April 14, 2025
Our past three editions
April 7, 2025 Tax filing • TikTok • “Airport theory”
March 31, 2025 Higher education • Anonymity • “Surivivor”
March 17, 2025 Department of Education • Misinformation • Supreme Court
THE LEAD
REAL ID deadline approaches after years of delays
Cover your state’s REAL ID regulations
A REAL ID — a type of enhanced drivers license — will soon be required to fly domestically. Almost 20 years after Congress passed the REAL ID Act, the new federal rules requiring a REAL ID will go into effect May 7.
The rollout of REAL IDs has varied from state to state, leading to confusion and logistical hurdles for many, CNN reported. In some states, like New Jersey, appointments to get a REAL ID are hard to get, leaving some travelers without updated identification. In Pennsylvania, despite residents having six years to get a REAL ID, only about 26% of Pennsylvanians have one, CNN reported.
What you can do —
Take time to look into your state’s REAL ID policies and status, as people in your community might not be aware of what is required. Check in with students and staff to see if they knew about the upcoming change and if they are ready. Also contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to see if there are long wait times, a lack of appointments or if everything is going smoothly.
Noteworthy
Some teens are putting the brakes on getting their driver’s licenses
Talk to students about when they plan to get their licenses
About 40% of teens waited one to two years to get their drivers licenses, a 2020 study from the University of California Irvine Medical School says. There are several reasons for this delay, CNN reported, including rideshare apps making it easier for teens to get around without their own car. Mental health also plays a role — teens with anxiety or depression sometimes delay learning to drive, according to CNN.
What you can do —
See what teens at your school are doing — Are they in a rush to get the freedom a license can provide? Or are they content to wait? This will depend on where your school is. For city-based schools, consider asking students if they plan to get their license in college, when they may no longer have access to the public transit systems they grew up with. The opposite might be true for students planning to go to college in a major city — suddenly they may be driving less than ever.
If you find that people aren’t getting their licenses immediately, ask what methods of transportation they are choosing instead. Are they relying on friends to pick them up? Turning to apps like Uber and Lyft? Walking?
What’s viral
Switch 2’s release might be complicated by tariffs
Check in with gamers to see if they plan to purchase the device
Last week, Nintendo announced its newest gaming console, the Switch 2. The device doubles down on the basic idea of the first Switch — a home gaming console that can also be portable. The price point of the Switch 2 — $450 — is $150 higher than the original Switch, CNN reported.
The announcement came just before President Donald Trump announced tariffs on foreign goods that are expected to impact tech products. Nintendo postponed its April 9 preorder date in response.
What you can do —
The new Nintendo product is entering a more competitive market than its predecessor. Devices like Valve’s Steam Deck and Sony’s PlayStation Portal offer similar gaming experiences. Talk to people who are considering buying the new device, or are sticking with the original Switch.
This is an interesting way into the story about tariffs. The changing economy is a big topic but the Switch announcement could help students understand one corner of the story.
IT’S AN HONOR
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year-round
It’s time to nominate students for membership, order pins, cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia. Please make sure to allow at least three weeks from the time you place the order and either pay or send a purchase order to the time you will be inducting the members. We are currently shipping within 24 hours of receiving the complete order, but this time will elongate as the month progresses.
We haven’t changed the ordering process from last year. For those wanting to ditch the paper version, you just need to select the form based on how you would like to pay. We have one version for credit card and another version for check or purchase order. (We’ve added buttons for ease of finding these.) As usual, credit card payments are charged $4.49 per order for processing.
We also have added a membership ordering guide to our site.
While you’re ordering, don’t forget to include any cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia.
If your initiation is the week of May 5 now is the time to order!
Members-only area reminder
If you haven’t accessed our members-only area, we encourage you to do so. While we hope to expand this feature, you can find bell ringers, lesson plans and a gallery of our News Media Evaluation Gallup Award winners.
To access, please visit our new member login page. Your credentials are in an email from [email protected]. Please check your spam folder and if you still don’t see it, reach out to us at [email protected] and we will help you troubleshoot!
When you log in, please accept cookies via the popup on the bottom of the page. This will limit the number of times you have to login!
Members-only area activity highlight
The last few months of school can be filled with heavy decisions such as editorial staff and goal setting for the following year. Before that gets into full swing, why not take some time, grab a kickball and have an old fashioned kickball game for a change of pace?
Deadline approaches for 2025 Vanessa Shelton Chapter of the Year
Has your chapter been active in Quill and Scroll this year? If so, it’s time to apply for the Chapter of the Year.
Chapters must have initiated members in each of the past three years.
Applications are free and winners will receive a plaque, $250 for the classroom, four free memberships and honor cords and one member spot on our Student Advisory Board.
The deadline is April 18 and the winner will be announced mid-May. The application form is on our website.
Benz Scholarship deadline extended
Applications open for $250 adviser award
Quill and Scroll will award the $250 Lester G. Benz Scholarship to an adviser who undertakes a professional development activity over the summer or in the 2025-26 academic year. The deadline has been extended to April 25.
The award can be used to attend a National High School Journalism Conference, to pay for tuition for a university course in a relevant subject area, or for a summer workshop, the JEA Summer Advisers Institute or a local summer workshop in your state, to name a few.
Applications are now being accepted. The new deadline is April 25.
The award is named after former Quill and Scroll Executive Director Lester G. Benz.
Student Scholarship applications are also now open and will be due May 9.
Upcoming Weekly Scroll pause dates
We will pause the Weekly Scroll during the weeks of April 21 and April 28 since we will be at conventions when we normally would amass the Scroll. Please note, we will not be offering overnight ordering during this time.
Also, our last Weekly Scroll will be May 5.
Some advisers and students have found linking to our Weekly Scroll page beneficial.
Thank you for understanding.
Writing, Visual, Multimedia finalists announced
Quill and Scroll is pleased to announce the finalists in the 2025 Writing, Visual, Multimedia competition. More than 120 schools submitted entries to this year’s contest, for a total of more than 2,200 entries.
The finalists are listed online. The winners will be announced April 26 at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
PSJA Finalists announced
For those who entered our Private School Journalism Contest Finalists, we released the finalists list late last week.
We will announce the winners April 26 at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
Chapter Shoutout needs your help
Make sure to share what you’re doing (or have done) with us! We would love to feature your chapter here.
Please use this Google form or email us at [email protected]. Please include a small description and photo of the event.
School of the New York Times Summer Academy opportunity
We are excited to announce our partnership with the School of the New York Times. Students from schools with a Quill and Scroll Charter can receive $500 off enrollment in the School of the New York Times Summer Academy.
Summer Academy is open to high school students (grades 10-12 and Graduating Seniors based on the grade the student is entering in the Fall 2025 school year). Students must be 15 years old by the first day of their term. All students applying to Summer Academy for the first time are required to complete an online application. Returning students do not need to reapply.
The round three application deadline is April 30.
Gloria Shields NSPA Media Workshop set for June 30-July 3, in Dallas
The Gloria Shields NSPA Media Workshop returns to the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria June 30-July 3, 2025, with bonus classes on June 29. Workshop registration is $140 per student or adviser. The extra cost for the Sunday bonus class is $20 per person.
In 2024, 808 students from 79 schools took advantage of the instruction from our exceptional faculty.
Complete information, including a promotional video, is available on the workshop website. Registration is open.
Just a thought
It’s that time again — we are moving to a new location starting May 19.
While the mail will be forwarded, it will still cause a delay. Please send all checks and correspondence to us at 7300 Metro Boulevard, Suite 131, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55439.
While we will have mail forwarded from our current address, it is imperative that you update our information with your finance office. We will have a new W9 with our updated address on our site.
We will have our mail forwarded, but it will delay your order slightly if your payment or order are sent to the wrong address.
Thank you for understanding!
— Lori Keekley
