The Kingwood Park journalism program placed in all three Best of Show categories at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention for the first time. In addition, the program took home a total of 21 individual awards.
The convention took place in Philadelphia with more than 3,690 students from 50 states and eight countries. Kingwood Park was represented by 12 students: Shelby Townsend, Fallon Head, Kaitlyn Sitton, Michelle Klanke, Tricia Darcy, Cameron Minatrea, Jordan Hutchinson, Sydney Ortiz, Ella Hickman, Danielle Nalley, Bishop Scott and Lexi Ratcliff. They spent three days attending workshops and classes, while working with students from across the country.
They came home with more national honors than the school has ever received.
Staff Honors
Newsmagazine Pacemaker Finalist
3rd Place - Newsmagazine Best of Show (more than 1,800 students)
8th Place - Website Best of Show (more than 1,800 students)
9th Place - Yearbook Best of Show (Books with 144-256 pages)
Individual Honors
JEA Best of Show (Published from July 2024-October 2024)
1st Place - Sydney Ortiz, News Story Best of Show
3rd Place - Sydney Ortiz, Broadcast News Best of Show
3rd Place - Shelby Townsend, Feature Photo Best of Show
4th Place - Sydney Ortiz, Broadcast News Best of Show
4th Place - Fallon Head, Editorial Leadership Best of Show
5th Place - Sydney Ortiz, Sports Photo Best of Show
6th Place - Sydney Ortiz, Broadcast Feature Best of Show
7th Place - Fallon Head, Feature Story Best of Show
NSPA Individual Awards (Published last school year)
1st Place - Fallon Head, Sydney Ortiz, Slideshow of the Year
2nd Place - Emily Mckithern, Sports Action Photo of the Year
3rd Place - Sydney Ortiz, Writer of the Year
4th Place - Grace Darcy, Environmental Portrait of the Year
Honorable Mention - Sydney Ortiz, Photojournalist of the Year
Honorable Mention - Maya Ortiz, Sports Story of the Year
Honorable Mention - Fallon Head, News Story of the Year
Honorable Mention - Kaitlyn Sitton, Feature Photo of the Year
On-site competition
Superior - Lexi Ratcliff, Literary Magazine Photography
Excellent - Shelby Townsend, Editorial Cartoon
Excellent - Sydney Ortiz, Photo Story
Honorable Mention - Fallon Head, News Writing
Honorable Mention - Jordan Hutchinson, Sports Action Photography