2023-2024 ODYSSEY and iliad End of the Year Celebration
Above: EMBRACING THE YEAR: OMG broadcast staffer Daniel Cruz (left) hugs ODYSSEY Media Group founder and adviser David Ragsdale (right) at 1055 Barber on May 19. Cruz first joined ODYSSEY at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year. “I really underestimated how much work (this program) would take,” Cruz said. “It was not easy (but) in the end, I tried my best.” Photo by Violet Cantarella
Family, friends, special guests, and staff of the ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art Magazine gathered at 1055 Barber on May 19.
Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group (OMG) and iliad Literary-Art Magazine came together at 1055 Barber on May 19 for the program’s end-of-year banquet to celebrate the work and growth of their publications this school year. OMG and iliad staff invited family and friends to share the afternoon.
The event began with opening remarks from iliad Managing Editor Cate DeMaria and OMG Managing Editor Maya Clement, followed by a documentary by Broadcast Staffer Daniel Cruz. The video included memories from the 2023-2024 school year as well as testimonials from iliad and OMG students.
“The banquet video was something that I’d been told I’d have to make for a while and I don’t think I really grasped how important it was,” Cruz said. “I really wanted to do my due diligence because I (knew) this (meant) a lot to everyone.”
Following the video, the first of three rounds of senior farewell speeches began. Speeches were heard from Viewpoints Staffer Amya Hopkins, Variety Staffer Maggie Monk, News Staffer Angel Jara, Cruz, and Social Media Coordinator and Journalism I Facilitator Isabelle Duncan.
Above: SPEAKING FOR FAMILY: iliad Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot (left) and iliad Managing Editor Cate DeMaria (right) speak at 1055 Barber on May 19. DeMaria has been a member of iliad for the past three years and was delighted to have her parents in the audience. “It’s really great to have my dad here and see him learn more about everything that we’re doing,” DeMaria said. “It’s really great to have him in (this) environment and for (him) to learn more about something that has been such a big part of my life.” Photo by Violet Cantarella
After the first round of speeches, lunch was provided by Epting Catering. The second round of senior speeches was then given by Managing Editor Maya Clement, Photography Editor and Journalism One Facilitator Aza Khan, Business Manager and Journalism I Facilitator Audrey St. Onge, and Sports Editor Cadence Schapker.
For event attendee Susan Goff, grandmother of Viewpoints Staffer Samaya Ellis, the speeches were an inspiration.
“(The seniors) were all very emotional and (gave) really good speeches,” Goff said. “I hope to see (my granddaughter) in a couple years giving that heartfelt speech (and) making me cry.”
iliad Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot and Managing Editor Cate DeMaria, as well as ODYSSEY Newsmagazine Editor-in-Chief Molly Harwell and OMG Digital Editor-in-Chief Anna Shaikun presented a variety of awards for their respective programs.
“Being able to recognize the awards won throughout the year is really great,” DeMaria said. “As someone in the (production) class, (I) see the hard work (that) has paid off, and (being) recognized for the hard work put in during the school year (is) just really amazing.”
The third and final round of senior speeches were presented by News Editor and Journalism I Facilitator Isabella Westrich, Harwell, and Shaikun.
Shaikun’s mother, Jennifer, served as OMG Booster Club President during the past two years and gave a speech praising the contributions of various students and OMGBC officers. In that time, Shaikun has coordinated volunteer activities at University of Georgia football game fundraisers and attended several conferences as a chaperone.
“Being present for so many events, activities and field trips (makes) me feel like I’ve really gotten to know everybody,” Shaikun said. “Getting to meet so many wonderful kids has really been the highlight for me.”
Above: SENIOR CELEBRATION: OMG Booster Club President Jennifer Shaikun (left) receives a commendation from OMG founder and adviser David Ragsdale (right) at 1055 Barber. on May 19. For Shaikun, hearing the senior speeches was something remarkable. “Getting to celebrate the program as a whole and recognizing the seniors is always something special,” Shaikun said. “Hearing in their own words what the program has meant to them is something I liked listening to.” Photo by Violet Cantarella
The event closed with Special Recognition Awards presented by OMG founder and adviser David Ragsdale.
“I distinctly remember our first banquet, which was held in the then-remodeled Media Center as a potluck with printed certificates, but even then, it was incredibly important to present seniors the opportunity to share final thoughts with the team,” Ragsdale said. “This group of seniors will hold a fondness in my heart going back to the Zoom days and watching them grow up. It was a privilege.”
For Demaria, the banquet was the perfect showcase for the program at the end of the year.
“We like to show off the fun and easy parts of (the program) but there’s a lot of hard work (and) nitty-gritty long nights,” DeMaria said. “It’s just really amazing to be able to see everyone recognized and honored for the hard work and effort that gets put in.”
Story by Niles Flath
Niles Flath is a sophomore at Clarke Central High School in Athens Georgia. She serves as Outreach Director for the iliad Literary-Art Magazine. Flath hopes to make connections with creators both inside and outside the CCHS walls and showcase their work through the iliad program. In her free time, she likes playing tennis, swimming, and hanging out with friends.