2026 Emerging Journalist

About Me

I am currently a sophomore at Pleasant Valley High School. Outside of school, I enjoy playing tennis for the Spartans tennis team. I also discovered a passion for music and the guitar after learning to play ten years ago, inspired by my dad, who also plays. In my free time, I love designing layouts and the interior of spaces.

In eighth grade, my English class had a journalism unit, and it was then that I knew I wanted to write for the Spartan Shield in the future. This school year was my first writing for the Spartan Shield—it was everything I had looked forward to and more. Throughout both semesters, I found myself becoming more confident in my voice and in the connections I was forming with my teacher and other writers in the class. Mrs. Dyer has created an environment that fosters genuine connections, and I would not have been able to accomplish what I have without her guidance. The Spartan Shield has given me an outlet where my writing can be impactful, and I hope to continue spreading meaningful messages. After curriculum changes at the junior high school eliminated the journalism unit in English classes this year, I took it upon myself to start a newspaper club so students there could have the opportunity to discover their passion for writing, as I did years ago. I am currently working to promote the club to students and to create a curriculum that teaches the foundations of journalism.

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Greg Hipskind

This article was published a month after Greg Hipskind's passing. He was a cornerstone of the Quad Cities music community. Hipskind founded the Quad Cities Rock Academy, an institution meant to teach musical instruments, and mentored many students in forming their own rock bands. It was at his academy that I learned to play the guitar.

I feel honored to have been able to publish this article in print and distribute it to Hipskind's family and all of the people whose lives he touched. While I was limited in what I could do to give back to the QC Rock Academy, I was able to contribute to the community by formally writing about the innumerable influence Hipskind had on his students. As the community he created came together to recognize and support all of his work, I funneled my appreciation for Hipskind's life into this article, which was my tribute to him and the immense impact he had on the Quad Cities.

The most challenging part of writing this piece was putting my personal emotions aside during a time of grief. As difficult as the article was to write, I felt compelled to be the one to write it so that I could do justice to Hipskind's legacy. Throughout the process of writing and interviewing, I received an incredible amount of comfort and support from Pleasant Valley students who were also affected by his death; this article would not have been what it is without their reassurance.

The Story of an Immigrant

The stories featured in this cover story were a testament to the fact that ICE-related conflicts are not only happening in Texas and Minnesota; they are affecting and are relevant to Pleasant Valley students. The Spartan Shield Editorial Board, of which I am a member, made the decision to uphold students' anonymity in order to allow them to speak freely about the turbulence they had been experiencing with escalating ICE encounters. In writing this article, I strove to create an environment in which a PV student could feel comfortable sharing their valuable, authentic thoughts. Publishing the article as part of the Spartan Shield's cover story meant that the student’s voice would have a platform where it could truly resonate. This cover story shed light on a powerful message that needed to be heard, especially amid the rise in apprehension within the community.

Before this story was published, I spent several days debating whether or not to credit myself as the author. I, myself, feared the backlash I might face as the child of immigrant parents. However, I feel incredibly proud to have written and published this article. It was a significant step out of my comfort zone, but I believe it was a step in the right direction. Through interviews with students and parents, as well as collaborating with other writers on this cover story, I realized that the internal conflicts I was experiencing were not only echoed by others affected by immigration policies, but also understood by many of my peers. While I was writing to amplify the voice of another student, I felt empowered by my own writing; that is a liberating feeling I hope to experience each time I write.

Pleasant Valley School Board Members Move on to Iowa Legislation

Although I had limited personal attachment to this story, I felt it was essential to cover the successes of Pleasant Valley's leadership. While representing the voices of students at PV is imperative, it is equally important to recognize the accomplishments of our directors, who work selflessly to improve the school and community.

Furthermore, I hoped to address the decreasing rate of voter participation by informing readers about politicians from Pleasant Valley. If future voters are informed about local politics, their increased awareness may also lead to greater interest in local elections, something that is crucial to improving the cities in which Pleasant Valley students reside. Educating youth on local politics was a topic I was able to discuss with Mr. Nikhil Wagle during an in-person interview as part of the writing process.

It was fascinating to hear the perspective of someone who has played such a large role in PV policies. He shared many valuable insights into how his work on the school board has impacted PV, as well as his future aspirations for the community at the state level. Additionally, I was able to apply lessons I learned from Iowa State University's Gary Sawyer after attending his seminar on interviewing at the IHSPA Fall Conference. One technique Mr. Sawyer emphasized was asking for anecdotes; when I asked Mr. Wagle for one, I was able to highlight his notable work in creating more inclusive playgrounds at Pleasant Valley elementary schools.

Thank you for your consideration and taking the time to read these articles

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