David Henke, Patch Staff

There is no greater honor for me than to be entrusted to tell someone else's story.

That's how I've always approached my work as a journalist, whether I'm writing a feature on a World War 2 vet, talking to students at the local high school or reporting on a neighborhood crime.

I got my start in news writing during high school, when I wrote a weekly student column for my hometown newspaper. I majored in English and Environmental Studies at St. Olaf College, became an editor for the college newspaper and started freelance writing on the side.

My freelance work led me to the Northfield News, where I reported on crime, city government, education, business and the arts—and even managed to sneak in a sports article every so often. In my five years as a reporter, I have won four awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association for my reporting, including "Best New Journalist of the Year" in 2008.

Over the three years, I served as the editor for Inver Grove Heights Patch before becoming the editor of Eagan Patch.

Although I love writing, expect to see me out shooting video and photos in Eagan on a regular basis.

I've found that journalism is similar to anthropology: As a journalist, you're asked to go out into a community and learn the stories of that city and its residents. I can't think of anything more fulfilling than that.