Embedded Files
This is a collection of some of my best work from the 2022-2023 school year. Underlined headlines are links to the online articles. For articles published in the print edition of our magazine, I included PDFs to show how they appeared on the page. These articles were shortened for print, so I also linked the full, online versions. All photos on this webpage are my own unless otherwise stated.
English Teacher Joel Morris Takes Love of Writing, ‘Macbeth’ Into New Novel – Personality Profile
Beloved by students and fellow teachers alike, Creek English teacher Dr. Joel Morris uses multifaceted approaches to teaching Shakespeare, connecting students to the plays' universes and leading detailed conversations about the texts' meanings. Some of the most intricate literary discussions I've had took place in Morris' classes, and when I found out he was publishing a novel based on one of the plays he teaches the most – Macbeth – I jumped on the story immediately. As Morris discussed his novel, its inspiration, and its future with me, his dedication to the subject became very apparent. In writing this story, I wanted to highlight that dedication. My article discussed not just his upcoming novel on the life of Lady Macbeth, but also his lifelong passion for English and creative writing. I also wanted to hear what those around him had to say about the intelligence and storytelling he brings to teaching and writing, so I spoke with Morris' literary agent and one of his Creek colleagues to capture all of this. To complement the article, I designed a timeline of milestones in Morris' writing life, drawing on information from the interview. In the end, while this article introduced most people in the Creek community to Morris' novel for the first time, it went beyond breaking news, telling a deeper story about his life as a writer. A longer-format version of this story is also appearing in the yearbook for this school year.
Best of SNO winner
Vice President Harris Visits Denver For Talk on Environmental Policy – Local Breaking News
Sitting in my third period English class one day, I got a Denver Post notification that Vice President Kamala Harris would be visiting Denver the following Monday to discuss climate and environmental policy. I had no idea how to go about it, but I was determined to try to be there and cover the story. I emailed the reporter linked at the end of the Denver Post article, he got back to me within the hour with a press sign-up form, and after that, it was just agonizing waiting – until, less than 24 hours before Harris was scheduled to appear, I was thrilled to receive a press pass. At Harris' panel, I found myself thrust into a world of high-level political journalism I had never encountered before. I had the chance to swap notes with journalists from Associated Press, Denver Post, CBS, Voice of America, and Fox. With such a broad national topic, my biggest challenge was finding an angle for the story that would resonate with my student audience. I approached a member of the Cherry Creek School Board in the audience, who was happy to provide an interview. I also spoke to a father and his son, as well as members of Moms Clean Air Force, all of whom were there to advocate for progressive climate policy on behalf of kids. Additionally, while Secret Service and White House aides restricted where I and other members of the press could sit, I did my best to get as many photos as possible from different angles to depict the event for my readers. It was exciting to be in an official press pool and to learn from the professionals around me.
Best of SNO winner
Student Band Purely Indigo Takes the Stage – Lifestyle/Culture Feature
Creek is full of talented student artists in all fields. When I heard of a student indie band, Purely Indigo, made up of mostly marching band kids and a Creek grad, I knew our publication needed to cover them. I spent a lot of time talking through Purely Indigo's creative process with a couple of its members before interviewing the rest of the band for the full article. Eventually, I decided to publish the story in our March magazine, which came directly on the heels of the school talent show where Purely Indigo performed. To illustrate the story, I chose an image I took at one of the band's practices rather than their performance onstage, because it gave a more intimate feel to the story. Hundreds of members of the Creek community have seen the band perform, and just as the article offers a closer look at their work, the image invites readers into the band's backstage world, so even those who saw Purely Indigo perform would learn something new.
Best of SNO winner
One of the horrible realities my generation faces is the ever-present threat of gun violence on campus. After a student at Denver East High School was shot and killed right next to his school, in the middle of the school day, students throughout the Denver area mourned and then organized protests. A March 3 rally at the State Capitol featured mostly students from East, but there were also students from other local schools, including Creek. And with my entire school community paying close attention to what had happened at East, I knew it merited coverage. What made this reporting different from most of the other work I've done this year was that I did every single interview on the spot – none was coordinated or prearranged via email or phone. I approached each person outside the Colorado Senate Chamber, where many students, legislators, and Moms Demand Action activists had gathered to discuss gun regulations. I spent a few hours working the story and getting as many perspectives as possible to integrate into this breaking news story.
Best of SNO winner
I've long worried about the threat that domestic cats pose to wild birds, and I'd been planning an editorial on the subject for a while. But when some guest speakers from Denver Audubon visited Creek AP Environmental Science classes, a course that many seniors at my school take, it spurred me to finally follow through. The speakers discussed human threats to migrating birds and offered solutions like turning off lights during peak migration dates, limiting use of pesticides, and – yes – keeping cats indoors. I used my own family experience as a baseline and built the opinion piece from there, drawing on scientific studies and other research. In the final article, I wanted not only to advocate my own position, but also to provide my readers with the pertinent facts of the issue.
Best of SNO winner
See Moments From Marching Band’s Full Season – Photo Essay/Sports
Much like I did the previous season, I followed the Creek marching band from August through December, publishing multiple Instagram posts and articles about the band's progress, including some of their high-profile events and wins. Then, I sought to summarize their year in this final photo gallery. Working closely over the course of the season with so many students in the band had allowed me to gain an insider's view. By visiting some practices and attending events, I had learned to anticipate their movements, so I knew where to be on the field and how to aim my camera. I also experimented with sideline angles and different shots at every event I attended. All told, I spent hours crouching on the sidelines as they performed. For this gallery, I selected photos that had mostly not yet appeared on Instagram or our website. I also incorporated some quotes I'd collected throughout the season to give the gallery a better flow.
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