Julie Leventhal, a junior from South Plantation High school, won the first Culpepper Journalism Foundation fellowship. In June, she attended the University of Florida's Summer Journalism Institute.

"The program certainly exceeded my expectations." Leventhal said. "I returned with a strong confirmation that I truly want to be a journalist in the future."

The days were filled with informative classes and lectures given by professors, students and media professionals.

"Perhaps the best information I learned was how to boost staff morale through incentives and constant recognition of good work," she said. "I look forward to implementing these tactics, and I hope that staffers will be more encouraged to meet deadlines and ad quotas."

Runners up for the fellowship were Michael Boehler, who works on the yearbook, and Michele Dye, who works in TV productions and the yearbook.

Previously Boehler attended two summer institutes, and he won Best Feature Story package at Indiana University. Although Dye began as a photographer for the yearbook and a videographer for television productions, she is Co-editor of the yearbook next year because she excels in all areas: writing, layout and design and advertising.

Use Payroll Deduction for Charity

In the fall, the Broward Education Foundation sends out request cards to Broward School Board personnel to donate $1 or more a month out of their paycheck to the BEF. Employees can designate that dollar to go to a specific fund such as the Culpepper Journalism Foundation.

Last year Charlene Hogan from Pasadena Lakes Elementary and Joan McCabe from BECON requested that their donations go to the CJF.

"I was already giving to the BEF, and now I know who I'm helping," Hogan said.

All an employee has to do is write on the donor card by the amount "Culpepper Journalism Foundation" and the money will be credited by the BEF to the CJF.

Donations are endowed for fellowships. The Culpepper family pays all operating expenses such as printing and postage.

Directors Hold Annual Meeting; CJF to Provide More Fellowships

At the first annual meeting of the CJF, the Board of Directors voted to provide two $300 fellowships for the summer or 1999 if the money could be raised.

Both would go to underclass students: one from South Plantation High and one from another Broward County public high school. Eventually the CJF hopes to have enough endowment money to award a fellowship at every high school.

"We want to get the community involved and not isolate ourselves to one school," said Linda Tucker, board member. "I think it is very important that the foundation not be limited as there are many deserving students in South Florida we can help."

The board also decided to encourage organizations or individuals to have fellowships in their names for a 10-year commitment and a $5,000 donation in advance.

The board is writing a mission statement and by-laws and working to raise the endowment which is necessary to make the foundation self-sustaining. Investments earned only $133 while the fellowship and management fee cost the CJF $280.

The meeting was held June 17, 1998 at the Sun-Sentinel building in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Eight board members attended and two were available for conference calls.

Where are They Now?

Each CJF Newsletter To Feature Former Scholastic Journalists

If YOU are a former South Plantation High journalist, please submit your current information!

The following former students are featured in the Fall 1998 Issue Where are They Now? feature. See WHERE your classmates are!

• Clint Williams, 1973
• Sue Strassel Gilman, 1974
• Brandon Hawthorne, 1980
• Jordan Metz, 1985
• Andy Hurst, 1987
• Rachel Pincu, 1988
• Cathy Gartin, 1991
• Kathy Cicora Smith, 1991
• Jeremy Milarsky, 1992

The winter issue of the CJF Update "Where are They Now?" section will feature:

• Scott Barnett
• Rena Combs
• Valerie Griffin McCarty
• Kari Schabo
• Valerie Vadnais

Donors

Thank you to these contributors March-August 1998