Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND – "I really like how, in photography, it's kind of like a superpower. You capture moments and freeze time. In journalism, you capture people's real quotes and story-tell from their experiences," said Worland High School (WHS) Senior Victoria Boulom, recent runner-up for the Wyoming High School Student Press Association (WHSSPA) State Journalist of the Year.

Boulom grew up interested in photography, taking pictures with her phone and finding opportunities to use cameras. Her junior year at WHS, Boulom joined yearbook. That spring, yearbook Advisor Sarah Staley took Boulom to the Journalism Education Association Conference in Los Angeles, California.

"It gives us an opportunity to take our kids, they get to meet other journalists from around the country, it was a lot of fun," Staley said. "We went to a lot of workshops, so Victoria's brought a lot of stuff back with her. Stuff that, in rural Wyoming, you don't get the opportunity to learn some of."

Boulom said she learned that as a photojournalist, there are many great opportunities to experience the world and capture moments. She has found a love for fast-action sports photography, and enjoys unique lighting situations, such as the high school drama. As Clubs Section Editor for the yearbook, Boulom collected photos, stories and designed layouts for girls' swim, band and choir, softball, home economics and technology.

This was her first time entering in the WHSSPA State Journalist of the Year competition, and after three weeks of compiling her work into a portfolio with feedback from her friends, Boulom submitted her entry in February. A few weeks later, she had her results.

"It's a good opportunity for me," Boulom said. "It will make me more confident to enter in more things and try different forms of photography and writing."

"Victoria has a really artistic eye," said Staley. She praised Boulom's photography, writing and graphic design skills. Staley said that the WHSSPA competition is an opportunity to earn scholarship money and recognition for their work. "It gets them on their journey. If journalism and graphic design is their thing, then this is a good place to start."

Boulard is considering a career in photography or graphic design. She hopes to attend school in-state. She was appreciative of her friends that allowed her to take their senior pictures, and said, "I want to thank my yearbook class, because I wouldn't have gotten that many opportunities to take pictures, especially at like sports or events at the school [without it]."