Wando Student Media

Legend YEARBOOK
Wando High School
1000 Warrior Way
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
843.849.2830 ext. 1129

To the S.C. Scholastic Journalist of the Year committee,

Caroline Bierman, Jordan Davis,
Elise Gierhart Have you ever met a person whom you could immediately tell was special? Well,
Editors in Chief
if you’re a teacher reading this, I know the answer is yes. We have those students
who, on the very first day, we can look into their eyes and know—just somehow feel

TRIBAL it—that this kid was a cut above the rest.

TRIBuNE
When I met Jordan Davis as a freshman in my Intro to Journalism class, that’s
all I had to go with—her eyes. The rest was covered by a mask. But in those eyes,
I could see the hunger to learn, the drive to be the best, and the intent that one day
Morgan Cook and MC Warner she would be the editor in chief of my yearbook program. As an adviser, we have to
Editors in Chief avoid making those judgements that quickly, and I reminded myself of that as I got to
know Jordan each week in class.
Phillip Caston But it wouldn’t take long for Jordan to prove my instincts to be correct.
Adviser
phillip_caston@charleston.k12.sc.us Jordan showed in that Intro class that she is a pure journalist to the core, from
her powerful, detailed writing that captures the essence of an interview subject, to
her concentration and interest on national and global topics, to her desire and natural
ability to serve as a leader through editorship. This earned her the coveted spot
of editor in chief of our year-end project in Intro where she found herself leading
students older than her, including seniors.
Thus, it was no surprise she would be one of our top recruits to our program.
Jordan has been one of the top players in our yearbook program, a nationally-
acclaimed program. Before serving as editor in chief this year, she was our Features
Editor, the specialty section dedicated to in-depth, personality profile journalistic
coverage. Jordan’s section is the one that flexes the true creativity of the yearbook
and elevates us on a competitive level. She led a small staff of students to produce
incredible work, a good primer for her job of leading over 40 students this current
year.
Jordan’s talent and leadership are so strong, she served as the only representative
for South Carolina at the Al Neuharth Freedom Forum in Washington, DC, this past
summer.
Jordan is an astounding, award-winning writer; recently she placed in Columbia
Scholastic Press Association’s national Gold Circle contest. At the National
Scholastic Press Association’s fall conference in Boston, Jordan placed in the top 10
for Best in Show for Editorial Leadership. I don’t have to tell you what a powerful
editor in chief she is; she has the hardware to prove it. She crafts stories about our
students that are filled with emotion and heart, like one about a young artist who
creates her work to honor her late mother.
Jordan’s tenacity as a leader and her dedication sets the bar and the standard
for the rest of our staff members. Her attitude towards working hard and meeting
deadlines pushes her fellow staff members to do the same, and they respect her
commitment to this program as well as looking up to her as she works closely with
them. Jordan is hands-on with coaching staff members to improve and helping them
produce better work.
But even more admirable is that Jordan isn’t satisfied with her own skills;
although a natural writer, she has taken time to learn more elements of design this
year and create her own works, and she has started to get involved with photography
as well.
 Wando Student Media

Legend YEARBOOK
Wando High School
1000 Warrior Way
Mount Pleasant, SC 29466
843.849.2830 ext. 1129

Caroline Bierman, Jordan Davis, Jordan is dedicated to the craft of journalism, is a lover of the free press, and
Elise Gierhart a young woman who is eager to tell other people’s stories. She is a phenomenal
Editors in Chief writing coach to her peers, and she has a selfless vision for taking our yearbook
program to new heights. Her writing talent and leadership skills have set the stage

TRIBAL for a successful year of production.

Jordan puts our program before herself, and she sets the example for her
TRIBuNE younger staff members. She believes in hard work and giving everything she
has. But she also has tremendous integrity, a natural talent to coach younger staff
members, and a superb ability to manage conflicts and pressure. She often mediates
Morgan Cook and MC Warner
Editors in Chief conflicts between staff members and helps them arrive at diplomatic solutions.
I think back to that instinct I had when I first met Jordan that was she was
Phillip Caston a pure natural in this field. It makes sense now as she nears completion of high
Adviser school and her career as a scholastic journalist. She doesn’t plan for it to end here.
phillip_caston@charleston.k12.sc.us She will major in journalism in college, and she has already been accepted to the
University of Missouri, one of the top journalism schools in the nation.
And I know Jordan Davis is more than capable, prepared, and talented enough
to shine there.
From there, Jordan plans to enter the field professionally. She knows the
risks and the challenges; I’ve warned her plenty about how grueling professional
journalism can be. But Jordan is tough. Jordan is fearless. Jordan was born with it.
She’s a natural. She’s special.
I enthusiastically recommend Jordan Davis for Journalist of the Year and
beyond. I know she isn’t finished bringing her drive, her incredible writing and
reporting talent, her leadership, and her knowledge to the craft and the profession
that is so badly needed.
After all, you can just tell she’s special.

Sincerely,

Phillip Caston
Yearbook and Newspaper adviser, Wando High School
phillip_caston@charleston.k12.sc.us