 Christie Nicks, a 2008 graduate of Washington High School in Washington, Missouri, has been named the Student Television Network, Inc.'s Student of the Year.
Nicks and her broadcast journalism instructor, Michelle Hoch, put together a DVD of Nicks' best broadcast footage to compete in the contest. She also got letters of recommendation and wrote an essay about how broadcasting has affected her life. Six industry professionals judged the national contest, and Nicks beat out 13 other high school broadcasters.
"My dad took the phone call from STN. When he called me at work to tell me the news, I was elated. I really thought my dad was kidding at first," Nicks said. "Being STN's student of the Year was something I totally didn't expect to get because I had entered two other contests like this in Missouri sponsored by different journalism organizations. It seemed like there was always somebody out there who was better. So, to win this honor was, and still is, a shock to me. I still think there could be someone better than me out there, but for now I just have to say that this is a great feeling."
Christie Nicks' experience in broadcast started her sophomore year when she took a semester-long Introduction to Broadcast Journalism course at WHS. Originally, Nicks thought she'd be a doctor, but while enrolled in that course she was bit by the journalism bug. Nicks went on to work on her high school's "Blue Jay Journal" television and radio programs. Outside of school, she was a "MyMO" youth page editor for the Washington Missourian newspaper and she interned for Diane Jones at KLPW-AM 1220. |
Her internship was so successful she landed a job at KLPW. She currently works two part-time jobs. One at KLPW, and a second at a local GM dealership.
Nicks gets a $1,000 scholarship from STN for her achievement and says she will put it to use when she attends the University of Missouri's School of Journalism in the fall.
"Christie isn't my first student to go to J-school at Mizzou, but she's my first to be the STN Student of the Year," Michelle Hoch, Nick's adviser, said. "Her winning this was the best gift I could have gotten for year number ten of teaching this subject to so many great students. Christie is so good at what she does. I am honored to have been her teacher for the past three years."
Nicks will also be honored during the March convention of the Student Television Network, Inc., in Orlando, Fla. where she will get to intern with the convention, as well as give a speech at the opening ceremony.
"I know the convention is months away, but I already know that in my speech I want to talk about all the great things a person can do with journalism. Journalism can effect people's lives. The feeling that I get when I know a story I produce touches a life is amazing," Nicks said. "That is what I want to focus on in my speech."
Christie is the daughter of Lyndon and Kelly Nicks of Washington.
 Since earning this
honor, Nicks has
been interviewed by Missourinet syndicated radio network, KMOX 1120 AM, and
KLPW 1220 AM.
Two television stations have also expressed
an interest in doing
stories about
Christie. |
2008 Student of the Year Runners Up:
Daniel McKinney
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Lauren Kate Jaffie
Broward Teen News
Broward County, Florida
|
