Journalism students at Lake Central High School continue to create innovative ways to increase awareness of the First Amendment. Last year's school-wide T-shirt campaign netted them first place in the David Adams First Amendment Project competition at the Indiana High School Press Association First Amendment Symposium.
This year the school's publication staffs have designed a First Amendment license plate with hopes that Indiana residents will spread the word every time they get into their cars.
The origin of the project came when Lake Central Public Relations teacher Myra Lolkema had an "epiphany" while observing vanity plates on cars during a Labor Day weekend drive.
"I thought how cool it would be if our students designed a First Amendment plate on a car," Lolkema said. "I planted the seed, the students let it grow."
Lake Central's journalism classes created 11 plate designs, which were then whittled down to a final three by Lolkema and fellow journalism instructors Carrie Wadycki and Sarah Verpooten.
Lolkema said they planned to "meld" the final three plates into one design.
Even before the final design was chosen, the 11 students in the public relations class were hard at work making phone calls and emails to Indiana news organizations and universities in an effort to drum up support for the First Amendment plate.
"The First Amendment gets overlooked a lot," Verpooten said. "All news agencies should want what these kids want."
In order for the license plate to be available to Indiana motorists they need to have a petition filled with 500 signatures. The cost of the plate is $25 on top of the normal license plate fees, and by signing the petition motorists are signifying that they will purchase a plate when their current plate expires.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles also informed the classes that they'll need a $6,000 bond to cover the cost in case not enough people purchase the plates.
"That's why we have to get the word out," Lolkema said.
The deadline for the plate is March. Lake Central's journalism students hope to garner support for their project when they attend an IHSPA conference in October (a portion of the $25 fee goes to the IHSPA to help fund scholarships and further First Amendment initiatives).
"Hopefully we'll get a lot of signatures there," said senior PR student Samm Quinn. "They are in the same predicament we're in as far as promoting the First Amendment."
The license plate design could net Lake Central another first place finish during the next First Amendment Symposium this spring.
Senior Stephanie Costa said last year's first place finish was one of the driving forces for the PR class.
"We want to keep that going. Plus you get such a sense of accomplishment by making people aware of their rights," she said.
Lake Central's Public Relations class is a college-level course offering journalism students an opportunity to work in a business-like environment.
"We're like a non-profit PR agency," said senior Raquel Williams.
"All of us are putting a lot of time into it," added senior Stephanie Tarrant. "For some of us going into journalism, it's a great experience."
