LEADERSHIP
140+ staff awards
Over three years
Back-to-back State Championships
The first and second years of the program’s existence
2025 Pacemaker Finalist
One of 34 nationwide — “The Pulitzer Prize of student journalism”
“In our time together, I have witnessed her grow from a young, motivated student into a resilient leader who has been instrumental in developing our student news program and who will unequivocally leave a legacy of excellence when she graduates this spring…She consistently goes above and beyond to accomplish what needs to be done to make them happen. This is true with her own work and projects, but also as a leader. She takes initiative in ways that allow me, as her adviser, to focus on the bigger picture, knowing that she has the details under control…In every sense of the word, Madie is a leader who leads with vision, persistence, and heart. She has not only set the standard for excellence at Gretna East, but she has also left behind a foundation that will continue to benefit students and the community for years to come.”
— Ranae Duncan, Gretna East Journalism Adviser
“Madeline has not only set the standard for excellence but has also elevated the class through her leadership. She leads by example—mentoring her peers and editing every piece with a discerning eye…Madeline is a natural leader in a group and inspires a team culture rooted in trust, creativity, and mutual respect. Madeline’s storytelling stands apart for its depth, clarity, and emotional resonance… Madeline is the type of person who makes every team stronger. Her mix of leadership, creative vision, and collaborative energy will no doubt continue to leave an impact wherever she goes…She thrives under pressure, adapts quickly, and works seamlessly within a production team—a skill set that mirrors professional newsroom standards.”
— Kelly McVey, Gretna East Broadcasting Adviser
“Madeline’s behavior fosters a deep sense of trust. When I assign her a project, I know the final product will not only be completed on time but will be executed with a level of care that elevates our program. I have trusted her with a wide array of high-stakes responsibilities…She possesses the rare combination of technical skill, journalistic integrity, and the "people skills" necessary to thrive in this industry.”
— Dave Stastny, Gretna East Broadcasting Adviser
I never thought I’d take life advice from Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, but somehow the 2013 movie, The Internship, has become my life philosophy.
The film follows two middle-aged salesmen with zero tech experience who talk their way into internships at Google. Completely unqualified in the traditional sense, they’re surrounded by coding prodigies and STEM experts. But instead of pretending to be something they’re not, they lean into their strengths, people skills, grit, creativity, and end up building the winning team by encouraging others to be themselves too.
It’s ridiculous, but the premise is there: be your authentic self. That mindset not only helped me get my start in journalism, but it eventually helped me build a winning team of my own.
My sophomore year, I was suddenly in charge. A 15-year-old girl who had never edited anything before was leading 18-year-olds. It wasn’t easy. I was trying to be what I thought a leader should be. Strict, assertive, tough. But that wasn’t me. So, I thought back to The Internship and how they made a team that worked.
One reporter was too timid for interviews but had the best copy editing skills of anyone on staff. Another didn’t like news stories but wrote sharp entertainment reviews. I didn’t force them to be reporters they weren’t; I found a place for each of them to thrive.
It also meant grabbing Chipotle as we talked through story ideas, rating Met Gala looks when we needed creative inspiration, and even sitting through an 11-hour Hunger Games movie marathon.
I got to jump up and scream as our most self-conscious reporter won an award at Nationals. I got to read a note from a freshman that said, “You just get me. I can’t wait to be like you when I’m older.” I got to celebrate everything from acting awards to math decathlon medals, because when you build a real newsroom, you celebrate the whole person, not just their articles.
When I learned to play to everyone’s strengths, including my own, we won back-to-back state titles, national recognition, and over 130 awards across the staff. But more importantly, I created a newsroom where people felt seen, heard, and valued for being their true selves.
DAILY
Truly my fav
Each day, I start the staff off with a meeting. I do I quick run through of what staff members are working on, events that need covered, tasks that need accomplished, any edits I made the previous night or any other general announcements. Our color-coded calendar allows me and the staff to keep track of what story needs to be published on what day. This provides a helpful guide to keep our site full of fresh, diverse content.
TRADITIONS
Gretna East Media takes a lot of pride in our traditions, like GEMsgiving and Secret Santa. These two events began in our first year, 2023, and since then, have only become more beloved. The Thursday before Thanksgiving, the staff gathers to share a meal, and the day before winter break, we exchange gifts.
BONDING
While we do spend most of our “bonding” time playing on our shared Minecraft server and sending TikToks to our “WINGS🍗” group chat, in-person time is integral to our team. So far this year we have had a pumpkin painting night and Angel Tree shopping day.
STORY PITCH
Our bi-weekly story pitch was inspired by my mom’s advice to always have two story ideas at the ready.
Each staff member is given a sheet to explain their story idea and dissect it’s news values, ensuring each pitch is valuable.
