Nighthawk News

06/25/2026

FFHS journalism students picked up a number of awards last week at the annual NC Scholastic Media Association Summer Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill. Nighthawk News Magazine was named All-North Carolina and earned a Tar Heel Award, the state's highest honor for publications. Shorelines Yearbook also earned All-North Carolina honors.

Charlotte Nultemeier won first place in the Review and News Magazine Cover categories and also took honorable mention in Graphics. Ashleigh Haney won first place in the General Editorial Column and Personality Profile writing categories. Other winners in the statewide newspaper contest were Grace Mejia (second place Sports Story), Kenzie Brown (third place Personality Profile), Jackson Parker (honorable mention Personality Profile), and Reagan Bembridge (honorable mention News Story).

In the yearbook division, Maya Gargol and Leila Robinson won first place for Sports Spread Design, while Kayla Folkes and Savannah Tyson were honorable mention in that category. Gargol and Everly Powers also were named honorable mention for Feature Spread Design. Caba Finch placed second in Feature Photography, Jackson Parker was third in Feature Photography, and both Melody Sanders and Bayla Dunn were honorable mention for Sports Photography. Ady Hedgepeth and Violet Adams earned third place for Theme Copy. Images of their winning work can be viewed below!

About 150 students from the mountains to the coast attended the annual conference for instruction in various journalism tracks, including four members of the Nighthawk News and Shorelines, FFHS Yearbook staff. Adviser Steve Hanf taught the News Division and is Past President of the NCSMA Advisers' Association.

06/03/2026

If you're not busy the next few days, with, say, graduation, don't forget that the annual carnival is in town! Junior Eleni Kiousis shares details about this fun tradition here, including the link to buy ride wristbands online before Thursday's 5 p.m. deadline!

By Eleni Kiousis, Staff Writer The smells of butter and sugar float through the air, rides whirl and twirl above your head, and little kids scurry around excitedly, gripping fistfuls of paper ticke…

06/03/2026

Junior Kenzie Brown shares timely news about DCS looking into regulating e-bikes on campus in this story on the website. Check it out here!

By Kenzie Brown, Opinions Editor The clock hits 3:30 p.m. and students flood out of the building to the overflowing bike rack. Within minutes, students are zipping through the crowded school parkin…

06/03/2026

Will Dare Board of Ed put the brakes on e-bikes?

By Kenzie Brown

The clock hits 3:30 p.m. and students flood out of the building to the overflowing bike rack. Within minutes, students are zipping through the crowded school parking lot on e-bikes, dodging cars and walkers as the hum of the motor grows louder and louder.

As the use of e-bikes continues to increase, so do the safety concerns. The combination of high speeds, risky behaviors like popping wheelies, and not wearing a helmet have led to an increase in accidents involving e-bikes. Earlier this spring, Dare County Parks and Recreation announced that e-bikes were no longer allowed to be used on their grounds. Now, Dare County Schools is looking into the matter as well.

The DCS Board of Education is currently working on a solution for the use of e-bikes at school. Policy Code 4332 would allow students to possess e-bikes and other electric devices on school property but not operate them on school grounds. This includes sidewalks, parking lots, at any school-related activity, on school trips, and any time students are under school supervision. According to the policy draft, “use” of an e-bike includes pedaling or moving it in a way other than walking.

In other words, students could ride e-bikes to school, but then must walk them on school property and park in designated bike rack areas.

“I think the biggest concern is where they are operating,” Board member Matt Brauer told Nighthawk News. “For example, you wouldn’t want an e-bike going 20 miles an hour on the sidewalks on the campuses between First Flight Elementary, Middle and High School because I think it’s a matter of time before somebody would get hurt.”

This policy is still in draft form as Board members review it, and could change – either due to ideas the Board members have or based on feedback the Board receives. The policy will be read at the next Board meeting on Monday, June 8, at the Dare County Commissioners meeting room in Manteo.

Last week, DCS emailed all parents about the proposal and invited families, staff and community members to share feedback during the public comment period.

Read more at NighthawkNews.com!

06/02/2026

2026 Nighthawk News Senior Signout!!

Thank you seniors for making Nighthawk News shine throughout your high school career. Best of luck to you all!!✨🎓

05/29/2026

Then and now Nighthawk News edition! The class of 2026 sure has grown up 🎓

05/11/2026

Happy deadline day!! We have had a blast working on the Senior Edition and can’t wait for you all to read it!!
Don’t worry, a little water outside of the newsroom can’t stop us! 💧

05/03/2026

Mark your calendars!!

Tomorrow evening we are inviting all seniors to join us at Jockey’s Ridge for the Senior Edition cover shoot. Please come in your caps and gowns and bring your best smile!!

Also, if you haven’t filled out the questionnaire you still have time, don’t miss out on your chance to be featured! Continue to check your email for other senior information including the Bush Gardens trip and senior picnic rsvp!!

04/28/2026

Seniors!!
Don’t throw away your shot at being featured in the Senior Edition Newspaper!! Fill out the form ASAP!

04/24/2026

What a lovely story from one of our alumni!

"Thank you, Mr. Hanf. Thank you for sharing and instilling your love and passion of journalism into me and every student who has the privilege of taking your classes. Thank you for giving an ambitious, slightly annoying, but curious freshman a DSLR. But above all, thank you for never even considerin...