High School Journalism Institute

Nick Kapke is a graduate of the School of Journalism in May’03. His studies were concentrated in photojournalism/visual communication. Nick also completed a second major in anthropology, focusing on linguistics and material culture of the Plains Indians. Nick currently works in the emergency room of a medical clinic in Breckenridge, CO while completing his WEMT (Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician) training. In addition, he teaches photography short courses at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. In addition to WEMT training and photography, Nick has also led trips in California and Colorado with at-risk youth focusing on alternative therapy models, outdoor education and substance abuse.
 
 

Jim Lang just completed his 16th year of advising student publications, his 13th year as newspaper and yearbook adviser at Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Ind. Jim received his B.A. in journalism and English from Indiana University and his M.A. in secondary education from Indiana University Southeast, and is currently working on his administrative leadership license. He is a former president of the Indiana High School Press Association and has worked in some capacity at HSJI for 19 summers. He was a co-recipient of the Ella Sengenberger Adviser of the Year award in 2006 and was a Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Distinguished Adviser in 2007. This summer, Jim wants his editors to understand their roles as leaders in their schools. 

 

Carmen Mann-Lynch, MJE, just finished her tenth year as yearbook and newspaper adviser at Franklin Community High School (Franklin, Ind.) and her thirteenth year overall as an adviser/educator. She has 18 years of journalism experience. Carmen is the 2002-2003 Arvin Teacher of the Year for Franklin Community School Corporation. She is a Formal Regional Director for Region 6 of the Journalism Education Association. She is a past president for the Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA). She has also served as the director of Crossroads for Ball State University and the director of the IHSPA Sampler, the best of the Indiana High School Press. Carmen judges publications for various scholastic associations. She also teaches at various summer workshops.
 

Terry McCartin currently is retired and living in Mexico part of each year, but before that he taught English and journalism for 30 years at Silver Creek High School, where he was also the newspaper and yearbook sponsor. McCartin received his B.A. from Bellarmine University in Louisville and his M.S. from Indiana University in Bloomington. This summer, he will teach yearbook staff members, section editors and the business/advertising lab. He says he wants to instill each staffer with a true enthusiasm for journalistic work. "Work doesn’t have to be a chore," he said. "It can be fun."
 

Greg Mosley teaches English and journalism at Brown County High School and university level. He earned his B.S. in Education and M.A. in journalism from Indiana University. Currently, he is earning his doctorate in ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary. This summer, he will teach desktop design. "I teach design because I want to see scholastic journalism presented in a professionally designed package that will attract readers to the quality material inside," he said.
 
 

Teaching Newspaper Section Editors will be Terry Nelson, journalism teacher and publications adviser for the award-winning Munsonian newspaper and Magician yearbook at Muncie Central High School. Nelson, a 32-year veteran of advising publications, is proud of her students’ work and especially of their commitment to excellence. She said there is nothing more important than preserving free, diverse student voices in the school newspaper. To do so effectively requires journalism education, good work ethic, curiosity and the intention to help create a real newspaper. Student staff members must learn to tell the stories of real people and events through fair, balanced and thorough reporting. Nelson was named the Dow Jones National Journalism Teacher of the Year, and was a member of the USA Today’s Teaching Team. She recently served on the Board of Directors for the Student Press Law Center.
 
 

Entering his 35th year as a journalism educator on the secondary and collegiate levels. Dan Niles is a former Indiana Journalism Teacher of the Year, a past president of the Indiana High School Press Association, and past president of the Indiana University School of Journalism Alumni Association. A newspaper and yearbook judge of various national journalism contests and rating services, he is well known as an excellent workshop instructor and speaker at conferences. A 30+ years veteran of HSJI, he teaches Newspaper Advising and/or Management of Student Publications during the teacher workshops. Dan, majoring in journalism and English, earned his B.S. in 1972 and M.S. in 1976, both from IU. “I want to continue the Institute’s tradition of providing top notch instruction in an invigorating learning environment where individual needs are foremost,” Niles said.
 
 

Lori Overmyer has been a newspaper and yearbook adviser and teacher at Wabash High School for 17 years. She has also been a freelance photographer and reporter. She can now add publisher to that list of accomplishments. Lori and her business partner have published two books, Easy Low Carb Creations and Easy Low Carb Creations for Kids. Lori received her B.A. in journalism and English from Indiana University in Bloomington. This summer Lori is teaching photojournalism for HSJI.
 

 
 

Denise Roberts has been teaching journalism for 18 years with the last 13 years at Greenwood Community High School. She holds a BS in English and Journalism Education as well as a Masters in Administrative Leadership and has earned her secondary administrative license. Her teaching assignment includes Journalism 1, yearbook, newspaper and broadcast with all staffs earning state and national awards.

For the past 10 years, she has worked at Indiana University summer workshop when her schedule has allowed. Denise was named Indiana Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2000 and a Lilly Endowment Creativity Fellow that same year. During 2004-2005, she earned her Master Journalism Educator status from the Journalism Education Association.

On the homefront, Denise is married to a chef who she sees 1.5 days each week since his schedule is opposite her schedule. And, of course, he is too tired to cook for her, so they eat boxed macaroni and cheese while his customers dine on smoked chicken and grilled asparagus. She has two children, Eric age 13 and Michelle age 10 going on 15. Eric doesn’t like to brush his teeth but can pin a fellow wrestler in 27 seconds, and Michelle spends most of her time loving (torturing) her cat.
 
 

Teresa White currently teaches journalism and English at Noblesville High School in Noblesville, Ind. With 22 years of experience to draw from Teresa has taught a wide range of classes, including news writing, broadcast journalism, newspaper production, plus honors English and senior literature. Students in her desktop design classes will use their time at HSJI to develop not only design and leadership skills, but also style sheets and templates that they can use in the fall. Students will be encouraged to design their publications with their readers’ needs in mind. A proud Indiana University alumna (B.S. in Secondary Education 1985; M.S. in Secondary Education 1993), Teresa looks forward to returning to campus each summer to work with the HSJI students, faculty and staff.


 

Tony Willis advised the student newspaper at Jeffersonville (Indiana) High School from 1979 to 1990 and at Carmel (Indiana) High School from 1990 to 2004. His students earned Gold Crown, Pacemaker and Hoosier Star honors during his tenure. He was named the 1988 Indiana Teacher of the Year and the 1992 Indiana Publications Adviser of the Year. He has taught summer journalism for both students and advisers at Indiana University, Ball State University, Franklin College and the University of South Carolina. Currently, he teaches English at Carmel High School and serves as the school district’s communications coordinator. He earned a BA in journalism and English with Phi Beta Kappa honors and an MS in secondary education from Indiana University.