Inkers attend NYT academy

2-week sessions provide professional experience

By Angie Hund | Manor Ink

New York City, NY – Throughout Manor Ink’s decade of dedication to the community, the Livingston Manor Library trustees, publishers of the paper, have created many opportunities for student reporters to explore their interests. Beginning in 2018, Manor Ink partnered with the School of The New York Times in sponsoring student reporters’ participation in a two-week Summer Academy held at the school in the city. Manor Ink is grateful to Charlotte Taylor of Taylor & Ace in Roscoe for providing generous stipends to the three students who attended this year.

The program’s application process asked for an example of personal work, a letter of recommendation, a series of brief answers to questions, and an indication of the programs the applicants are most interested in. This year, former Ink editors Edward Lundquist and Michelle Adams-Thomas, and current editor Angie Hund, applied and were invited to attend one of academy’s two sessions.

For the paper’s three students, it was the experience of a lifetime. Edward Lundquist attended the screenwriting course; Michelle Adams-Thomas took the photography within journalism course; and Angie Hund took the creative writing course. The Ink’s School of The New York Times attendees shared their experiences of the program, the city and the opportunity to explore their passions.

Edward Lundquist

The course on writing for television walked me through creating a “pitch deck” for a show, essentially prepping me to pitch my idea to a producer or team. Aside from learning the technical lingo of the field, we also got the opportunity to talk with a whole host of writers and creators involved in the field, and they were fascinating and enlightening people. Just overall, it was nonstop information, great museum trips, and cool people. Just fantastic!

Michelle Adams-Thomas

My time at The New York Times will forever influence my career in photojournalism. I got the opportunity to express my creativity through the art of taking photos while speaking with people passionate about photography from all over the world and learning about how a typical college student balances the stresses of academic work while having fun.

In the beginning of the program, it was obvious that students were shy around each other. As time passed, though, we gradually became connected through a desire to improve our skills. As a class, we worked through situations using our new-found skills while guided by professionals who shared their affection for photojournalism. I learned that with a single photograph you can tell a whole story, and I acquired the skills enabling me to potentially become a professional myself.

I’m so grateful to the Academy’s teachers, and my friends and dorm mates. Each memory I will cherish as I work toward my goal of becoming a photojournalist.

Angie Hund

Through the School of The New York Times, I discovered what it means to be an inspired writer, how to connect with those who share similar passions, and how to touch each aspect of writing. I’ve never felt more connected to all facets of art, writing, human connection and the general joys of learning. Both my instructors crafted a wonderfully diverse program that touched every student’s interest in writing.

Each morning I woke in New York City, I was energized by the simple process of attending class with peers with whom I resonated and loved collaborating. The creative writing program taught me techniques and stylistic choices that allowed me to expand my voice in writing. Over the two weeks, I delved into different genres, including screenwriting, playwriting, poetry, short story telling, essay writing and the work of structuring a novel. I became invested in screenwriting after a series of television and film analysis classes in which we examined popular sitcoms, rom-coms and American film classics. I was beyond intrigued by the instructor’s commitment to not only transforming our pieces, but nurturing our original writing styles. I also adored the Fordham University campus where we resided, and made many friends, alliances and pen-pals with my dorm mates. Overall, I’d say the Times program is for anyone who is interested in pursuing writing, journalism, photography or visual art, and I wouldn’t trade my Summer Academy experience for anything. Here’s some advice for future School of The New York Times students:

• Make the best of every single moment within the program – it’s a rare opportunity unique to your interests.

• If you think you already know your writing voice or style, you don’t. The Academy will help it develop, evolve and mature, bringing out the best version of yourself and expanding your interests.

• Take advantage of the extra activities and programs you can enlist in during the two-week session. I explored most of the city just by going on voluntary trips that aligned with my interests.

New $10,000 Manor Ink Youth Voices Scholarship

Manor Ink’s student reporters are now eligible for the newly established Youth Voices Scholarship. The amount of the award is $10,000 for 2024. The purpose of the scholarship is to encourage graduating student reporters to seek a four-year college education at a selective college or university in any liberal arts and sciences major. As a guideline, a selective college or university is a school with an admission rate of up to 60 percent.

Eligible students will be seniors (or the equivalent for homeschoolers) who have served as reporters for Manor Ink for approximately two or more academic years and will attend a four-year liberal arts college. This scholarship is awarded to students in recognition of their community service as outstanding reporters and/or editors.

The scholarship is an initiative of the Willowemoc Fund at the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties. The Livingston Manor Library, publisher of Manor Ink, will determine the names of eligible students in any given year. If funding is available, scholarships may be renewed for a second year of college.

Application forms will be available from Peggy McGuire, director of the library, either in person at the library, 92 Main Street, or by emailing her at pmcguire@rcls.org.