Washington storms California, returns with plenty of hardware

It was a successful weekend for the Washington schools at the annual NSPA/JEA spring national convention in Anaheim, Calif., over the weekend, as seven different publications placed in Best of Show competitions and 94 students came back with individual awards.

The Best of Show competition was highlighted by the first place finish by The Peninsula Outlook in the newspaper of eight pages or less category, led by editor Taylor Buck, the 2008 WJEA Future Journalist of the Year, and adviser Derek Smith.

The other Best of Show placers:

• The Sound, Gig Harbor HS - Seventh Place, Newspapers 1-8 pages
  Arianna Thornton and Catherine Van Zimmerman, editor
  Ehren Gossler, adviser
• The Hawkeye, Mountlake Terrace HS - 10th Place, Newspapers 13-16 pages
  Ji Mun, editor
  Vince DeMiero, adviser
• Viking Vanguard, Puyallup HS - Fourth Place, Newspapers 17+ pages
  Matt Anderson, editor
  Sandra Coyer, adviser
• The Apple Leaf, Wenatchee HS - Fifth Place, Newspapers 17+ pages
  Claire Mueleman, editor
  Jeff Nusser, adviser
• The Academy Times, Charles Wright Academy - Seventh Place, Newsmagazines
  Emily Rome, editor
  Steve Matson, adviser
• WaWa, Wenatchee HS - Eighth Place, Yearbooks 275-324 pages
  Madeleine Warner, editor
  Jeff Nusser, adviser

As for individual awards, the following students earned superior ratings in their contests. Just 6 percent of all entries earned that designation:

• Dallas Welker, Emerald Ridge HS - Newswriting
• Megan Albert, Emerald Ridge HS - Sportswriting
  
• Alex Gratzer, Kentwood HS - Review Writing
• Maria DeMiero, Mountlake Terrace HS - Newsmagazine Layout
• Ji Mun, Mountlake Terrace HS - Advertising
• Kellen Ray, Wenatchee HS - Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports
• Elise Utterback, Franklin Pierce HS - Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports
• Laura Livingston, Charles Wright Academy - Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics
• Katie Wheeler, Deer Park HS - Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics
• Elsy Pawelak, Gov. John R. Rogers HS - Yearbook Layout: Theme
• Sara Chemodurow, Gov. John R. Rogers HS - Computer Design: Infographics
• Mike Ake, Puyallup HS - Computer Design: Photoshop Art
• Travis King, Peninsula HS - Newspaper Sports Photography
• Cody Gibbons, Wenatchee HS - Two Weeks' Work
• Rebecca Perry, Emerald Ridge HS - Video Commercial/PSA

The full results of the Best of Show can be found here, while the full results of the write-offs can be found here. Congratulations to all the winners!