The Next Chapter: Hudson Herald Bids Farewell to Student Intern Ken Kane

By Dani McCulley 

A few years ago, while working with the Hudson High School yearbook staff on a project, I asked the  students to email me their materials in a specific format. 

One student sent exactly what I had requested. 

It may seem like a small thing, but his attention to detail immediately stood out. I returned to the  classroom and told him I had a feeling he would be a great fit for the Hudson Herald. 

That student was Ken Kane. 

When Ken first joined the newspaper as a sophomore, he was incredibly quiet. During our earliest  meetings, it was difficult to know what he was thinking. However, as the months passed and we worked  through assignments, deadlines and community events together, I began to know the thoughtful and  extraordinarily talented young man behind that quiet exterior. 

Over the next few years, Ken grew into far more than a student intern. He became a trusted member of the  Hudson Herald team. 

Ken possesses a rare combination of creativity and discipline. He can take the beginning of an idea,  understand the vision behind it and turn it into something better than originally imagined. He learned  quickly, welcomed feedback and consistently approached his work with care, integrity and maturity. 

His writing, photography and design helped tell the stories of Hudson High School and the greater  community. More importantly, his work reflected the genuine interest he has in people and the stories they  carry. 

One conversation with Ken has remained with me. 

At some point, I asked him a question about what had shaped him into the person he is. I no longer  remember exactly how I phrased it, but I will never forget his answer. 

“I have really great parents,” he said. 

He is right. 

That simple response revealed so much about Ken: his humility, gratitude and awareness that no one  becomes who they are entirely on their own. I am deeply grateful to his parents for their encouragement  and support and for trusting me with the opportunity to work alongside their son. 

Last week, Ken and I met one final time before he left for Pasadena, California, to begin college. We  talked about who he was when we first met and the person he has become. 

Watching him transform from a shy, quiet sophomore into a confident and excited graduate has been one  of the greatest privileges of my career. His talent was evident from the beginning, but seeing him  recognize that talent within himself has been even more meaningful.

Of course, I could not send him away without one more book. 

This time, I chose the children’s book What Do You Do With an Idea? It tells the story of an idea that  begins small but grows as it is nurtured, ultimately becoming something capable of changing the world. 

It felt fitting for Ken. 

There is no question that he was given a gift to create. As he pursues screenwriting and a future in film  and television, I have no doubt he will someday create something extraordinary. Perhaps it will begin as a  small idea — one that only he can see clearly at first — and grow into something that reaches people far  beyond Hudson, Iowa. 

While Ken’s time as a Hudson Herald intern has ended, the influence of his work will remain. He brought  creativity, thoughtfulness and a fresh perspective to our pages, but the greatest gift was simply having the  opportunity to watch him grow. 

Ken, thank you for every idea, every story and every extraordinary part of yourself you shared with this  newspaper and our community. 

We are incredibly proud of you.