Whether it is reading her by line at the top of countless compelling stories, taking photos at events or just passing by the FOCUS room, editor-in-chief Caroline Smothers has become a staple of the FOCUS program over the last four years. This year it seems all her hard work is being highlighted as she has been nominated as a finalist for Indiana High School Journalist Of The Year.
Smothers started to make a mark in the program as early as her freshman year. “I always liked to write, and I somehow managed to get myself an interview going in the second semester [of] freshman year,” Smothers said. Smothers instantly fell in love with the program not only because it gave her a space to express her voice, but also because she was able to highlight many other students’ voices at Perry while learning from them herself. “You get to immerse yourself in someone else’s perspective and celebrate someone else’s reality,” Smothers said. It is an experience that has shaped Smothers during her high school career.
During her first three years Smothers focused on writing what she describes as “a little bit of everything,” but this year, in the midst of what some would describe as ongoing political unrest, Smothers had shifted her coverage to immigration and more specifically its impact at Perry. “I have written three or four stories concerning immigration [and] naturalization. […] I’ve been focusing on politics and the way that many new policies impact people,” Smothers said.
With work like this, Smothers’ FOCUS advisor Harrison Sutton urged her to apply for the Indiana High School Journalist of the year award, an award where students apply and then are decided as finalists by the Indiana High School Press Association. Applicants had to write a narrative explaining their connection to student journalism. “I wrote mine about how student journalism gives me a purpose, pushes me to be a leader and has helped me to understand the world around me better,” Smothers said. Additionally, students had to submit works from a list of categories including photography, diversity and perspective to show off their varieties of writing.
When Smothers received the news that she had qualified as a finalist for this award, she was filled with a sense of gratitude and pride in her work. “It was definitely a really good feeling because I felt like the work that I have put in the last four years really adds up to something. I am constantly putting 110% into my work on FOCUS and it makes me feel like I am doing something good with my time,” Smothers said. Smothers has a tenacity and passion about her writing that translates into her work in the program.
On Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, Smothers traveled to Franklin College to learn the results of the much-anticipated award. “I’m just excited to connect with other people who have a similar interest as me and if I win great and if I don’t, it’s cool because I’ve made it this far,” Smothers said.
Through Smothers did not win, after years of constant dedication and hard work, she has left a lasting impact on the FOCUS program.
