For a week in the summer, Luecke, a sophomore at Grand Center Arts Academy, a Confluence Charter School, will experience the 2016 Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University in Washington, D.C. The conference is July 17-July 22. A press release from the conference explains that Luecke will join a select group of students from across the country for “an intensive study of journalism and media.” She was chosen based on “academic accomplishments and a demonstrated interest and excellence in journalism and media studies.”
As a national youth correspondent, Luecke will participate in hands-on, experiential learning through decision-making simulations that pose challenges to solve problems. Students will “explore creative, practical and ethical tensions that are inherent in journalism.” The conference includes speakers who are well-known as leaders in media – journalists, chief executive officers of major media outlets, researchers and recent college graduates who are showing success in the field.
Luecke knew nothing about the program until she got a letter in the mail.
“My first thought is that it was a form letter from a college,” said Luecke. “I looked up the program and did research to make sure it was real.” Once she decided it was worthwhile, she applied for a scholarship to participate. She wrote a personal statement for an award, which led her to earn $1,500. She also started a fundraising site to help with costs.
Luecke is the assistant editor-in-chief for GCAA’s student media program. Their work is published online at GCAAtoday.com. Her responsibilities include making sure the student journalism staff “knows what they’re working on, to give feedback and advice, to help with story ideas and keeping deadlines to get the stories published on the website.”
It’s her second year at Grand Center Arts Academy. Her arts pathway is vocal music. She sings in an a cappella group and is involved with College Bound. Before GCAA, she attended St. Louis Charter School, now known as Premier Charter School. She chose GCAA because “I thought it would be a good place to express myself. There are a variety of people doing different things and I learn from them.”
Conversations with her mom reflect her interest in journalism. “We always talk about the news and what’s going on in the world. And, I like to keep people informed, to let them know what’s happening.”
As editor-in-chief, Luecke feels as if she gets to help others. “It gives me a sense of contributing to media as a whole. I’m helping other students grow academically, and to grow with their writing.”
“Writing is something I appreciate,” she continued.
To prepare for D.C., she has a list of books and documents of suggested reading. She gets to decide what to read based on her interests.
It’s still weeks away, but Luecke has expectations for what she wants to learn at the conference, such as how high school journalists can contribute to the media industry in the future.