Wahawk Insider

04/17/2026

In Downtown Minneapolis, small local buisnesses in the Nicollet Mall face remaining challenges from the Covid-
19 shut down. When it comes to remaining open most recently due to the rising safety concerns during and after protests.
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Read more on Wahawkinsider.com
Reporting by Jay Esmael, Jacy Gomez, and Alyssa Muheljic Photography by Jacy Gomez Graphic by Alyssa Muheljic

03/27/2026

So proud of our reporter, Brooklynn! Way to represent Waterloo and Iowa!

Congratulations to the 2026 Iowa Journalist of the Year: Brooklyn Berumez of Waterloo West High School. Her adviser is Nicole Goodman, CJE.

Berumez advances to the national JEA Journalist of the Year competition. The national finalists and winner will be announced at the Spring 2026 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis April 16-18.

03/14/2026

Drill competition! Today at 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM, JORTC will march at home. Come out and support your fellow Wahawks!
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graphic: Mackenzie
Photo: Nicole Goodman

03/05/2026

Do you want to support our student journalists? You are in luck! We launched our fundraiser today!

Every dollar and each donation, big or small, helps build a foundation for success, giving our award-winning journalism program the tools to grow! Funds will send a group of our students to a national convention for unique learning opportunities, upgrade cameras and equipment for ALL our journalists, and enhance our storytelling abilities.

Please consider giving a (2026 tax deductible) donation today!

Support Waterloo West High School Journalism '26 and help us raise $5000

02/27/2026

Today, February 26, 2026, marks the ninth annual Student Press Freedom Day. Student-journalists across the country are recognized for their contributions to publications and for telling stories within their communities.

Student Press Freedom Day is an important day to fight for and to maintain student freedoms and rights. Today, we honor our student-journalists who tell important stories and report on pressing issues.

At West and across high schools in Iowa, our student-journalists are fortunate to have certain protections in place that ensure their rights are recognized. These laws are called New Voices Laws. Swipe through the slideshow to learn more about Student Press Freedom Day and protections for students in the state of Iowa!

02/26/2026

We are proud to announce that Waterloo West High School has been selected as one of the Journalism Education Association's First Amendment Press Freedom Award recipients for 2026!

This national award "recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content through policies and practice."

We are so honored to win this award! We are so grateful to be recognized with this award, especially on Student Press Freedom Day!

Waterloo West High Yearbook National Scholastic Press Association Quill and Scroll Honor Society for High School Journalists Iowa High School Press Association Waterloo Community School District Waterloo West High School

In the 26th year of the First Amendment Press Freedom Award, 26 schools from 12 U.S. states and the United Kingdom have been named 2026 award recipients. Three additional schools received Press Freedom Commendations.

The First Amendment Press Freedom Award recognizes private and public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content through policies and practice.

Today, on Student Press Freedom Day and as part of Scholastic Journalism Week, we honor these schools for their support of student voices.

2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winners are as follows:
- Albany (California) High School
- The American School in London, England
- The Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles
- Brighton (Colorado) High School
- Chantilly (Virginia) High School
- COACH Academic Classes, Normal, Oklahoma
- Delaware Valley Regional High School, Frenchtown, New Jersey
- Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, California
- Francis Howell North High School, Saint Charles, Missouri
- The Harker School, San Jose, California
- Harrisonburg (Virginia) High School
- Homestead High School, San Jose, California
- Liberty High School, Lake Saint Louis, Missouri
- Loudoun Valley High School, Purcellville, Virginia
- Lynbrook High School, San Jose, California
- McLean (Virginia) High School
- M***a Vista High School, Cupertino, California
- Mountlake Terrace (Washington) High School
- North Central High School, Indianapolis
- Palo Alto (California) High School
- Rock Canyon High School, Littleton, Colorado
- South Salem High School, Salem, Oregon
- Townsend Harris High School, Flushing, New York
- Waterloo West High School, Waterloo, Iowa
- Weir High School, Weirton, West Virginia
- Whitney High School, Rocklin, California

The 2026 Press Freedom Commendation winners are:
- Rutherford B. Hayes High School, Delaware, Ohio
- West Albany High School, Albany, Oregon
- West Linn (Oregon) High School

Read more: https://jea.org/news/2026-first-amendment-press-freedom-award-schools-recognized/

02/25/2026

Today, Waterloo West High Journalism celebrated Student Press Freedom Day, the 57th anniversary of Tinker v. Des Moines, and Scholastic Journalism Week.

Wahawk Yearbook Co-Editor-in-Chief and Wahawk Insider Staffer, Brooklynn Berumez, visited history and journalism classes to teach about Student Press Freedom and Tinker v. Des Moines. Brooklynn shared why this landmark case still protects student expression today.

In addition to teaching, students were invited to wear an armband modeled after Tinker v. Des Moines to show support for West High Journalism, a free press, and to celebrate students’ freedom of speech and expression.

02/24/2026

57 years ago today, the landmark student free speech case Tinker v. Des Moines was decided, right here in Iowa. When the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that students don’t “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate,” it empowered student journalists nationwide!

During Scholastic Journalism Week and leading up to Student Press Freedom Day, we look back and honor Tinker’s legacy.

02/19/2026

GAME DAY! Today the boys basketball team will be going against CR Kennedy! Come out and support your fellow Wahawks! Insider will have a ESPN inspired table at student section and it is senior night.

02/06/2026

Senior Daniesha Watson has become the first wrestler in Waterloo West or East history to make it to the finals in the Iowa High School Girls Wrestling Tournament. After her win against number six Cedar Falls with a dominant pin, she earned her spot in the final match where she will fight for first place.

01/22/2026

NO SCHOOL TOMORROW
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There will be no school tomorrow, January 23rd. Additionally there will be no before school or after school activities.
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Stay safe and stay warm Wahawks!