When senior Kelly Egan heard she was named Journalist of the Year for NH, she was “shocked.”
“I didn’t even know how I did it,” Egan said. “It didn’t feel real.”
Egan has been on The Lancer Spirit staff since she was a sophomore. She’s been a reporter, then the A&E editor and currently she is the Editor-in-Chief of the student news publication.
Being on staff has pushed Egan to “grow as a writer and person.” In her job as Editor-in-Chief, she not only has to write the tough stories, but she also has to help other editors and reporters with their writing.
“Balancing being a mentor to others while working on my own writing has helped me grow,” Egan said. “Writing about hard topics has helped me learn how to navigate tough conversations.”
Having those moments not only make her better, but has made her ”become a better writer.”
“It breaks you down and builds yo
u up, and you have to try try again,” Egan said.
Egan credits her adviser Mary DeWinkleer as the one who “pushed” her to apply in the first place.
“I wouldn’t have applied if it wasn’t for [Dewinkeleer’s] motivation and her believing in me,” Egan said.
DeWinkeleer is “so proud” of all Egan has accomplished since having her for the first time when she was a sophomore.
“I knew when I first met Kelly that she was special and had a lot of talent,” DeWinkeleer said. “When she was a junior, I encouraged her to apply to the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Award, and she ended up getting that and representing N.H. last summer in Washington, D.C.”
It made sense to DeWinkeleer to then encourage Egan to apply to the Journalism Education Association Journalist of the Year during her senior year.
“It’s amazing, but not surprising, that she got that too,” DeWinkeleer said.
“So now she has represented NH in a national competition two times in one year.”
DeWinkeleer will be “so sad” watching Egan graduate on June 14, but “excited.”
“I’m so excited to see all she’ll accomplish at Emerson and beyond,” DeWinkeleer said. “[Egan] and I often joke about how we are always in each other’s heads. I’ll be about to say something to the staff, and [Egan] will say the same exact thing. I’ll miss her taking up real estate in my head.”
Egan is also sad to be leaving, but can’t wait to be at Emerson.
“For a journalism major, being in boston holds so many journalistic opportunities,”Egan said.
This role means “everything” to Egan and it is something she “strives in”. She especially enjoys this experience because she can go through it with some of her best friends.
“[High school journalism] has given me life-long friends and a mentor I will never forget, and an experience I would never trade for anything,” Egan said.
Being on staff has not only given her an “experience” but has increased her “confidence,” which stems from theater.
“I’ve done theater since I was ten,” Egan said. “And cosigning with journalism has given me a lot of confidence.”
Being on stage and “performing” in front of a crowd helps with other common skills in journalism.
“Theater helps a lot being on stage and performing, which also helps with talking to different people,” Egan said.
From starting theater at age ten, and then “finding confidence” to help with her writing, Egan said his award means “the world” to her.
“I love writing and I want to do it for the rest of my life, and only being 18 and being honored like that,” Egan said. “I can’t even put it into words, it’s recognition of my work that has been appreciated.”
