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Riverhawk Press

The Student News Site of Mason City High School

Riverhawk Press

Riverhawk Press

According to Rattay, choosing a good thumbnail, or the image displayed as the video "cover" on YouTube, is essential to the success of a video. Image courtesy of Elija Rattay.

Capturing Views through Video Games: Junior Elija Rattay Adapts in a Changing Industry

Elise Dykstra, Editor in Chief October 20, 2025

When junior Elija Rattay started a Youtube channel as a middle schooler, he had no idea that someday he would manage a monetized account with thousands of subscribers.  Rattay started his YouTube channel...

Che Whitner talking to students in the 'School Within a School' at MCHS.

Changing Lives

Mya Sanchez, Reporter October 13, 2025

Che Whitner is a sturdy wall at Mason City High School, keeping students who need a role model on a steady pathway. Originally from the urban area of Southside Minneapolis, he’s been a Behavior Interventionist...

Penelope Scott shows dedication at cross country practice in the Mason City Fieldhouse. Sept. 24

Freshman Finds Her Pace

Madison Fjetland, Staff Writer October 12, 2025

For Mason City High School freshman Penelope Scott, the starting line isn't just a place to begin a race; it's a place to find her community. Her enthusiasm for the sport is as unwavering as her stride....

Mrs. Dodge's Unique Path Benefits Teaching Career

Mrs. Dodge’s Unique Path Benefits Teaching Career

Elise Dykstra, Editor in Chief September 26, 2025

Jessica Dodge joined the MCHS staff at the beginning of the 2025 school year to teach various classes in the English department. Though now working as a teacher, Dodge spent several years working in finance...

Henry Hansen crosses the finish line at the Wartburg cross country course.

Q&A with Runner Henry Hansen

Kate Laura, Writer September 17, 2025

Henry Hansen, a junior on the cross country team, strives to compete and break records. Whether it is childhood board games or cross country practice, Hansen wants to win.  Hansen’s personal record...

Robert Dalmacio in 2021, giving instructions to a drafting class in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Robert Dalmacio.

Para by Day, Architect at Night

Kyra Nason, Writer May 13, 2025

During the day, 35-year-old Ronald Dalmacio works in Mason City classrooms helping K-12 students as a substitute para. At night, he takes on the role of a professor and teaches architecture to third-year...

Junior Drayden Witt makes an out-of-bounds call during the Hardee's Classic youth tournament. Witt is one of the eight referees Coach Tony Buhr has worked with to get their refereeing certifications.

American Sports’ Endangered Species

Elise Dykstra, Writer February 19, 2025

This is a story about a dad who saw a problem in the world, and saw a solution in the high schoolers he coached. This is a story about a nationwide dilemma, and yet another team working to reverse it.  And...

Snowcoming Dance Set for Saturday

Snowcoming Dance Set for Saturday

Kyra Nason, Writer February 7, 2025

MCHS will host its second annual Snowcoming semi-formal dance for students in the FEMA Room on Saturday night. “This is a new tradition we plan to have for many years to come,” said Claire Sampson,...

The AP Chemistry class poses with their newly-silvered Coca-Cola bottles upon completion of their lab on Wednesday. 
L to R: Kaitlyn Thangaraj ('26), Justin Nkazi ('25), Timothy Dietrich Ⅱ ('25), Landon Arhart ('25), Javier Alarcon-Newman ('25), Adam Callanan (instructor), Elise Dykstra ('26), Kate Kotta ('26), Sthepanny Torres ('26), and Sofia Ahari ('26). Not pictured: Sam Marenge. Photo courtesy of Kate Kotta.

AP Chemistry Students Celebrate End of Semester with Coca-Cola Lab

Elise Dykstra, Writer January 9, 2025

Wednesday afternoon, the fifth period AP Chemistry students participated in a lab activity with an unusual outcome. While most chemistry labs follow the same general procedure - make the substance change,...

Members of Boys' Swim Team Spread Some Christmas Cheer After Tuesday's Ice Storm

Members of Boys’ Swim Team Spread Some Christmas Cheer After Tuesday’s Ice Storm

Elise Dykstra, Writer December 20, 2024

When a surprise ice storm canceled all after-school practices and events on Tuesday afternoon, members of the boys’ swim team decided to give their fellow students a big surprise.  “We were scraping...

Voters cast their ballots at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse this past Saturday.

Student Election Survey Data Reports a Disturbing Trend

Elise Dykstra, Writer November 4, 2024

When I was asked to write an article about the upcoming election for the Press by my advisor, Mrs. Scholl, I believe my exact words were, “Scholl, no one wants to do that.” I was concerned with the...

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