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SIPA members win at 2018 National High School Journalism Fall Convention

Posted November 5, 2018

Above photo by Zoe Peterson, Odyssey, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia).


SIPA members received big awards from the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association at the 2018 Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Chicago Nov. 1-4.

NSPA announced its winners of the annual Best in Show, Pacemaker and Individual competitions Saturday, Nov. 3, and JEA announced write-off competitions winners Sunday, Nov. 4. Individual adviser awards were handed out at the awards luncheon on Saturday, Nov. 3.

These awards exemplify excellence in scholastic journalism and recognize individual journalistic efforts. The Pacemaker is NSPA's preeminent award, recognizing the best programs in the nation. The Best of Show award signifies overall excellence among the attendees and entries at the convention. Publications and individuals who are members of SIPA and were honored during the convention are listed below.


2018 JEA Medal of Merit
Meghan Percival, McLean HS (McLean, Virginia)

2018 JEA Rising Star
Katie Moreno, Seven Lakes HS (Katy, Texas)


2018 Broadcast Pacemaker

  • "The Buzz TV," Fort Mill HS (Fort Mill, South Carolina)
  • "Eagle Nation News," Prosper HS (Prosper, Texas)
  • "RNE-TV," Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

2018 Newspaper Pacemaker

  • The Dispatch, James Bowie HS (Austin, Texas)
  • The Eagle Eye, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland, Florida)
  • Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)

2018 Best of Show

Broadcast

  • 2nd Place – "Tribe Talk," Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
  • 6th Place – "RNE-TV Live," Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)
  • 9th Place – "Eagle Nation News," Prosper HS (Prosper, Texas)

Literary Magazine


  • 3rd Place – Ingenium, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (Mobile, Alabama)
  • 4th Place – Psyche, Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

Newsmagazine

  • 6th Place – Torch, Seven Lakes HS (Katy, Texas)

Newspaper Broadsheet

  • 2nd Place – The Dispatch, James Bowie HS (Austin, Texas)

  • 6th Place – The Crimson Crier, Sparkman HS (Harvest, Alabama)

  • 8th Place – Newsstreak, Harrisonburg HS (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Newspaper Special Edition

  • 2nd Place – Torch, Seven Lakes HS (Katy, Texas)
  • 4th Place – Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)

Newspaper Tabloid 16 Pages or Fewer


  • 4th Place – Kingwood Park Times, Kingwood Park HS (Kingwood, Texas)

Newspaper Tabloid 17 or More Pages


  • 4th Place – The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

  • 8th Place – The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)

Website Small School


  • 2nd Place – TRNwired, Prince George HS (Prince George, Virginia)

Yearbook 232 Pages or Fewer


  • 8th Place – The Archive, Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

Yearbook 233-288 Pages


  • 1st Place – The Belltower, St. Thomas' Episcopal School (Houston, Texas)
  • 2nd Place – Tigrium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne, Florida)
  • 9th Place – The Confederate, Lee-Davis HS (Mechanicsville, Virginia)
  • 10th Place – Techniques, Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Virginia)

Yearbook 289-336 Pages

  • 4th Place – The Clan, McLean HS (McLean, Virginia)

2018 NSPA Individual Competition Winners

BROADCAST STORY OF THE YEAR


Broadcast News Story

  • 3rd Place – Isaac Palmer, "The Buzz TV," Fort Mill HS, (Fort Mill, South Carolina)
  • 4th Place – Jake Fein and Sola Kantai, "Eagle Nation News," Prosper HS (Prosper, Texas)
  • 5th Place – Kayla Jeffers and Alex Wages, "RNE-TV Live," Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

Broadcast Feature Story

  • 2nd Place – Camron Silva and Kelly Trinh, "Eagle Nation News," Prosper HS (Prosper, Texas)

Broadcast Sports Story

  • 
Honorable Mention – Alex Wages, "RNE-TV Live," Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)

Broadcast Commentary

  • Honorable Mention – Theodore Rackauskas, "WAHS News," American Heritage School (Plantation, Florida)

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

Newspaper Front Page

  • Honorable Mention – Lydia Gardner, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt.Pleasant, South Carolina)
  • Honorable Mention – Kelly Wei, The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

Newspaper Page/Spread

  • Honorable Mention – Mia Barbosa, The Dispatch, James Bowie HS (Austin, Texas)

Newsmagazine Page/Spread

  • 5th Place – Madison Olsen, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Reem Salem, The Torch, Seven Lakes HS (Katy, Texas)


Literary Magazine Cover

  • 3rd Place – Michelle Roca, Ingenium, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (Mobile, Alabama)

  • 4th Place – Robert Brook and Omina Tukhtasunova, Psyche, Richland Northeast HS (Columbia, South Carolina)
  • 5th Place – Camile Grady, Earthwinds, Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson, Mississippi)

Literary Magazine Page/Spread

  • 3rd Place – Violet Merrit, Iliad, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)
  • 5th Place – Michelle Roca and Ann Sheldon, Ingenium, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (Mobile, Alabama)
  • Honorable Mention – Violet Merritt and Natalie Ripps, Iliad, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)
  • Honorable Mention – Polly Watkins, Earthwinds, Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson, Mississippi)

Yearbook Spread

  • Honorable Mention – Sydney Levy, Tigrium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne, Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Lauren Rose, Panther, HB Plant HS (Tampa, Florida)

Yearbook Theme Package

  • 2nd Place – Caroline Dixon, Nadia Kumar-Agarwal, Sydney Levy and Ashvi Luthra, Tigrium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne, Florida)
  • 5th Place – Hanna Lee, Bella Whitney, Julia Williamson and Rachel Zhang, The Clan, McLean HS (McLean, Virginia)
  • Honorable Mention – Elena Henderson, Madison Olsen and Kennedy Schuelke, The Knight, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)

Illustration

  • 3rd Place – Julie Robertson, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)

DIGITAL STORY OF THE YEAR

Multimedia News Story Package

  • 4th Place – Amelia Vanyo, The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

Multimedia Feature Story Package

Photo Slideshow

  • 4th Place – Staff, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)

Interactive Graphic

Blog

  • 2nd Place – Karla Dougan, Odyssey Media Group, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)
  • 4th Place – Christine Zhao, tjTODAY Online, Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Virginia)
  • Honorable Mention – Elena Webber, Odyssey Media Group, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)

PICTURE OF THE YEAR


News/Feature Picture

  • 4th Place – Madison Olsen, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)

Sports Action Picture

  • 3rd Place – Brandon Brooks, Beacon, Calvary Day School (Savannah, Georgia)

Environmental Portrait


  • 1st Place – Zoe Peterson, Odyssey, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)
  • 2nd Place – Zoe Peterson, Odyssey, Clarke Central HS (Athens, Georgia)
  • Honorable Mention – Carly Knight-Carrier, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
  • Honorable Mention – Laura Amador-Toro, The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

STORY OF THE YEAR

News Story

Feature Story

  • 1st Place – Eva Chillura, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
  • 4th Place – Tanya Raghu, The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Arabella Saunders, Nighthawk, First Flight HS (Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina)
  • Honorable Mention – Haley Havelock, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)

Editorial

  • 4th Place – Cooper Lockett, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
  • Honorable Mention – Staff, tjTODAY, Thomas Jefferson HS for Science and Technology (Alexandria, Virginia)

Opinion

  • 2nd Place – Isabella Ank, Pep O'Plant, H.B. Plant HS (Tampa, Florida)

PORTFOLIO OF THE YEAR

Broadcast Journalist of the Year

  • 2nd Place – Jake Fein, "Eagle Nation News," Prosper HS (Prosper, Texas)

Designer of the Year

  • 3rd Place – Elena Henderson, The Knight, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Maddie Doran, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin, Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Libby Hurt, Round-Up, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

Photojournalist of the Year

  • 4th Place – Madison Olsen, The Shield, McCallum HS (Austin Texas)

Writer of the Year

  • 1st Place – Violet Glenewinkel, The Dispatch, James Bowie HS (Austin, Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Rebecca Schneid, The Eagle Eye, Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland, Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Amelia Vanyo, The Sidekick, Coppell HS (Coppell, Texas)

BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media Reporting

Social Media Promotion

MIDDLE SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Design of the Year

  • 2nd Place – Kaylie Johnson, Tigrium, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Melbourne, Florida)

 2018 JEA Write-Off Competition

Editorial Writing

  • Honorable Mention – Jacob Whitlock, Sparkman HS (Alabama)

Feature Writing

  • Honorable Mention – Abby Ong, James Bowie HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Isabella Velez, American Heritage School (Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Kennedy Wyles, Prosper HS (Texas)

Newswriting

  • 
Excellent – Cianna Chairez, James Bowie HS (Texas)
  • Excellent – Grace Moore, Sparkman HS (Alabama)
  • Excellent – Jessica Larrinaga, HB Plant HS (Florida)

Sports Writing

  • Excellent – Ana Arredondo, Prosper HS (Texas)
  • Excellent – Sam Blas, James Bowie HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Gabby Norman, Kingwood Park HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Kate Caranante, HB Plant HS (Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Rosenblatt Jonathan, American Heritage School (Florida)

Review Writing


  • Excellent – Trey Howard, Sparkman HS (Alabama)
  • Honorable Mention – Bryce Szala, American Heritage School (Florida)

Commentary Writing

  • Honorable Mention – Alexis Perno, HB Plant HS (Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Lauren Jones, Bullitt East HS (Kentucky)

Newspaper Layout

  • Honorable Mention – Andrew Rosenblatt, American Heritage School (Florida)
  • Honorable Mention – Danni Jo Grider, Sparkman HS (Alabama)

Press Law & Ethics

  • Excellent – Neha Madhira, Prosper HS (Texas)

YB Copy/Caption: Academics

  • Superior – Clio Bruno, HB Plant HS (Florida)
  • Excellent – Emily Breach, James Bowie HS (Texas)
  • Excellent – Lily Watson, Prosper HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Lily Snell, American Heritage School (Florida)

YB Copy/Caption: Clubs

  • Superior – Abigail Weber, McLean HS (Virginia)
  • Honorable Mention – Tara Basile, American Heritage School (Florida)

YB Copy/Caption: Student Life


  • Superior – Mia Moore, James Bowie HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Ashley Means, Prosper HS (Texas)
  • Honorable Mention – Dalva Ackerman, American Heritage School (Florida)

YB Layout: Theme 


  • Excellent – Tyree Carter, Sparkman HS (Alabama)

YB Cover/Endsheets


  • Honorable Mention – Sophie Bega, James Bowie HS (Texas)

Literary Magazine: Layout

  • Superior – Dina Katgara, American Heritage School (Florida)
  • Excellent – Corinne Stein, McGill-Toolen Catholic HS (Alabama)

Literary Magazine: Poetry


  • Excellent – Samara Smukler, American Heritage School (Florida)


Literary Magazine: Photography

  • 
Honorable Mention – Ariann Barker, American Heritage School (Florida)

Themed Photo

  • Excellent – Biggs Olvia, American Heritage School (Florida)

Sports Feature Photography

  • Excellent – Jayme Wilkey, Kingwood Park HS (Texas)

Photo Story

  • Honorable Mention – Samantha Cheiman, American Heritage School (Florida)

Portrait Photo

  • Honorable Mention – Andrea Marie Alfaro, Prosper HS (Texas)


First-Year Photo

  • 
Honorable Mention – Crosslin Silcott, Kingwood Park HS (Texas)

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