WEB readers, the 2024-2025 school year was a great one for student journalism!

The WEB published 43 stories and released 5 print editions to date (watch out for our 6th, coming out this week!)

What type of stories were the most common?

Sports and Activities, with 8 stories published this year.

WEB readers, your top story was “The Ames High Football Team Faces Another Coaching Change, Posing New Challenges For Senior Players.”

You all read it for a combined 931 times, starting on September 28, 2024.

But you had room in your heart for more than one favorite story…

The top five most-read stories of the school year were…

1. “The Ames High Football Team Faces Another Coaching Change, Posing New Challenges For Senior Players.”
2. “New Ames High Policy Takes Phones Out of the Classroom.”
3. “The Growing Issue With Clubs at Ames High.”
4. “A Blue Dot in a Sea of Red.”
5. “Ames High Cheer Team Makes History With Double State Championship Wins.”

You all read a combined 12,891 stories this school year. Thanks for supporting student journalism!

Readership peaked on September 29th, 2024. That day, our stories were read 361 times.

Here are some “playlists” that encapsulate this year in the WEB. Happy reading!

Workout Mix – a look into the sports successes of Ames High:

• “The True Definition of a Team: A Camaraderie of Selflessness Led to an Outstanding Season.”
• “The Ames High Football Team Faces Another Coaching Change, Posing New Challenges For Senior Players.”
• “Ames High Cheer Team Makes History With Double State Championship Wins.”
• “While The Seniors Depart From The Volleyball Program, They Hope Their Impact Stays Around.”
• “100 Wins and Counting: Lexa Rozevink Strength, Dedication, and Wrestling Greatness”
• “It’s Not Just A Sport, It’s a Family.”
• “Pioneers, Record Breakers, and Top Talents Like No Other: The Wrestling Class of 2025.”
• “Ames High 2025 All-State Cheerleaders.”

Ames High’s Top Hits – everything you need to know about the communities and people at AHS:

• “The Return of Ames High’s Culture Fair”
• “Senior Column: Ames High, It’s Time to Find Our School Spirit Again.”
• “Ames High Drama Club Presents an Immersive Theatre Experience.”
• “Students For Life Creates a Space For Pro-Life Students.”
• “Behind the Voice.”
• “Teacher Meet-Cutes? Yes Please!”
• “For The Humanities: Creating Stories.”
• “I Found My High School Problems Reflected In Sylvia Plath.”
• “New Ames High Policy Takes Phones Out Of the Classroom.”
• “The Growing Issue With Clubs At Ames High.”
• “New Iowa Law Targets Chronic Absenteeism: What It Means for Ames Students.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: Esteemed Artist Henry Cullen Illustrates His Story.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: Arrow Allen, Athlete of all Seasons.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: On the Write Track – How Jolie Blackburn Uses Writing to Improve Herself.”

Community Chart-Toppers – a look into the community and world surrounding the high school.

• “Ames Romero House Brings Support and Community to Those in Need.”
• “Trump’s First Month In Office Brings Drastic Change and Uncertainty.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: The Midwesterner Who Went South – How Dr. Carl Pomerance Stood Up for Change in 1964.”
• “Voting For Our Government: Does Race Matter?”
• “How Harris Lost: An Analysis.”
• “A Blue Dot In a Sea of Red.”

Hot New Hits – the WEB’s opinions and takes from this school year.

• “What We’re Listening To – May 2025”
• “Webster Award Winner: An Honest Review of Duolingo.”
• “A Minecraft Movie Review.”
• “Do We Need a Better Way to Teach Math?”
• “Dear Shelby, What’s the Best Gift to Give?”
• “October Reads – Chantal’s Reading Corner.”
• “Dear Shelby, How Do I Make First Chair At All State?”

I Love My Underground Classics – print-exclusive articles, snag a copy if you want to read these.

• “AHS Alum Returns to Cast First Ever Ballot.”
• “We Will Be Okay.”
• “Who Has The Best Holiday Lights?”
• “How Does Ames High Celebrate the Holidays?”
• “Our Favorite Holiday Meals.
• “Teachers’ Pets.”
• “The Manas, the Myth, the Legend.”
• “Piece and Freedom Bakery Brings a Piece of Ukraine to Ames.”

Award-Winning Stories – both pieces that received national honors and others that were recognized by the WEB staff for their excellence.

• (Best of SNO) “A Blue Dot In a Sea of Red.”
• (Best of SNO) “New Ames High Policy Takes Phones Out Of the Classroom.”
• “Webster Award Winner: An Honest Review of Duolingo.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: Esteemed Artist Henry Cullen Illustrates His Story.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: Arrow Allen, Athlete of all Seasons.”
• “Webster Award Winner Runner-Up: On the Write Track – How Jolie Blackburn Uses Writing to Improve Herself.”