Journalism staff brings home national awards

Photo provided by Tracey Yates Thompson

Lexie Ray, MJ Ivy, Camden Metheny, Shyla Clayton, Stephanie Atchley, Cadyn Qualls and Kensie Walker following the JEA Write-Offs award ceremony Sunday morning at the Disney Dolphin. The staff earned four individual Write-Off awards, and “Hoof Prints” was named ninth place in the NSPA Best of Show contest.

November 18, 2015

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The staff began their trip at the Memphis International Airport. The group of seven students included five first time flyers.

The journalism staff earned several awards at the Journalism Education Association’s Fall Conference in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 12-15.

The school’s online newspaper, Hoof Prints, won ninth place in the National Scholastic Press Association’s Best of Show competition. There were 471 entries in the Best of Show contests at the convention.

In the JEA National Write-Off Contests, four staff members earned honors. Camden Metheny won a superior in the Photo Portfolio category. Shyla Clayton received a superior in the First Year Photo category, and Stephanie Atchley also earned a superior in the Photo Portrait contest. MJ Ivy received an honorable mention in the Newspaper Sports Photography category.

According to the JEA website, there were 2,003 participants in the Write-Offs and 712 awards given. Of those, only 145 superior awards were given.

“I’m so thrilled with my staff’s results,” adviser Tracey Yates Thompson said. “My staff has been working hard, and their work paid off for them. These national awards are so amazing considering the size of our school and journalism staff.”

Thompson also noted that the other superior winners in the Portfolio category, for example, were all from schools with a high school enrollment of over 2,000.

Other staff members are Cadyn Qualls, Kensie Walker, Lexie Ray and Joanna Perez.