Bigfork senior an award-winning editor

[Editor’s note: This is the fifth article in a weeklong series recognizing noteworthy graduates from the Class of 2019. This year’s series highlights students making a difference.]

By HEIDI GAISER

Daily Inter Lake

For her dedication to the Bigfork High School newspaper The Norse Code, the Montana Journalism Education Association named Ahna Fox its 2018-19 high school journalist of the year.

The award reflects how seriously Fox has taken her high school journalism career. In her senior year, she was editor-in-chief of the monthly paper, and acted as the Norse Code newscast lead anchor and social media director. She started in the journalism program at Bigfork her freshman year as a reporter, followed by two years as design director.

“Journalism shaped the person I am, shaped my opinions and views, and is what I want to do in the future,” she said. “I’m going to UM for journalism because of the Norse Code and the time I spent in that classroom. I’m so thankful I decided to go into it eighth-grade year.”

Along with her duties as editor of a monthly newspaper, Fox produced weekly live and video newscasts and posted daily social media updates for school events and sports. For the last two years, her contributions helped Bigfork win best newscast and website in the state at the University of Montana’s high school journalism day.

Fox was also design editor for Hatch Literary Magazine, an annual production of the Creative Writing and Literature Magazine classes, her junior and senior years.

She will be part of the Davidson Honors College at UM and is graduating as Bigfork’s valedictorian with a 4.0 grade point average. Her straight-A status has meant a lot to her, as she doesn’t consider herself “naturally smart.”

“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of,” she said. “I’ve always had to work at what I have.”

Writing and English came easily to her, she said, but math and science classes were a struggle.

“In math, I had to work like crazy, going in extra hours, always getting help with teachers,” she said. “I had quite a few all-nighters, not the best for your health, but it got me my GPA.”

The faculty at Bigfork were consistently supportive, she said.

“They were always willing to help me. They give you a lot of opportunities for one-on-one time. I can’t think of one teacher I haven’t liked at Bigfork.”

Journalism instructor Charlie Appleby is one of the teachers who played a big part in Fox’s high school career. He has high expectations for her future.

“Ahna Fox is truly the perfect student,” he said. “A go-getter who challenges the norm and pushes herself and those around her. She wants to learn the why, not just the how, and aims to make each lesson relevant to herself going forward.”

He said that when Fox decided to take over the Norse Code’s social media accounts she gave herself a “seemingly impossible” goal.

“By the end of her second year she had surpassed that goal and several others. She is one to watch, because she’s going places.”

Fox expects to pursue a career in either political or sports journalism, but might pursue law school if she changes her mind.

Her athletic background helped create her attraction to sports journalism. She participated in volleyball, swim team and tennis all four years of high school. A few weeks ago she placed fourth in the state Class B tennis tournament with doubles partner Meredith Bedford and was fifth in doubles her sophomore year playing with Kalia Wicklund. As a defensive specialist, she was second-team all-conference in volleyball this year.

As with academics, Fox doesn’t see herself as athletically gifted.

“Since I started competing in my first sport, I really had to work at getting good at stuff,” she said. “I’m never the best in any area. I’m natural at riding horses, but at volleyball I definitely wasn’t. I’ve had to work at all those things.”

Her passion for horses has been a defining aspect of her life. With her beloved quarter horse Duke, who’s now 20 years old, she competed in 4-H riding-skills events and rodeo pageants. In sixth grade she was named the Northwest Montana Fair Pro Rodeo Little Miss, and in 2016 added a Pro Rodeo Princess title to her resume. She carries flags at PRCA rodeos in Bigfork and the fair. She has another horse, a 3-year-old colt named Indy Joe, and has been training him as part of a senior project.

Feeding her horses every night and keeping them groomed and exercised have always been a part of her already busy schedule. She said she’s spent many winters wading through deep snow to the barn to care for the family

She believes the responsibilities and challenges she’s faced have turned her into a more understanding and compassionate person. Her parents divorced when she was in the eighth grade and though she says it was tough, “I got through it.”

“I’m stronger for my adversities,” she said. “I’m able to relate to those kids who are going through things. It’s caused me to have a better outlook and relate to individuals going through tough times.”

She said she has “an amazing family who are a really good support system.” She’s close to her father, Eddy Fox, and her mother, Tanya Fox, with whom she lives. She has a younger sister, Shaney, a sophomore at Bigfork.

Fox also loves fly-fishing and was part of an English Outbound class that incorporated fishing and fly-tying into the curriculum. She also has been playing guitar since fifth grade and tries to sneak in as much practice as possible.

Free time is rare for Fox, though. She’s immersed herself in the high school experience and is a little ambivalent about moving on.

“I love Bigfork,” she said. “A lot of kids just want to graduate, but it makes me sad to be leaving everyone. I love almost everyone in the class. It’s been an emotional week, thinking about graduating, but I’m excited about what’s coming my way.”

Sixty-four students are set to graduate from Bigfork High School at 11 a.m. June 1 in the gym.