Ehrhart Redefines Journalism at MUS
Brady Ehrhart ’26 sat in The Owl’s Hoot newsroom the summer before the 2025-26 school year with one thing on his mind: It was time for change.
A weeklong trip to the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Summer Journalism Workshop gave him inspiration. Ehrhart and Layout Editor Advay Iyer ’26 got to work. What followed was a complete transformation, a revamped print layout and the launch of a website delivering the latest news and student perspectives.
“(Ehrhart) composed a 20-page style guide, created new staff positions, and entirely redesigned the paper’s layout. Most significantly, he spearheaded the creation of the first news-affiliated website in school history,” Tennessee High School Press Association President Jimmy McCollum said.
Ehrhart’s efforts earned him the top individual honor at the THSPA Awards, as he was named the H.L. Hall Outstanding Student Journalist in Tennessee. He also led The Owl’s Hoot to statewide distinction with a first-place finish in Best Overall Newspaper/Newsmagazine. His achievement qualified him to compete for the National Journalist of the Year Award, to be presented during the Journalism Education Association Spring Convention in Minneapolis April 16-18.
Owl’s Hoot Advisor Ginny McCarley described Ehrhart as a “natural-born and compelling leader,” noting the standing-room-only turnout of students interested in joining the newspaper staff at the beginning of the school year.
Ehrhart’s individual honors included multiple first-place finishes:
“(Ehrhart) composed a 20-page style guide, created new staff positions, and entirely redesigned the paper’s layout. Most significantly, he spearheaded the creation of the first news-affiliated website in school history,” Tennessee High School Press Association President Jimmy McCollum said.
Ehrhart’s efforts earned him the top individual honor at the THSPA Awards, as he was named the H.L. Hall Outstanding Student Journalist in Tennessee. He also led The Owl’s Hoot to statewide distinction with a first-place finish in Best Overall Newspaper/Newsmagazine. His achievement qualified him to compete for the National Journalist of the Year Award, to be presented during the Journalism Education Association Spring Convention in Minneapolis April 16-18.
Owl’s Hoot Advisor Ginny McCarley described Ehrhart as a “natural-born and compelling leader,” noting the standing-room-only turnout of students interested in joining the newspaper staff at the beginning of the school year.
Ehrhart’s individual honors included multiple first-place finishes:
- Best News Story: “A Face That Defined Generations: Barry Ray’s Portrait Unveiled”
- Best Sports Story: “Bear Tracks: Senior Taylor Commits to Belmont University to Pursue D1 Track”
- Best News/Feature Photograph: “A Look Back on the Memphis ‘No Kings’ Protest”
After the state honors were announced in chapel, Ehrhart thanked his family, Mrs. McCarley, Upper School Head Zach Hansen, and the newspaper staff.
“I walked into a newsroom last June not knowing a single thing about journalism, and now I’m the No. 1 journalist in Tennessee, and I’m going to compete nationally. This is a testament to what you can do here,” he said.
A self-taught photographer, Ehrhart earned additional recognition for his visual storytelling, including first place in Best Photo Essay for “Cultures Showcased at International Fair” (with Stephen Mangin ’28) and third place for “Student Bands and A Cappella Perform at Friday Chapel.”
Balancing his role as a varsity lacrosse player and Honor Council vice president, Ehrhart still finds time to lead the newspaper staff and document school life in articles and photos.
Through his leadership and initiative, Ehrhart has helped redefine student journalism at MUS. He has also discovered a new path for himself.
“I never expected to fall in love with journalism, but my experiences derived from the MUS Norman S. Thompson Journalism Fellowship changed the course of my life,” Ehrhart said. “I saw what a student newspaper could be through exposure to nationally recognized publications, and I decided to devote my senior year to elevating The Owl’s Hoot as much as possible. I intend to study journalism in college, something I never considered, and I want to make a career as a media professional. These aspirations are rooted in MUS’s belief in me, and I am so incredibly grateful."
“I walked into a newsroom last June not knowing a single thing about journalism, and now I’m the No. 1 journalist in Tennessee, and I’m going to compete nationally. This is a testament to what you can do here,” he said.
A self-taught photographer, Ehrhart earned additional recognition for his visual storytelling, including first place in Best Photo Essay for “Cultures Showcased at International Fair” (with Stephen Mangin ’28) and third place for “Student Bands and A Cappella Perform at Friday Chapel.”
Balancing his role as a varsity lacrosse player and Honor Council vice president, Ehrhart still finds time to lead the newspaper staff and document school life in articles and photos.
Through his leadership and initiative, Ehrhart has helped redefine student journalism at MUS. He has also discovered a new path for himself.
“I never expected to fall in love with journalism, but my experiences derived from the MUS Norman S. Thompson Journalism Fellowship changed the course of my life,” Ehrhart said. “I saw what a student newspaper could be through exposure to nationally recognized publications, and I decided to devote my senior year to elevating The Owl’s Hoot as much as possible. I intend to study journalism in college, something I never considered, and I want to make a career as a media professional. These aspirations are rooted in MUS’s belief in me, and I am so incredibly grateful."
Embracing a Bold Vision. Building a Bright Future.
Memphis University School is a college-preparatory, independent, day school for boys in Grades 6-12.
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