Above, I'm adjusting my camera as I film a video interview.
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ABOUT
ABOUT
Welcome to my About page!
My name is Claire Bauer, or, as I'm affectionately known as in our media lab, "Claire Bear Bauerrrrr," "Buh Buh Buh Bauer" and "Grizzly Claire." I'm a freshman journalism major at the University of Missouri. In high school, I was on the newspaper staff for three years, having freelanced the first year. I spent a year serving as the Social Media Manager and the other two as the Editor-in-Chief of the Rock Online, the student newspaper at Rock Canyon High School.
Scroll through this page to view contact information, awards I've won, my personal narrative, letters of recommendation, and my resume.
AWARDS
Journalism, Individual (by ranking):
State Journalist of the Year (issued by Colorado Student Media Association Feb. 2024)
1st Place Gold Circle Photo Slideshow (issued by Columbia Scholastic Press Association March 2024)
1st Place Fall 2023 Clips & Clicks Editorial (issued by National Student Press Association Feb. 2024)
1st Place Photo Slideshow of the Year (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
1st Place Sports/Game Action Photo of the Year (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
1st Place Best of Colorado In-Depth Sports Coverage (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2023)
1st Place Spring 2023 Best of Show Sports Photo (issued by National Student Press Association April 2023)
2nd Place Spring 2023 Best of Show Sports Photo (issued by National Student Press Association April 2023)
2nd Place Best of Show Editorial Leadership (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
3rd Place Best of Show Sports Photo (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
3rd Place Sports Feature Photo of the Year (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
3rd Place State Photographer of the Year (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2023)
3rd Place Best of Colorado Breaking News Coverage (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2022)
3rd Place Best of Colorado Clubs/Organizations Yearbook Spread (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2022)
3rd Place Best of Colorado In-Depth News Coverage (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2022)
3rd Place Best of Colorado Yearbook Theme Package Writing (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2022)
9th Place Spring 2023 Best of Show Sports Photo (issued by National Student Press Association April 2023)
Honorable Mention Gold Circle Photo Slideshow (issued by Columbia Scholastic Press Association March 2024)
Honorable Mention News Story Clips & Clicks (issued by National Student Press Association Feb. 2023)
Honorable Mention Sports Story Clips & Clicks (issued by National Student Press Association July 2023)
Honorable Mention Best of Colorado News Feature Photo and Caption (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2023)
Honorable Mention Best of Colorado Online Breaking News Coverage (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2023)
Honorable Mention Best of Colorado Photo Essay (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2023)
Honorable Mention for Fall 2022 Clips & Clicks Sports Photo (issued by National Student Press Association Feb. 2023)
Honorable Mention for 2022 National Feature Photo of the Year (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2022)
Honorable Mention Best of Colorado Theme Package Presentation (issued by Colorado Student Media Association May 2022)
Outstanding Staff Member of the Year (issued by The Rock Newspaper May 2023)
Leadership Award (issued by National Student Press Association May 2023)
National Journalism Convention Speaker (National Student Press Association April 2023)
Snap Your Solution Photo Contest National Top Ten (issued by Kidizenship Oct. 2022)
Continental League Journalism Conference Nominee & Speaker (Continental League Oct. 2022)
Student Journalist Honor Roll (issued by National Student Press Association May 2022)
Rookie of the Year (issued by The Rock Newspaper May 2022)
Journalism, Staff (chronologically):
Crown Finalist in Online News (issued by Columbia Scholastic Press Association Dec. 2023)
2nd Place Best Use of Social Media Reporting (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
4th Place Best Use of Social Media Promotion (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
8th Place in Fall 2023 Best of Show Online News (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2023)
2nd Place in 5A Best of Show Online News (issued by Colorado Student Media Association Sept. 2023)
All-Colorado 22-23 for Online News Website (issued by Colorado Student Media Association Aug. 2023)
First Class Rating for News Website (issued by National Student Press Association May 2023)
First Amendment Award for News Website (issued by Youth Journalism International May 2023)
2022 Yearbook Pacemaker Finalist (issued by the National Student Press Association April 2023)
4th Place Best of Show for Overall Yearbook (issued by National Student Press Association April 2023)
Gold Crown in Hybrid News (issued by Columbia Scholastic Press Association March 2023)
First Amendment Press Freedom Award (issued by Journalism Education Association Feb. 2023)
Honorable Mention for 2022 Best Use of Social Media Promotion (issued by National Student Press Association Nov. 2022)
Excellence in Writing Badge (issued by Student News Online Dec. 2022)
1st Place in 5A Best of Show Online News (issued by Colorado Student Media Association Sept. 2022)
Award of Commendation 21-22 Hybrid News (issued by Colorado Student Media Association Sept. 2022)
All-Colorado 21-22 Yearbook (issued by the Colorado Student Media Association Sept. 2022)
PERSONAL NARRATIVE
I'm a freshman. I'm sitting alone in the hallway, studying for a test.
I see the senior Editor-in-Chief walk by.
"What are you doing out here? Come study with us in the lab," she says.
I follow.
Suddenly, it's a habit. I begin to go to room 4113 without thinking--for lunch, off periods, study hall, even before and after school. My feet know the well-worn path I take without a second thought.
As I spend my minutes, days, months, years in that room, I learn more about myself, and even more about everyone else. I learn that everyone sees life differently.
You might see it through glasses, watch it go by through the phone, through others. My time spent on staff has shaped me to see life through a lens. A camera lens, to be exact.
Sometimes it’s from a 35 mm view—a portrait lens, an up-close and personal, a slow but in-depth view. A view from the inside, even, experiencing relationships, events, trials and tribulations myself. Sometimes, it’s from a 300 mm view—a sports or scenery lens, a far-away, fast-moving but distant view. A view that comes from the outside but still pays attention, taking extra notice of people, my community, etc. Sometimes, it’s even a fisheye lens, taking in a wider view of a bigger issue, such as politics.
By that, I don't just mean literally, such as when photographing an event. I mean that I see opportunity in the world around me.
As the youngest of three siblings, I never really felt like I belonged—didn't play a sport, excel in a club, or make it past the second row of the Spelling Bee—I often felt like I didn’t have a voice. It was challenging.
When I tried out my school’s Journalism class on a whim, I finally found my niche, and in turn, my voice. As I progressed, climbing the ranks of my school’s newspaper, even inventing positions not previously present, I in turn gained courage and confidence in myself, strengthening that voice.
That strengthened voice gave me a route to outside successes, too. I found myself speaking up in class, using reporting techniques for my classes, and so on.
My teacher preached having our “news antenna” up: looking and listening for story ideas, strong opinions, potential news or conflicts. As I began carrying a camera around with me and keeping this antenna up, I found myself looking through that camera lens, always scouting opportunities.
Yeah, the musical was funny, but did you know it made school history? I see my parents fight, and yes, I see it in front of me, but I see a story, too. Who else is affected by this? How many kids feel the same? Who, why, when? Wow, our wrestling captain became state runner-up! Did you know the 12-year journey it took him to get there, the story behind his injuries and accomplishments? You attended the dance and cheered at an assembly, but who put those together?
I found these stories, and made them known. Gave others my voice. Reported on good and bad parts, through the good and bad parts of my own life. Through my photos and the extensive reporting that accompanied them, I did more than just show people what happened—I made them feel it.
I gained courage and confidence in my abilities, which allowed me to branch out in my reporting. From capturing the moment varsity volleyball stepped back onto their home court for the first time in three years and following the wrestling team throughout the best season the school has ever seen, to in-class experiments, walkouts and spirit week events, I covered more and a wider variety of events than I ever even attended before. All of these, and more, remain ingrained in my memory and documented on the online news source, The Rock Online.
I've had salt and pepper packets thrown at me while covering political protests. I've been hit by players and balls alike while photographing sporting events. I've spent hours in the freezing cold, burning sun and whistling winds, just to get the shots that I had my eyes on since before I even got to the event—shots I dreamed of just from looking through my own eyes, my lens on life.
Everyone has a story. Not everyone tells it.
I've given so much of myself to my reporting and to the media program, and yet, somehow, it's given me even more back.
As I look to pursue journalism, I look to continue to use my lens-eye to create and find opportunities. To tell other people’s life stories, and in turn, write my own, bringing my thoughts, skills, and most importantly, my view on life, with me.
I see a freshman reporter sitting alone in the hallway, studying.
I walk by.
"What are you doing out here? Come study with us in the lab," I say.
She follows.
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