The 2024-2025 school year has been a fantastic year for the Cub! As of this moment, a total of 70 articles were published this school year alone from many different correspondents. Each of these students have made many improvements to their reading, writing, communication, and critical thinking skills throughout the school year, culminating in what the Cub’s Editors consider to be one of the best years they have seen!
The Cub’s Co-Editors, John Loos and Ethan Millard, are graduating from BASH this year. With this sad farewell rapidly approaching, it is important that a new editor be chosen to usher in the next generation of the Cub. After much deliberation, a careful selecting criteria, and multiple cash bribes made directly into Ethan Millard’s bank account (as is protocol I must disclose this is a joke), the BASH Cub’s Editor in Chief for next year is… Hailey Gress!
Hailey Gress has been a key correspondent of the Cub since she joined last year. She is one of the most prominent, outspoken voices in the cub with a gift of storytelling that makes her a pillar of the Cub’s success. Since joining the Cub and Journalism classes two years ago, Hailey has successfully published 25 stories covering a wide array of topics. She has written on everything from plays to senior spotlights, BASH trends, teacher features, reviews, sports, and looks at BASH’s history. Hailey has always used her voice to elevate BASH and bring people together.
As next year’s Editor in Chief, Hailey has many exciting plans for how the Cub will run with her in charge. “I want to make sure every student is able to find their interests and be able to write on that” Hailey said in an interview, “I hope students can show their creativity next year. There’s many ways to help out other than writing, and I think that could be a really exciting opportunity for students.”
Hailey is also excited to continue her own reporting and storytelling. She loves reporting on the football games in the fall as she says they, “bring a lot of good energy and its fun for everybody to watch.” Hailey is also excited to report on different BASH events and traditions, “they have a lot of different ways for students to feel included and be themselves. I love highlighting them because there’s so many kids who have their whole heart into their passions and it’s awesome to see.”
In looking to foster her journalism, leadership, writing, and communication skills, Hailey Gress will be attending the Washington Journalism and Media Conference (WJMC) this July. The WJMC is a week long summer event where students from around the country join together to see what Journalists do, and visit a variety of important places like capital hill.
After being nominated by Mrs. Schaarschmidt, the Cub’s advisor, Hailey jumped on the opportunity to attend. “I think [the WJMC] can really enhance my writing and learn a lot,” says Hailey. “It’s another thing I’ve dreamed of but never thought I’d be nominated. I’m really looking forward to this huge opportunity.”
Hailey’s favorite thing about journalism has always been getting to view and understand different people’s perspectives on BASH and the community as a whole. “I love interacting with diverse groups of people and hearing about different interests and qualities.”
For any incoming Journalism and Cub students and correspondents, Hailey leaves them with this advice, “I think there’s a bunch of wonderful opportunities coming up for the Cub and I’m excited to see what future holds.”
Every member of the Cub may need to adjust to the coming change, but we trust that Hailey is the perfect pick to lead us through this transitional period. All of us here at the Cub are wishing her an amazing year, and are excited to see what she is able to accomplish.
