East Journalism Receives Recognition at Spring Convention

Last Wednesday, Journalism students from Shawnee Mission East traveled to Anaheim, Calif. for the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association Spring National High School Journalism Convention. After a few days of classes, competitions, a trip to Disneyland and an Anaheim Angels baseball game, the last night in Anaheim was spent at the awards ceremony.

The Harbinger Online was awarded first place NSPA Best of Show for an online publication in the Small School category, along with a Pacemaker award. The Hauberk was awarded second place NSPA Best of Show for yearbook for the 325+ Page category as well as a Pacemaker.

“I’m proud of our staff for leading the way in high school web journalism,” Online Co-Editor-in-Chief Logan Heley said. “I hope we continue to be innovative and hard-working in the future.”

Assistant Online Editor Maggie Simmons shared similar words in expressing her excitement for the publication’s success throughout the year.

“After winning first place in Best of Show for the second time this year and receiving a Pacemaker, I am so happy for our hard-working staff,” Simmons said. “There are many great sites out there in high school journalism right now and it is an absolute honor to have been recognized at a national level all throughout this year.”

Yearbook Editor-in-Chief Hannah Walter was simply happy to enjoy the payoff of spending many late nights at East polishing The Hauberk.

“I’m very impressed with our staff for winning second place in Best of Show. It really made us proud and excited to move up from fifth place in Best of Show at the fall convention, and beat our tough rival, SM North,” Walter said. “It shows us and other schools just how hard we work to achieve this kind of recognition. Everything that we work on throughout the year really pays off, and at these conventions our staff can realize that our yearbook is worth the sacrifices.”