Natalie Garwood’s work behind the scenes of capturing timeless pictures have not gone unnoticed as The Journalism Education Association has nominated Garwood as Michigan’s student Journalist of the year. In her journalist career with the Arrow newspaper and Warrior yearbook, Garwood has won a total of 66 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) awards.
“I started photography out of necessity but fell in love with the long hours spent outside,” Garwood said. “The thrill of getting that perfect shot. It gave me a way to connect to the rest of my school and the community.” The National High School Journalism Convention in Kansas City warmly welcomed Garwood in April.
“I got the call at the last basketball game of the season,” senior Natalie Garwood said. “I was under the basket during the third quarter and was really surprised when [my yearbook adviser Stacy] Smale called me. I couldn’t believe it at first. I was fairly confident in my portfolio, but I didn’t think I was good enough to be the top in the state.”
Garwood first entered her portfolio to the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association for the Student Journalist Staff, where she was also named the top student photojournalist in the state.
“Getting the chance to represent the state of Michigan is absolutely incredible. It was really fitting for me to find out while taking pictures, even though it made it hard to focus for the rest of the game,” Garwood said. “My hands were shaking, and I couldn’t stop thinking. Still, I don’t think there could be a better way for me to find out.” Garwood being nominated as had a positive impact onto the school community.
“It was well deserved,” principal Tim Youngblood said. “Natalie has done a ton of work for Utica. I couldn’t think of anyone better that deserves it.” During her time in Michigan’s Journalist of the Year, she attended lots of classes.
“I particularly enjoyed the Keynote Speaker on the first night,” Garwood said. “He was a photographer for the National Geographic, and it was really entertaining the way he tied together photos from the beginning of his career to his more recent stuff.”
Garwood dedicated most of her time working on the Warrior yearbook and her Photo of the Day series on the @uhswarrior Instagram.
“I spent about four hours per day on the yearbook before we submitted between organizing, planning, designing, photographing, writing, and editing,” Garwood said. “It was nice to be recognized for everything I do and all of the time I put in, especially for Photo of the Day.”
Garwood plans to attend Michigan State University this fall, double majoring in Marketing and Communications Leadership & Strategy.
