Mount Vernon students Afton Weaver, Lucy Cook and Tenley Ryant were named an honorable mention in the National Public Radio’s Student Podcast Challenge. Their podcast, the Super S’s, was recorded in spring 2024 for the fourth grade competition with the help of Cornell College as part of a unit on podcasting developed by teacher Heather Bauer and Cornell College instructors.

From the reporting on the story in the April 18 edition of the Sun – Erin Lane at Cornell College had seen the Student Podcast Challenge by National Public Radio was being offered for fourth graders to participate in.

“I knew my daughter’s class has focused on learning about different writing styles, and this seemed like it would be a good fit,” Lane said.

Teacher Heather Bauer, when approached about the idea, was a little hesitant, as she’d never taught a unit like this.

“Erin and Matt Zhorne made this process so smooth and easy,” Bauer said. “They put together a wonderful lesson to help students understand the process and the desired outcome.”

This year NPR received nearly 2,000 entries from all around the country for the challenge. It was also the first year that fourth grade students were allowed to record podcasts for the contest.

This year’s winners in fourth grade podcasts included subjects on the Montauk lighthouse, a school mural, a trampoline accident, a forced migration, and the Quartering Act of 1765.

Tenley Ryant, Afton Weaver and Lucy Cook recorded the Super S podcast back in April. The podcast was an honorable mention for NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge.