Rachel Chrest- Journalism Advisor
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with great pleasure that I would like to recommend Ruby Curtis. Ruby has been an active
member of my Broadcast Journalism class for the past four years, has attended both local and
national journalism conferences, and is currently one of our producers.
Ruby is a strong reporter and storyteller. She has worked hard to secure stories that might be
hard to tell. As a sophomore, Ruby set up an interview with the mayor of Elk River, something
that quickly gained the attention of administration. Recently, she connected with the family and
friends of a middle school student who is in the hospital waiting for a heart. She told the story
with an equal amount of compassion and information. Last year, Ruby worked hard on a Pride
story which gave a voice to many and showed solid journalism through extensive research and
interviews.
As a news producer, Ruby’s leadership skills truly shine. She understands quality journalism and
works to assist our reporters in holding good news value. Ruby has an organized list of the
stories and statuses of each and every reporter. She guides reporters through problems that
arise and thinks creatively about solutions. The students truly value her feedback and look to her
for guidance.
Ruby will make a great journalist in the future as she has solid news judgment and outstanding
leadership skills. She also works hard to tell the stories that need to be told. We will greatly miss
her next year in Broadcast Journalism, but I find comfort in knowing that her role in journalism is
not over.
Sincerely,
Rachel Chrest
Journalism/ELA Teacher
Spectrum High School
[email protected]
It is with great pleasure that I would like to recommend Ruby Curtis. Ruby has been an active
member of my Broadcast Journalism class for the past four years, has attended both local and
national journalism conferences, and is currently one of our producers.
Ruby is a strong reporter and storyteller. She has worked hard to secure stories that might be
hard to tell. As a sophomore, Ruby set up an interview with the mayor of Elk River, something
that quickly gained the attention of administration. Recently, she connected with the family and
friends of a middle school student who is in the hospital waiting for a heart. She told the story
with an equal amount of compassion and information. Last year, Ruby worked hard on a Pride
story which gave a voice to many and showed solid journalism through extensive research and
interviews.
As a news producer, Ruby’s leadership skills truly shine. She understands quality journalism and
works to assist our reporters in holding good news value. Ruby has an organized list of the
stories and statuses of each and every reporter. She guides reporters through problems that
arise and thinks creatively about solutions. The students truly value her feedback and look to her
for guidance.
Ruby will make a great journalist in the future as she has solid news judgment and outstanding
leadership skills. She also works hard to tell the stories that need to be told. We will greatly miss
her next year in Broadcast Journalism, but I find comfort in knowing that her role in journalism is
not over.
Sincerely,
Rachel Chrest
Journalism/ELA Teacher
Spectrum High School
[email protected]
Mark Leland- High School Principal
To Whom It May Concern,
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Ruby Curtis in support of her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year Scholarship and Award. Ruby is a highly engaged and talented student at our school who has consistently demonstrated a passion for journalism and community involvement.
As a sophomore, Ruby took the initiative to reach out to the mayor of Elk River, MN, conducting an insightful interview that showcased her ability to connect with local prominent figures. Furthermore, she demonstrated compassion and empathy by reaching out to and interviewing the family of one of our students who is in the hospital fighting a battle against heart disease.
In her journalistic pursuits, Ruby has engaged with a diverse range of student groups to complete captivating stories and profiles. Her dedication is evident in her coverage of various topics, including student extracurricular activities, locker decorations throughout the school, hunting, highlighting middle school students and their experience, and the new student parking lot. This broad array of coverage exemplifies her adaptability and commitment to representing the diverse experiences within our school community.
Ruby's excellence in journalism has been recognized through multiple awards at our local convention. This is a testament to her dedication and skill in reporting. Her reporting style is characterized by thought-provoking questions that ensure fair and balanced reporting. The traits Ruby displays in her work most certainly uphold the journalistic code of integrity. As a producer for NOISE News, she not only demonstrates leadership skills but also guides her peers in news judgment, troubleshooting, and generating innovative story ideas.
It is clear that Ruby is inspired by her passion for journalism and it is my understanding that she aspires to pursue this field in the future. Her proactive approach to attending a national journalism convention in Fall 2022, where she gained valuable skills and competed in a competition, reflects her commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Additionally, she has actively participated in several local journalism conferences, where her achievements have been acknowledged with awards.
Academically, Ruby is a standout student with a strong GPA of 3.7. Her dedication to excellence extends beyond journalism, highlighting her commitment to maintaining high academic standards in all facets of her education.
In conclusion, Ruby's strong leadership skills, her dedication to all she is involved in, and her passion for community engagement make her an excellent candidate for the Journalist of the Year Scholarship and Award. It is without reservation that I recommend Ruby Curtis for your consideration for this prestigious honor. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information.
Sincerely,
Mark W. Leland
High School Principal Spectrum High School, 9-12
763-450-9862
17796 Industrial Circle NW
Elk River, MN 55330
I am pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Ruby Curtis in support of her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year Scholarship and Award. Ruby is a highly engaged and talented student at our school who has consistently demonstrated a passion for journalism and community involvement.
As a sophomore, Ruby took the initiative to reach out to the mayor of Elk River, MN, conducting an insightful interview that showcased her ability to connect with local prominent figures. Furthermore, she demonstrated compassion and empathy by reaching out to and interviewing the family of one of our students who is in the hospital fighting a battle against heart disease.
In her journalistic pursuits, Ruby has engaged with a diverse range of student groups to complete captivating stories and profiles. Her dedication is evident in her coverage of various topics, including student extracurricular activities, locker decorations throughout the school, hunting, highlighting middle school students and their experience, and the new student parking lot. This broad array of coverage exemplifies her adaptability and commitment to representing the diverse experiences within our school community.
Ruby's excellence in journalism has been recognized through multiple awards at our local convention. This is a testament to her dedication and skill in reporting. Her reporting style is characterized by thought-provoking questions that ensure fair and balanced reporting. The traits Ruby displays in her work most certainly uphold the journalistic code of integrity. As a producer for NOISE News, she not only demonstrates leadership skills but also guides her peers in news judgment, troubleshooting, and generating innovative story ideas.
It is clear that Ruby is inspired by her passion for journalism and it is my understanding that she aspires to pursue this field in the future. Her proactive approach to attending a national journalism convention in Fall 2022, where she gained valuable skills and competed in a competition, reflects her commitment to continuous learning and improvement. Additionally, she has actively participated in several local journalism conferences, where her achievements have been acknowledged with awards.
Academically, Ruby is a standout student with a strong GPA of 3.7. Her dedication to excellence extends beyond journalism, highlighting her commitment to maintaining high academic standards in all facets of her education.
In conclusion, Ruby's strong leadership skills, her dedication to all she is involved in, and her passion for community engagement make her an excellent candidate for the Journalist of the Year Scholarship and Award. It is without reservation that I recommend Ruby Curtis for your consideration for this prestigious honor. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information.
Sincerely,
Mark W. Leland
High School Principal Spectrum High School, 9-12
763-450-9862
17796 Industrial Circle NW
Elk River, MN 55330
Andy Nyquist- High School Advisor
To the Journalism Education Association:
I am honored to have the opportunity to advocate for Ruby Curtis in her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year Scholarship.
As Ruby’s academic advisor at Spectrum High School, I have been fortunate to know Ruby for her entire high school
career and have had the opportunity to see Ruby grow and thrive in her various roles within Spectrum High School’s
digital media program known as Noise News. Ruby has dedicated countless hours to this program, and the accolades and
recognition she has acquired are a testament to her talents and work ethic within the program.
Over the years, Ruby’s dedication, commitment, and integrity have earned her the role of Noise News Producer, but the
accomplishments have not been recognized within our school alone. During Ruby’s Junior year, she placed 4th place in the
state at the Minnesota High Press Association (MHPA) for her Broadcast Feature Story. During her Senior Year, she
earned a 2nd place in her Broadcast News Story and 1st place in her Broadcast Feature Story. Furthermore, Ruby’s work
was recently published through the student journalism site SNOSites, a well deserved honor showcasing Ruby’s talents
and work ethic. These awards highlight the importance and value Ruby has placed on creating high quality news stories
throughout all four years of her high school digital media experience.
Ruby is a role model outside of her role as Noise News Producer as well. I have had the pleasure of having Ruby in my
advisory course all four years of high school as well as being her Algebra II teacher. In both settings, Ruby was a role
model to her peers, showcasing dependability, perseverance, and hard-work. A testament to those attributes is that Ruby
will graduate high school with an astonishing 33 college credits, which qualifies her as a college sophomore despite being
a high school senior by age.
For these reasons and without hesitation, I recommend Ruby Curtis in her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year
Scholarship.
Sincerely,
Andy Nyquist
Mathematics Teacher
I am honored to have the opportunity to advocate for Ruby Curtis in her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year Scholarship.
As Ruby’s academic advisor at Spectrum High School, I have been fortunate to know Ruby for her entire high school
career and have had the opportunity to see Ruby grow and thrive in her various roles within Spectrum High School’s
digital media program known as Noise News. Ruby has dedicated countless hours to this program, and the accolades and
recognition she has acquired are a testament to her talents and work ethic within the program.
Over the years, Ruby’s dedication, commitment, and integrity have earned her the role of Noise News Producer, but the
accomplishments have not been recognized within our school alone. During Ruby’s Junior year, she placed 4th place in the
state at the Minnesota High Press Association (MHPA) for her Broadcast Feature Story. During her Senior Year, she
earned a 2nd place in her Broadcast News Story and 1st place in her Broadcast Feature Story. Furthermore, Ruby’s work
was recently published through the student journalism site SNOSites, a well deserved honor showcasing Ruby’s talents
and work ethic. These awards highlight the importance and value Ruby has placed on creating high quality news stories
throughout all four years of her high school digital media experience.
Ruby is a role model outside of her role as Noise News Producer as well. I have had the pleasure of having Ruby in my
advisory course all four years of high school as well as being her Algebra II teacher. In both settings, Ruby was a role
model to her peers, showcasing dependability, perseverance, and hard-work. A testament to those attributes is that Ruby
will graduate high school with an astonishing 33 college credits, which qualifies her as a college sophomore despite being
a high school senior by age.
For these reasons and without hesitation, I recommend Ruby Curtis in her pursuit of the Journalist of the Year
Scholarship.
Sincerely,
Andy Nyquist
Mathematics Teacher
Laura Johnson- High School English Teacher
20 February 2024
Journalism Education Association
Journalist of the Year Competition
Dear JEA Journalist of the Year Scholarship Chair or Committee:
I am writing to recommend my student, Ruby Curtis, for your scholarship. I am a
Language Arts and Communications instructor here at Spectrum High School and Ruby has
been my student these past four years. She’s an impressive student in many ways.
Ruby has taken several of my regular English courses and concurrent enrollment
courses, including Critical Reading and Writing and Introduction to Communications. Right now
Ruby is completing my Introduction to Literature course, also concurrent enrollment. She has
always impressed me with her ability to communicate, whether it be reading, writing, or
speaking. She’s an above average communicator. Ruby has superb critical reading skills, and
she’s an excellent writer. I can always count on Ruby to participate actively and thoughtfully in
class discussion, where her comments are insightful and astute. In her course work, Ruby
maintains a high GPA (3.7) and is respected by students and teachers alike for her attitude and
work ethic.
One of Ruby’s passions is journalism. Ruby has been involved in our NOISE News
program for four years. Student journalists write and produce a high quality daily news program,
which includes daily news and information, as well as fun and creative feature stories. Over the
years, Ruby has reported on sports, teacher and student profiles, clubs, school events, etc., but
most recently, she’s taken on a leadership role. Ruby is a producer this year, and she helps
lead the journalism team. Over the years Ruby has won many awards at the Minnesota High
School Press Association Convention, including fourth place in the broadcast feature story
category in 2022 for her “Meeting the Mayor” story, second place in the broadcast news story
category in 2023 for her “Brady Johnson” story, and first place in broadcast feature story
category for her “Pride Month” story.
I recommend Ruby; she has the ability and drive it takes to succeed in whatever she
does. One of her passions is journalism and she will use her skills, talents, and perseverance to
pursue this passion. This scholarship will be put to good use in Ruby’s future. Thank you for
considering her.
Sincerely,
Laura Johnson / Instructor
Journalism Education Association
Journalist of the Year Competition
Dear JEA Journalist of the Year Scholarship Chair or Committee:
I am writing to recommend my student, Ruby Curtis, for your scholarship. I am a
Language Arts and Communications instructor here at Spectrum High School and Ruby has
been my student these past four years. She’s an impressive student in many ways.
Ruby has taken several of my regular English courses and concurrent enrollment
courses, including Critical Reading and Writing and Introduction to Communications. Right now
Ruby is completing my Introduction to Literature course, also concurrent enrollment. She has
always impressed me with her ability to communicate, whether it be reading, writing, or
speaking. She’s an above average communicator. Ruby has superb critical reading skills, and
she’s an excellent writer. I can always count on Ruby to participate actively and thoughtfully in
class discussion, where her comments are insightful and astute. In her course work, Ruby
maintains a high GPA (3.7) and is respected by students and teachers alike for her attitude and
work ethic.
One of Ruby’s passions is journalism. Ruby has been involved in our NOISE News
program for four years. Student journalists write and produce a high quality daily news program,
which includes daily news and information, as well as fun and creative feature stories. Over the
years, Ruby has reported on sports, teacher and student profiles, clubs, school events, etc., but
most recently, she’s taken on a leadership role. Ruby is a producer this year, and she helps
lead the journalism team. Over the years Ruby has won many awards at the Minnesota High
School Press Association Convention, including fourth place in the broadcast feature story
category in 2022 for her “Meeting the Mayor” story, second place in the broadcast news story
category in 2023 for her “Brady Johnson” story, and first place in broadcast feature story
category for her “Pride Month” story.
I recommend Ruby; she has the ability and drive it takes to succeed in whatever she
does. One of her passions is journalism and she will use her skills, talents, and perseverance to
pursue this passion. This scholarship will be put to good use in Ruby’s future. Thank you for
considering her.
Sincerely,
Laura Johnson / Instructor