By Cloey Harris, CHS Junior
Clover, SC - The end of August marks The Roaring Eagle’s one-year anniversary. During this short yet fulfilling journey, this community paper has grown tremendously. As we reflect, we are amazed at the growth we've already achieved.
The idea of The Roaring Eagles first began in 2022 when three River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions Club members, Phil Weiss, Sherri Ciurlik, and Richard Lewis, had the thought of a newspaper written by Clover High School students that not only covers school events, but the Clover/Lake Wylie area at large. The Lions Club is a global service organization whose members work together to support their communities and help those in need. Their motto, “We Serve”, reflects their commitment to making a positive impact through volunteer efforts and charitable activities. The Roaring Eagle was originally going to be an online paper, but after a conversation with a committee formed of interested Lions, Clover School District administrators, and CHS teachers, the decision was made to offer the news both online and in print. The Lions were willing to support this effort through mentorship and funding. Dr. Kelly Clark agreed to lead the students through an elective class called “Newspaper Production”. Although she was hesitant about taking on a new challenge at first, she has since realized she has a passion for journalism.
The Lions idea came from a discussion about the lack of local news in the area. The community had been without a newspaper for over a decade. With the inception of The Roaring Eagle, residents stay informed, and CHS students gain valuable real-world journalism experience.
In the early months of The Roaring Eagle, we faced significant challenges: limited columns, a small editorial team, scarce materials, and a tight budget. However, the year has brought exciting growth. We introduced the “Dog of the Month” column and the “Newcomer column”, a unique feature for families new to our area, offering them insights into local activities, restaurants, and town events. Producing the newspaper was initially tough due to our material constraints. Still, thanks to a grant we secured from the Clover Leaders for Educational Advancement Foundation (Clover LEAF), we were able to purchase Sony cameras, which have greatly improved the quality of our photographs. Additionally, the support from our 25 business sponsors, 19 individual sponsors, and the advertisers in our paper has been instrumental. Their contributions have made it possible for us to secure the resources needed to produce a high-quality publication.
In addition to receiving a grant in the inaugural year, the South Carolina chapter of the National School Public Relations Association awarded a prestigious Medallion Award to The Roaring Eagle. This award honors outstanding achievements in school communications and public relations. It recognizes exceptional efforts in promoting positive school/community relationships, effective communication strategies, and innovative public relations campaigns within schools or school districts. This award is one of only two Medallion Awards bestowed in 2024.
As we celebrate The Roaring Eagle’s one-year anniversary, we are filled with pride and gratitude for the journey we have begun. What started as only an idea has blossomed into a thriving newspaper. The support from the River Hills/Lake Wylie Lions, our sponsors, and the community has been a great part of our success. As we look forward, we are excited to continue growing, innovating, and serving our community with passion. Here’s to many more years of stories, connections, and community spirit through The Roaring Eagle.
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