On April 5, Michigan Office Solutions and the Detroit Red Wings presented high school journalism students with a challenge: Write two 500 word essays in the hopes of winning grants ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 for their school’s journalism program. The essays also ensured participating students a spot at attending the High School Journalism Day at Joe Louis Arena.
King’s very own Carrimia Owens entered her essays and won 2nd place and a $3,500 grant.
“I entered the contest because I felt like our journalism program needed the money,” said Owens. “We are very good journalists, we produce amazing articles and they would be better articles if we had better resources.”
In the first essay, Owens had to explain why she wants to be a journalist and what her goals are when she becomes a journalist.
“That question was the easiest to answer,” she recalled. “I want to ask the hard questions most people won’t, to allow someone’s story to be told, and to make my readers aware of relevant events going on in the city.”
The next essay asked how a $5,000 grant could support the school’s journalism program. With that grant, King’s program can receive new technology and books can be bought to help both the program and students reach new heights.
“I want the money to be used to purchase new technology for our journalism program and take outside trips to see how other journalists interact with each other,” said Owens. “It would be beneficial for us to see journalists in action.”
This grant will not be taken lightly or in vain. King’s Journalism Program is low funded because it is not a sport or a performing art. With this grant, the articles that King students write can be even better. Owens was not the only one who won that day: journalism students, program adviser Veronica Hollis, and King are all winners.
“Being able to win our program a $3,500 grant is surreal,” said Owens. “We are now in a position to purchase materials that we so desperately need if we want to be the best.”
