Ruth Witmer, adviser for The Indiana Daily Student

Carrie worked her way up to EIC at the Indiana Daily Student newspaper by serving in six different editor positions at IU Student Media. She has seen the staff through that first challenging day, visits from presidential candidates and coverage of a basketball scandal that garnered national attention.

And then, there was her showdown with a former deputy national security adviser - and the well-earned ovation. The official, Meghan O’Sullivan, came to IU to deliver a public talk but stipulated that the speech was "off-the-record" to the press. Carrie challenged that restriction on the grounds that a free and open press has the right and responsibility to relay coverage of public meetings to the public it serves. Despite pressure and a series of heated phone calls with event organizers, Carrie stood her ground. During one call, Carrie gave a particularly eloquent defense of the First Amendment. When she hung up the phone, her newsroom staff broke into spontaneous clapping.

Jon O'Neill, bureau editor for the St. Petersburg Times

I have worked with dozens of young journalists both here and at The Miami Herald for the past 15 years. Carrie is the best of the bunch, no question. She is smart, mature and never gets overwhelmed. She is bright enough to know when she should ask for help, and when she should figure things out on her own. She is fearless, but not reckless. She reports with accuracy and writes with flair. She is confident, but not cocky. Just being around her, you get the sense that whatever comes her way, she can totally handle it.

Case in point: During the summer she was with us, I sent her out to cover the story of a local girl who had been missing, then turned up dead in a lake. Every media type is scrambling to find out what happened. Carrie leaves to go do some reporting on it. A few hours later, without any fuss or fanfare, she walks back in the office with a full interview from the girl’s mom and a picture of the dead girl. It was more than any other media outlet had or would get. I was really impressed - not only by what she did, but HOW she did it. Like a pro.

Nancy Comiskey, interim director of IU Student Media

When Carrie learned that a speech by a former deputy national security adviser was free and open to the public but “off-the-record” to the media, she took a courageous stand for First Amendment rights.  She told the reporter covering the event to identify herself and say that she did not agree to the “off-the-record” request.  Despite intense pressure from the event’s sponsors and angry warnings that her decision would cost the university “thousands of dollars,” Carrie held her ground.  The speaker chose to cancel her speech.  Carrie’s calm, professional and ethical handling of the situation drew spontaneous applause in the newsroom and accolades from professional journalists across the country.

It wasn’t the first time that Carrie has handled pressure with a confidence beyond her years.  When the power went off in Ernie Pyle Hall on her first night of production, she calmly set up a makeshift newsroom in a nearby computer lab.  She is a strong leader who is both thoughtful and decisive.  When conflicts arise, she addresses them promptly and compassionately.  An innovator, she has dramatically expanded the IDS’ multimedia coverage to include a daily headlines podcast and a weekly interview podcast.  She challenges veteran staffers to do their best work and goes out of her way to make new ones feel welcome.

Source | The Indiana Daily Student
An Ohio judge ruled last November that a politician had no standing to sue Miami University of Ohio for offering domestic-partner benefits -- despite the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage and legal recognition of unmarried couples.

Source | The St. Petersburg Times
Keeping Pasco County's fleet on the road is a stubborn and expensive problem. The passengers aboard Bus 73 fanned themselves with their hands and wiped drops of sweat from their faces. Some tried to calm the squirming children in their laps.

Source | The St. Petersburg Times
Wheelchair soccer helps players live out their competitiveness - and their families'. In May 2005, Jim Carpenter came to Indianapolis decked out in all blue, right down to the paint in his hair. He was there to watch his son Ben's first national soccer tournament, along with about 14 other team parents.

Source | The St. Petersburg Times
After a bad fall, a Port Richey native whose craft is roller skating prepares for a third national competition. Siobhan Boismier is a 27-year-old tattoo artist without any tattoos - yet. That's because she's also another kind of artist: a competitive roller skater. She said the judges just wouldn't approve of permanent ink.