Nov. 3, 2025
Our past three editions
Sept. 22, 2025 Halloween • Government shutdown • ‘Wicked’
Oct. 6, 2025 Measles • Halloween • ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Sept. 29, 2025 Government shutdown • Test scores • Space mission
THE LEAD
Federal judge orders Trump administration to pay SNAP benefit during shutdowns
Look at food assistance in your state, local efforts to combat hunger
Last week a federal judge ordered the federal government must pay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits through the shutdown. Some 42 million people rely on SNAP, NPR reported, and most recipients are seniors, families with kids and people with disabilities.
Prior to the ruling, it appeared that SNAP benefits would run out Nov. 1. In an Oct. 10 letter, the U.S. Department of Agriculture told state officials to not distribute November benefits “until further notice.” In response to the suspension of federal food benefits, a coalition of Democratic state leaders are sued the Trump administration.
The federal government provides the funds and infrastructure for the program, but the states handle distribution.
What you can do —
Though SNAP benefits should be flowing to the states for distribution, it is unclear when the benefits will arrive. In the absence of federal food support, some states are pulling from local funding to pay for SNAP benefits for at least part of the month. Some states are using different strategies — Minnesota, for example, is sending funding to food bank systems.
As the funding dries up, look at what your state is doing and how many people in the state use SNAP benefits. NPR’s story is a good starting point to your research.
On an even more local level, report on alternative food assistance programs. There are likely families in your school that will feel the effects of the lack of funding. Talking to people who are affected can be a powerful way to localize this national story.
Noteworthy
Legislators unveil bill banning AI chatbot companions for minors
Talk to experts about impacts of chatbot companions
Two senators say they are announcing a bill to crack down on the availability of artificial intelligence chatbot companions for minors. The bipartisan legislation comes from Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, following complaints from parents about the chatbots, NBC reports.
The bill would require AI companies to implement age verification procedures and create criminal penalties for AI companies that make AI companions that induce sexually explicit conduct with minors or encourage suicide.
What you can do —
AI has infiltrated virtually every corner of digital life — there are undoubtedly people in your community who are using it in various ways. Talk to students and staff about AI companions. Do they use them? What do they think of the practice?
Also be sure to talk to experts about the possible effects of AI chatbots. There are plenty of widely covered examples of chatbot encouraged behavior to use in your research.
What’s viral
Dictionary.com names 67 word of the year
Unpack the elusive meaning of the new slang
After analyzing a large amount of data, pulled from headlines, social media and online searches, Dictionary.com has named 67 the word of the year.
67’s rise to popularity started this summer, with searches increasing sixfold since June, Dictionary.com writes. The origin of the slang term is thought to be a song called “Doot Doot (6 7) by Skrilla, but it quickly expanded to include viral TIkToks about basketball players and more.
The definition of 67 is hard to put a point on, Dictionary.com writes. Some say it means something to the effect of “maybe this, maybe that” or “so, so.”
What you can do —
The use of 67 is an interesting example of slang rising to popularity with confusing origins and meanings. Talk to students about how they define 67 — and see if staff at your school have any guesses too. This could make for a fun multimedia product or spread showcasing the variety of uses.
It would also be interesting to talk to lexicographists about how slang like this rises to such popularity so quickly. Are there other words that have risen — or fallen — from prominence in recent years?
100 years of Quill & Scroll
Society leaders were thinking about audience engagement 100 years ago, here’s what we can learn from them
In the last century, journalism has changed dramatically. The most obvious change, the introduction and proliferation of the internet, has fundamentally altered the way media approaches audience engagement. But, it has not changed the fact that engagement is important.
In the October 1926 issue of the Society’s magazine, William S. Maulsby, the first person to teach exclusively journalism courses at the University of Iowa, provided his musings on involvement in student media as a way of engaging with an audience.
He proposed many ways of drawing in student engagement, most having to do with encouraging students to contribute to any number of column-type pieces of content.
Consider how you are engaging with your audience. Do you have interactive elements on social media or your website? Does your staff regularly check in with students across all parts of your school?
Share your Quill & Scroll story
In honor of the centennial, Quill and Scroll is collecting testimonials, memories and stories from Quill and Scroll from student members, advisers, former staff and friends.Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your experiences on this form! Your answers may be used in marketing and communications materials.
Please share with others in your network — we want to hear from everyone.
IT’S AN HONOR
It’s always membership season
Don’t forget you can nominate members year round
If you’ve thought about having a more active Quill and Scroll chapter, we suggest initiating members in the fall. (And don’t worry, if you’re worried that having chapter activities will just add another to do time to the list, we have several suggested chapter activities in “lesson plan” format so students can lead these!) While you’re ordering, don’t forget to include any cords and other Quill and Scroll materials and memorabilia.
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.
YEC entries closed for the year
The 2025 Yearbook Excellence Contest is closed for entries.
We plan to announce the winners by mid December.
Special thanks to our sponsors this year: Picaboo, Varsity and Walsworth. We couldn’t run this program without them.
Writing, Visual, Multimedia contest open
Due date is Feb. 6
The entry form is live and we are accepting submissions. Be aware, we have added a few categories and changed a few items and descriptions. The cost is $8 for all entry types and you may submit live links. If you would rather make a PDF of the submission, you may still do this as well. Please make sure to allow anyone with the link to view. Remember, we don’t accept a Google document as an entry. We only accept published work.
Please make a note — all entries and payments will be due Feb. 6.
Make sure to include either your credit card payments or check or purchase order when you enter. The link provided on the site will take you directly to the credit card or check/purchase order page for the order. The WVM category payment option is at the bottom of the page.
Please reach out if you have any questions. We’re happy to help!
Take advantage of our advisers-only resource area
Quill and Scroll has expanded its advisers-only area, which includes bellringers and lesson plans for advisers who have initiated members within the past school year. We will be highlighting a helpful resource in each Weekly and Month Scroll.
Advisers, if you inducted members in the 2024-25 or the 2025-26 school year, check your email (and your spam!) for a message from [email protected]. That email should contain your login information. Please be sure to accept cookies when you log in! If you have trouble, you can contact us at [email protected]. If you have inducted members this school year, we update access every few weeks, so keep an eye on your email.
We will be highlighting specific content from the advisers-only area in each Monthly Scroll, so keep reading for some ideas.
Advisers-only resource area highlight
Learning from student exemplars (Part 1)
In this lesson, students will examine winners from one of Quill and Scroll’s Contests. Students will select and examine exemplar pieces of award-winning student journalism, read through judge comments and set an individual goal and then plan to apply this knowledge to their own work.
National High School Journalism Convention travels to Nashville
This fall the nation’s largest gathering of high school journalists, advisers and journalism teachers will be Nov. 13-16 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.
The JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention offers hundreds of instructional sessions, keynote speakers from national newsmakers, dozens of media critiques, JEA’s popular on-site media contests and the announcement of the NSPA Broadcast and Newspaper/Newsmagazine and Specialty Magazine Pacemakers. The winners in the NSPA Individual Awards will also be announced.
NSPA also offers a convention Best of Show competition that celebrates current student media from the current school year. The deadline for submitting Individual Achievement entries is Oct. 29. Staff Achievement entries are due at the convention on Nov. 14.
Online registration is closed, but you can register onsite. While there, don’t forget to drop by our booth!
School of the New York Times Summer Academy opportunity
We know it’s early, but for those looking for a 2026 journalism learning opportunity, it’s not too early to begin planning. The School of the New York Times Summer Academy is one of the nation’s most competitive journalism programs — and Quill and Scroll members get an exclusive discount.
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 2026 school year). Students must be 15-years old by the first day of their session. Program graduates have been recruited from some of the top journalism schools in the nation. Please see this link for the course catalogue.
All students applying to Summer Academy for the first time are required to complete an online application. Returning students do not need to reapply. As a member school, Quill and Scroll chapter members will have access to pre-registration, which is now open. Last year this program received more than 14,000 applications for 1,700 seats. By going through pre-registration, your chance of being an attendee increases.
Students from schools with a Quill and Scroll Charter can receive $500 off enrollment in the Summer Academy. And, if you register by Dec. 1, the early bird discount applies, bringing your total discount to $1,000.
Additionally, the winning entries from our News Writer of the Year (Category 16 in Quill and Scroll’s Writing, Visual, Multimedia Contest) are eligible to compete for a School of the New York Times scholarship to its Summer Academy. This scholarship (valued at $7,500) includes room and board but not transportation to New York City. Student entries will be evaluated by faculty from the New York Times.
The School of the New York Times will host a Virtual Admissions Information Session later this fall.
The round 1 deadline will be in mid December and the admission information and application portal are posted.
First Amendment Press Freedom Award entries due Dec. 15
The Journalism Education Association has opened applications for the First Amendment Press Freedom Award, sponsored by JEA, NSPA and Quill and Scroll.
This award recognized schools who actively support and honor the First Amendment through its student media programs. The award focuses on press freedom and a jury looks at the entire student media program at the school: digital and print news, yearbook and student broadcast.
Please see the link for details. Please read and respond carefully to all questions. Even if your school has received FAPFA recognition before, you must reapply each year.
Plan ahead
We will be out of the office during the weeks of Nov. 10-14. We will not be able to send or process orders during this time — including overnight orders. Please remember we need at least three weeks from the time we receive your purchase order or payment to the time you need the materials. We will process all orders as they are received.
Upcoming Weekly Scroll pause dates
We will pause the Weekly Scroll during the weeks of Nov. 10, 17, Dec. 1, 15, 22, 29 and Jan. 5. We will be spending the week before, when we amass these, either traveling to and from conventions or with our families. We will resume Jan. 12.
Some advisers and students have found linking to our Weekly Scroll page beneficial.
Thank you for understanding.
Just a thought
We are looking forward to seeing many of you in Nashville next week!
Please make sure to stop by our booth, say hello!
Additionally, this year marks 100 years of Quill and Scroll — and we want to celebrate with you.
Quill and Scroll was organized April 10, 1926, at the University of Iowa by renowned pollster George H. Gallup and a group of high school advisers for the purpose of encouraging and recognizing individual student achievement in journalism and scholastic publication.
Since its founding, school charters have been granted to almost 15,000 high schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 37 countries. Media advisers in chartered schools are eligible to recommend outstanding high school journalism students for membership in Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society.
In honor of the centennial, Quill and Scroll is collecting testimonials, memories and stories from Quill and Scroll from student members, advisers, former staff and friends. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your experiences! Your answers may be used in marketing and communications materials.
— Lori Keekley
