Courtney Klaus, a Newman University junior majoring in communication and history with a minor in journalism, is WPC’s 2019 scholarship winner. She serves as editor-in-chief of the university’s weekly student newspaper The Vantage, previously working as a Vantage reporter, then managing editor.
As Vantage editor, Klaus is a fierce advocate of the First Amendment and has covered LGBT+ censorship and lawsuits facing the university. The lawsuit story meant asking Newman’s top leaders, including the university president, tough questions about being served with five lawsuits from former employees accusing all of the top administrators of harassment, discrimination and retaliation. She addressed each of the five suits, even when pressured to back off the story.
To further the newspaper’s reach, Klaus developed a professionally produced and popular cartoon strip called DisAdvantage, which comments on happenings on the Newman campus. She also revamped The Vantage’s website for breaking news. Her work led to an internship over winter break with The Wichita Eagle.
Meanwhile, Klaus is also a resident assistant, student ambassador, lector for Campus Ministry, and trumpet soloist in both the concert and jazz band. She also works for the university’s Reacting to The Past Consortium website, writing “Campus Spotlights” to highlight different universities across the nation.
In her scholarship application, Klaus wrote “I want to use my communication skills as part of my personal mission to make a difference in my community – not just in the future, but right now as a Newman student.” She wants to become an attorney and plans to graduate from Newman in May 2020.