RCPS Home | Visit the Highlights Archive

BHS Students Win State, National Journalism Awards in Individual, Staff Evaluations

A total of 862 examples of outstanding scholastic journalism – writing, photography and design –competed in VHSL’s 2008 evaluation for magazine, newspaper and yearbook journalists.  The winners were selected from entries submitted by 57 different student publications.  Judging was based first on meeting standards for outstanding journalism. Then the top five entries in each category were ranked on the basis of quality by a VHSL group of judges.

Praised Yearbook Adviser, Karen Harden: I'm so proud of the kids for their individual and staff honors – both state and national because of the frequent overwhelming effort required. Most people have no idea how much WORK goes into an award-winning publication. Copy and captions are revised, revised, revised ... (I have been called "the copy Nazi.") When staffers don't receive answers for surveys and interviews, they have to try again. Numerous delays, mishaps, and glitches are not the students' fault, but they must generate a Plan B to meet their deadlines, just like in the REAL WORLD. When some students would rather take a bad grade than do the work, I've been fortunate to have others come in on their own time to finish the pages, despite the lack of fairness. They simply take pride in their work and in the whole book. Thank God for them, or I would be crazy by now! They renew my faith in humankind regularly. The staff and I would be remiss in not thanking the BHS teachers, coaches, and administrators for their help. I know from workshops that all staffs are not as fortunate as we are in getting scores, photos, information, and technical support at their schools. After hearing their horror stories, I'm really grateful to work in this family atmosphere.

BHS Yearbook Staff at Work

 

When certificates of achievement were presented at the awards banquet at the VHSL Championship Journalism Workshop in October, Broadway students and their principal accepted the following:

Group AA Yearbook Individual Awards

Student Life Spread
First - [view]
        Claire Fulk – reporting
        Mindi Sue Armentrout - design

Academics Spread
First - [view]
           Taylor Knupp – reporting
           Natalie Simmons -  design

Sports Spread - [view]
First – Aaron Reed – reporting & design

People Spread
Third - [view]
          Megan Conley – reporting
          Kim DeLaughter - design
Honorable Mention - [view]
         Claire Fulk – reporting
         Kim DeLaughter - design

Sports Photo
Second – Aaron Reed - [view]
Third – “The Duck Race,” Jessie LaCroix - [view]

Infographics/Secondary Packaging
First – “Dare to be Green,” Chris Mawyer - [view]
Second – “Easy to be Green,” Natalie Simmons - [view]

A Friend of Publications Dr. Steve Leaman accepted the Virginia Journalism Teachers Association’s Administrator Award for his support of publications at BHS. Dr. Carol Fenn congratulates Dr. Leaman.

VHSL State Staff Award

The ’08 Memories Staff earned its eighth consecutive trophy, VHSL’s highest rating, awarded to staffs that earn superior ratings in Photography, Writing, Coverage, Concept, and Design. In addition, Memories received a plaque as third for Best in Show among the combined A, AA, and AAA schools in attendance.

In addition to individual winners listed above, the staff included Whitney Anderson, Taylor Chandler, Kim Freed, Beth Hassler, Forest Hahn, Hollie Landes, Tabetha Napora, Brook Roadcap, Sara Tylee, Brooke Wean, Bryce Whetzel, Mike Whetzel, and Ari Williams.

Comments about the conference:

“I had a lot of fun! The food was great, and it was awesome to hang out with my best friend.”
                                    Freshman Connor Chambers
“It was really cool, but informative."
                                    Freshman Laura VanOrden

National Awards

From the thousands of yearbooks across the country produced by Taylor Publishing, pages of the ’08 Memories have been selected to appear in the Yearbook Yearbook and Taylor’s Online Design Gallery as instructional models of contemporary yearbook trends. National Scholastic Press Association has rated the ’08 Memories an All American, awarded to fewer than five percent of entries that score at least 3,700 points of 4,500. Memories scored 4,280 and won five Marks of Distinction, one for each judging category.  This sixth All American makes Memories eligible for NSPA’s Yearbook Hall of Fame. Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded the Memories Staff the highest ranking, The Gold Medalist. In addition, the staff earned special honors known as All Columbians for outstanding work in Coverage and Writing.