalism I Student Eloise Luken, a freshman, the speeches offered a deeper understanding of what the program has meant to its staffers.
“I was surprised by how meaningful it was. All (of) the speeches were really meaningful, and I got to hear about (the seniors’) four years (in ODYSSEY),” Luken said. “I remember at the (Scholastic International Press Association conference), in the (closing) circle all (of) the seniors were super emotional and I felt like (the banquet) gave me closure because it sort of felt like the end.”
For OMG Editor-in-Chief Wyatt Meyer, a senior, the banquet represented more than just a farewell, but a reminder of the personal growth the program fosters.
“You see a lot about what ODYSSEY means to people from the banquet, so I hope Journalism I takes with them the idea that they can understand and believe other people’s ‘whys’, but (also) that they (can) find their own ‘why’ or interpretation of ODYSSEY that makes them happy and gets them up on that lectern one day,” Meyer said. “(ODYSSEY) is an experience that transcends words or images or videos or speeches, this program helped me find myself and (the banquet) helped me understand that.”
“I always get sentimental. I don’t show it until I give some senior speech, like at SIPA or at the banquet, (but) it feels bittersweet to look back on the old days. This year, I think it was just the right amount of sentimental and just the right amount of humor. ”
— Olivia Hendershot,
iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editor-in-Chief
Throughout the various speeches, the banquet highlighted the unique sense of community defined in the ODYSSEY experience. For Journalism I student Izzy Hammock, a freshman, the experience provided a new perspective on the coming year.
“I don’t know what I’m going to be next year, I’m going to find out. (But), I think no matter what I get, I just want to make sure that I keep the community in mind,” Hammock said. “If there’s anything that all the banquets, all the awards, all the bonding with other J1 kids, production people, just the ODYSSEY community as a whole, all of that has taught me that the community is really what it’s all about at the end of the day.”
Although the speeches held bittersweet emotions of saying goodbye to the current seniors, Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley, a junior, felt those feelings are replaced by a growing excitement for the year ahead.
“At first it feels really sad because I know I will miss (the seniors) and the holes they will leave in Production are definitely gonna be felt,” Atchley said. “But, the seniors have also done so much for us and made us feel so confident in our work that I can’t help but feel excited to take over. All I want is to meet the standard they have set for us and make them proud to be in the ODYSSEY.”
iliad Literary-Art Magazine Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot (left) and iliad Managing Editor Victoria Garland (right), both seniors, speak at the 2025 ODYSSEY Media Group Awards Banquet at 1055 Barber. on May 4. As her four-year journey with the program comes to a close, Hendershot reflects on how the people around her in ODYSSEY have always been a constant. “Being with them has changed me as a person. It’s helped me grow as a friend and a colleague, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Hendershot said. Photo by Grady Dunston
The banquet marked more than just a moment to reflect on the past. Two-time iliad Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot, a senior, felt the banquet became a moment of clarity.
“Throughout this entire year, I have been looking back at the start of me and my other seniors’ journey with ODYSSEY and iliad,” Hendershot said. “I always get sentimental. I don’t show it until I give some senior speech, like at SIPA or at the banquet, (but) it feels bittersweet to look back on the old days. This year, I think it was just the right amount of sentimental and just the right amount of humor. I wouldn’t change anything, I think (the banquet) was perfect.”
As the banquet celebrated the accomplishments of senior staffers, it also highlighted the lasting impact of their mentorship on younger leaders. News Editor Liza Larson, a sophomore, feels prepared to take on a larger leadership role next year because of the seniors’ impact.
“I have a really solid foundation that has been laid with me by the Leadership Team this year and the Leadership Team last year. They’ve set me up and the whole program up for success to continue to win awards,” Larson said. “Because of the time they’ve committed to me and the magazine, we will be able to have success in the future, and the time that I am on the leadership team for my next two years.”
iliad Awards
Lorien Art: “Eliza” by Kai Menke
Lorien Photography: “Monsoon” by Owen Anderson
Lorien Prose: “Empowered by Peace” by Yuvraj Singh
ODYSSEY In-House Awards
John H. Wells-Chrismon Hinsch “Spirit of the ODYSSEY” (J1): Sasha Barkan
John H. Wells-Chrismon Hinsch “Spirit of the ODYSSEY” (Production): Peter Atchley
J1 Facilitator of the Year: Samaya Ellis
Rookie of the Fall Semester: Lea D’Angelo
Rookie of the Spring Semester: Kevin Captcha
Rookie of the Year: Lea D’Angelo
Writer of the Year: Wyatt J. Meyer
Visual Artist of the Year: Liya Taylor
Aaron Patrick Holmes MVP: Jane Ripps
Editor’s Choice Awards:
Editor’s Choice iliad presented by Olivia Hendershot: Victoria Garland
Editor Choice (Newsmagazine), presented by Wyatt Meyer: Adah Hamman
Editor Choice (Online), presented by Wyatt Meyer: Lea D’Angelo
Adviser Awards:
John H. Wells-Chrismon Hinsch “Spirit of the ODYSSEY”: Gillian Williams
Bryan Barks-Caroline Foster iliad Commitment Award: Olivia Hendershot
Mary Grace Hager iliad Leadership Award: Victoria Garland
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Kim Ripps
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Melanie Garland
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Dr. Willow Tracy
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Susan Atchley
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Rachel Dunston
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Dr. Robbie P. Hooker
Steve Hinsch Extra Mile Award: Dr. Swade Huff
Alexander M. Stephens Embodiment of Excellence: Jane Ripps
Natalie Renee Wilson Leadership Award: Wyatt J. Meyer
Alumni Awards:
The Quinton Lumpkin, V Memorial Scholarship: Abigail Holloway
