Co-Editor Madie Mileo and Public Relations Representative Juliana Krause of The Soaring Eagle recently took the time to share with us an inside look at Hauppauge High School’s student-run publication. Together with advisor Mrs. Kaminski, the team of young journalists works to inform, inspire, and connect the Hauppauge community through storytelling, creativity, and collaboration.
Choosing the stories that matter
Each issue of The Soaring Eagle begins with a theme assigned by Mrs. Kaminski every two weeks. From there, student writers select story ideas that align with the general subject while reflecting their own interests. “Writers can choose to write about anything that interests them, as long as it fits the parameters given under the assignment,” explained Madie. Juliana added, “this allows students to be able to write about a topic of interest while still writing under a broader topic, providing growth and experience in other unfamiliar areas of journalism.”
Expanding content and creativity
Both editors are eager to continue expanding The Soaring Eagle’s reach and content this year. Madie hopes to include more coverage of world news and current events, while Juliana is passionate about growing the paper’s video journalism efforts. “Video articles have allowed The Soaring Eagle to become a bigger part of the school community, and more people recognize the work of the writers,” Juliana shared.
Together, they hope readers walk away from each piece with something meaningful, whether it’s learning more about their community or simply enjoying an entertaining story. By sharing topics that interest them, Madie and Juliana aim to inspire curiosity and spark new interests among their peers throughout the Hauppauge community.
The newsroom experience
Journalism meets every other day during the school year, giving students time to collaborate and create across multiple formats — from traditional articles and infographics to Canva layouts and video features shared on YouTube. Juliana explained, “these various options of writing gives students the freedom to experiment with different forms of journalism.”
Growing as writers and communicators
Both students agree that their time in The Soaring Eagle has helped them grow. Madie feels their “range of knowledge has grown through researching and writing about topics that were previously unfamiliar to me.” Additionally, Juliana reflected, “my writing skills have improved tremendously. Being able to write freely without a rigid structure has made me more creative.”
Favorite moments and proud achievements
Madie overall feels they've grown in a range of areas through their participation in The Soaring Eagle. For Juliana, one standout piece in particular was an article they wrote on the NHL Four Nations Face-Off — a blend of their love for hockey and interest in world news. “It gave me the chance to write about something I’m passionate about while connecting it to larger global themes,” she noted.
To check out their latest pieces, visit hhssoaringeagle.com