by Anika LeeVan
New Prairie's own newspaper, The Cougar Chronicle, has eight seniors on staff and each one is gifted in their department.
This year’s Editor in Chief, Emmy Kirkham, is a News section writer and a leader. Chloe VanOverberghe, a student life reporter, said, “I think Emmy is a very responsible leader and is always on top of things.” Emmy has been part of the newspaper team for two years. Her favorite part about newspaper is “getting to write about different things.”
Ashlee Burroughs is the Cougar Chronicle’s Art Editor and loves that in newspaper “we have open discussions [and] we can talk about anything.” Burroughs said newspaper has helped her “come up with a style she’s never had before.” Her drawings has been featured in many of the Cougar Chronicle issues for the past three years.
Elizabeth Thomas is an artist who also draws the comics. Her comic is called “Food Wars,” and there is a new one every issue. She has been in newspaper for two years. Her artwork is also seen on many of the articles on the Cougar Chronicle.
Sophie Bull has been the Photo Editor for four years. She likes how “everybody can really get along but at the same time they’re not forcing you to talk to each other.” Bull’s photos can be seen all over the Cougar Chronicle website and Instagram.
Photographer, Madyson Janiszewski has only been in newspaper for one year but said “every day is really fun. I definitely look forward to this class.” Newspaper has given Janiszewski “more experience in photography.” Her photos are also featured all over the Cougar Chronicle.
Maddie Mellen is the Student Life section editor and has also only been in newspaper for a year. Her favorite part about this class is that “you get to be very independent.” “I think [newspaper] has helped me with my writing…and the pointers [Mrs.Wilkeson] has given are things I’ve never looked at and has prepared me for what's after high school.” Mellen’s articles can be seen in the Student Life section.
Sports section editor, Maleny Mireles said that she likes “how we get to really go do interviews and really connect with the people.” Mireles “plans on taking a lot of writing classes” after New Prairie. What she is going to miss most about newspaper is the deadline parties and Maddie Mellen.
Tyler Ryder is the Arts and Entertainment section editor and thinks “it’s kinda fun in a weird way to research stuff and be able to talk about it.” Ryder is going to miss “being able to make friends with people [he] didn’t think [he’d] be friends with.” His two years worth of articles can be read on the Cougar Chronicle website.
On the Business and PR team is Allie Nielson. She “helps with the social media pages and spreads the news about when [the newspaper] posts.” Nielson likes the “freedom to write pretty much whatever.” She is thinking about being on the newspaper team at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Readers can see her posts on the Cougar Chronicle Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.