Sarah Myers of Eureka High School is the journalismSTL Bruce Schneider Memorial Leadership Scholarship recipient for 2018.

Myers serves as the first person to lead all three publication staffs (Eurekana Yearbook, EHS-hub News website and Digital Media staff) at Eureka High School and plans to carry on her journalism studies at the Elon University in the fall. Eureka publications adviser Elisha Strecker believes that “Sarah is in a category of her own.”

“It is her understanding of the importance of process and the power of relationships that sets her apart,” Strecker said.

Strecker describes Myers as a compassionate leader, a sentiment that Myers’ other teachers wholeheartedly confirm

Myers’ English Teacher, Gary Baumstark, wrote in his recommendation letter that she “is a leader in the classroom, but outside as well. Sarah has wonderfully open and welcoming personality. She is equally comfortable presenting to a class of freshman recruiting them for the yearbook staff, as she is with seniors discussing social commentary in the science fiction novel Ready Player One.”

Myers’ time in publications has not been without difficulty, she describes in her application essay how she faced a powerful coterie of unhappy parents over a perceived imbalance in coverage in the 2017 yearbook.

“Complaints ranged from threats of firing my adviser to ageist remarks claiming that my staff did not know how to do our job because we were students,” Myers said.

When school officials were unable or unwilling to come to the defense of the yearbook staff and the adviser, Myers stepped up to provide evidence that the angry parents were, in fact, mistaken and ultimately helped them see things from her point of view. 

“I explained how we function as a team,” Myers said. “Parents were glad that I took charge to inform them. I defended my staff and our work, while also creating a platform for discussion and a solution to problems we faced. In the end, our principal understood our intent and changed his position on the issue in our favor.”

Strecker said that Myers has been an asset to the program and will likely not be replaced easily.

“We have accomplished more on the yearbook and digital media production staffs than ever before,” Strecker said. “As the semester comes to an end, we look to train the students whom we hope will replace her next year. It does not surprise me we are looking for three separate people to replace her.”

Bruce Schneider was a beloved St. Louis Scholastic Journalism Adviser who passed away in 2004; his leadership skills and love for journalism are passed on through this scholarship where students who excel in the journalism field as leaders are recognized and honored for their hard work and dedication.

The $2000 scholarship is underwritten by the generous donations of our annual sponsors.