Balancing work, family, and other classes alongside creating a yearbook, Kyra Balch (12) and Alyssandra Becker (12) demonstrated commitment and devotion. For their capstone class, both girls created a portfolio of their journalistic work over the past four years. They both submitted their portfolios to the Wisconsin Journalism Education Association (JEA) in hopes of winning Wisconsin’s Journalist of the Year.
“I knew Aly was going to be my biggest competitor, and her design skills are arguably better than my design skills,” Balch said. “When we first had mentioned the website a little bit, me and Aly talked about it, and we both agreed that no matter what happens, we’ll both be happy for the other.”
On Feb. 15, Balch and her yearbook adviser, Michelle Corbett, received an email announcing that she had won. However, she was not just the journalist of the year; Balch and Becker were both selected to be on the Wisconsin All-State Journalism Team. Balch also won a $1,000 scholarship that would go towards her college education.
“[Being chosen] It feels great because it kind of solidifies that I can adapt and learn things very quickly and efficiently,” Becker said. “Although I’m not planning on pursuing journalism, I still have a pretty good grounding in it.”
Becker first got into journalism during her junior year, when she joined yearbook and was given an editor position that later transpired into co-editor in chief alongside Balch. Becker and Balch worked side by side each day, supporting one another through both the good and bad times.
“Aly tends to be a little bit quieter. Kyra tends to be a little louder and in your face, and I mean that in the best way. It goes to being different and complementing each other; they’re both just incredible, and I’m so glad that I got to work with them the last few years,” Corbett said.
As their adviser, Corbett witnessed the dynamic between the two girls, especially, in yearbook. Being co-editors in chief together required them to bounce ideas off each other and play to each other’s strengths. They relied on each other, inside and outside of school.
“Together, they’re insanely creative, and individually, they’re really creative, but put them together, and they’re a powerhouse,” Corbett said. “They’re so much alike in these ways that they are both so caring, they’re kind, they’re both very passionate about their work.”
Balch felt that she owed part of her award win to her role as editor in chief. She felt she gained leadership skills and grew in her ability to work with others, even with difficult people.
“I don’t think I would be anywhere near where I am today without her [Corbett],” Balch said. “She kind of motivated me nonstop to push myself, and would say what I was doing is good, but she would always challenge me to go harder. She’s been my biggest supporter, probably throughout this whole thing.”
