Six years ago, when Carrie Fields took over the journalism program at Marshfield High School, she had 16 students who worked tirelessly to put out the seven issues of the Marshfield Times.
Since then, the program has grown with 30 students participating in the 2022-23 school year. On Wednesday, those students were celebrated in an awards ceremony at Heritage Hall.
Fields gave out awards from the Northwest Scholastic Press Student Media Olympics, with every Marshfield entry receiving at least honorable mention.
Fields then honored the five seniors who led the way – Aubrey Brooks, Emma Cornejo, Alice Manchester, Destiny Grissom and Makenna Weatherly.
Fields said the seniors, several who have been with the program for more than a year, showed leadership and hard work to set a strong example for the younger students.
Students Siena Beckett and Spencer Pederson then led a ceremony to induct new members to Quill & Scroll. Marshfield has had a Quill & Scroll chapter since 1933, with membership set aside for journalism students who excel in the classroom and in their work as journalists.
The students who were inducted Wednesday were Olivia Conde, Erika Akers, Alice Manchester, Josi Sermeno, Emma Cornejo, Lorelei Moser and Makenna Weatherly.
Mia Schaefer was selected to serve as editor-in-chief for her second straight year, and will lead the journalism program again in the 2023-24 school year.
The 2022-23 Marshfield Times staff includes Schaefer as editor-in-chief, Spencer Pederson as managing editor, Chase Johnston as photography editor, Aubrey Brooks as copy editor, Lorelei Moon as assistant copy editor, Jade Bossen as page editor, Siena Beckett as social media and website manager, Olivia Conde as website manager, Erika Akers as website manager, Aspen Elst as business manager, Megan Park as business manager, Destiny Grissom as distribution manager, Canyon Niblett and Jonah Putman as sports reporters and Alice Manchester, Makenna Weatherly, Emma Cornejo, Josi Sermeno, Keara Guyton, Abby Erb, Becky Degan, Maitea Zatica, Maya Aguirre, Reanna Mathias, Mahlia Black, Marina Mascarenas, Sophia Villers, Garron Castro, Fernando Ramirez and Myla Johnson as reporters.
The work of the journalism staff can be seen online at themarshfieldtimes.com