Last Thursday, 16 new inductees stayed warm in the glow of candlelight as the temperatures dipped below freezing outside. After lighting their own candles from the "Light of Truth," these inductees took pledges as the newest members to OH's William Nunamaker chapter of Quill & Scroll Journalism Honor Society.
Led by 42Fifty Editors-in-Chief Brandyn Hudson and Ethan Monahan, with advisers Amy Howerton (42Fifty) and Ewa Tulak (The Reflector), members read statements off individual yellow cards publicly stating what journalism meant to them.
"Journalism depends on the people you meet and the relationships you [make]," The Reflector yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief and 42Fifty Photography Editor Liam Piekarczyk reminisced at the end of his trip to Nashville, TN, last weekend when he returned from the Journalism Education Association (JEA) Convention. "That is one of the things that make [journalism] special... Being able to collaborate and share stories with people."
Piekarczyk is not alone. Nine fellow OH student journalists joined him in feeling this spirit of scholastic journalism after attending the four-day convention on Thurs., Nov. 13 - Sun., Nov. 16, with 5,312 total attendees from 46 states and eight countries.
A highlight of the trip was the first student presentation for OH students at this convention: three editors-in-chief, including Piekarczyk and 42Fifty Co-Editors-in-Chief Brandyn Hudson and Ethan Monahan, gave a presentation about OH's successful involvement of the student body during Scholastic Journalism Week, held each February.
For the second year in a row, 42Fifty has earned an award from the Quill & Scroll Journalism International Honor Society. During the '24-25 academic year, the OH student news publication staff was thrilled to earn International First Place. Today, the team learned they had outdone themselves by earning the George H. Gallup Award, the highest honor awarded by Quill & Scroll.
"As [one of the Editors-in-Chief], it is very exciting being a part of this publication and being able to help others along the way," said senior Brandyn Hudson. Hudson shared that earning the Gallup Award means the publication rated Superior in all five evaluation categories. These categories include General Practices, Coverage, Writing and Editing, Visuals, and Digital/ Social Media.
Co-Editor-in-Chief senior Nola Quinn earned 42Fifty's first medal at IHSA State Journalism competition, marking the end of a successful spring series for OH journalists. Quinn earned fifth place in News Writing.
Also earning a fifth-place medal at State was senior and Reflector Yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief Elayna Soyke for her work in Photo Story Telling. These two medals, the first ever for OH, were the last of three firsts for the journalism program this spring.
Adviser Amy Howerton welcomed thirteen new inductees to the OH William Nunamaker chapter of the Quill & Scroll Journalism Honor Society last month in what is the largest class in the history of the school.
"It is certainly an honor...
In their first entry in the Quill & Scroll International Honor Society National Media Evaluation, 42Fifty earned an International First Place award. This is the first award the student journalism staff earned during the '24-25 academic year.
"It's a...
42Fifty is proud of its history of scholastic journalism excellence. Please see the awards below earned by the students in this publication from the Northern Illinois Scolastic Press Association (NISPA).
Starting in 2017, the OH students media Panther's Paw (print) and PantherTV publications merged to become 42Fifty, the current student medical publication. Under the leadership of OH English Department Chair Amy Howerton and PantherTV adviser Michael Leali, this convergent media program saw several changes. Students chose the convergent media's new publication's new name, 42Fifty, based on the high school's address. Below, please read more about the history of OH's student media publications.