Students Win Awards in Nation’s Capitol

Journalism, Literary Magazine Staff Travels, Take Advice From Pros

By Mary Hamner

Members of the newspaper and the literary magazine staffs departed for Washington D.C. on Wednesday, Nov. 11, to attend The National High School Journalism Convention, held at the Marriott Hotel at Wardman Park.

The convention was sponsored by the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), and is alternated to different cities across the nation. 6,300 students attended from various high schools from across the United States, as well as internationally, making this the largest convention ever.

Journalism organizations host numerous events including competitions and sight-seeing to local attractions. 2,265 students participated in the write off contest. 29 participants were from Utah. RHS had three award winners. Kaleb Raleigh, junior, won Excellent (2nd place) in Computer Art Illustration. Jennifer Staley, senior, received Honorary Mention (3rd place) in Feature Writing. Jon Fox, senior, received Honorary Mention in Poetry Writing.

Sight-seeing consisted of a visit to the White House and Capitol Building, the Newsuem, the Smithsonian Holocaust Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II and Vietnam Memorials.

“I wish we would have seen Obama [at the White House],” said Amy Plitt, senior and photographer for “The Silver Scribe”. “I got yelled at for opening a closet door though.”

The Washington Metro Station was the main source of transportation around the city. The station has five lines that reach almost every major landmark.

“It was dark and dreary, but it was fun,” said Kelsi McCabe, Copy Editor of The Silver Scribe.

Claudette Rush, adviser for the literary magazine, said “We should have a system like that in Utah.”

The keynote speaker Nick Clooney, father to famous actor George Clooney, stated in the beginning of his speech at opening ceremonies “I’m an old guy. I know what my obituary will read. It will say ‘Nick Clooney. Comma. Brother of Pop Jazz singer, Rosemary Clooney. Comma. Father of award-winning actor, George Clooney. Comma. Died today. Period.”

RHS students had to attend at least four break-out sessions to find ideas to help improve the newspaper and literary magazine.

“I learned that as future journalists, we need to work hard to preserve this line of work,” said Jennifer Staley, senior and reporter for “The Silver Scribe”.

Rush said her favorite part of the trip was “the kids, and watching the enthusiasm and excitement everyone had.”

April Squires, adviser for “The Silver Scribe” said, “[The Vietnam Memorial] brought back the fear for my friends during the time of the draft. At the same time, it was a tender reminder of my childhood friends who died at the war, ten childhood friends died. They were drafted because they were from blue collar neighborhoods in the Boston area.”

D.C. Contest Winners

The winners for the write-off contest at the National High School Journalism Convention are pictured below.