Bowling Green, Ky. - Journalism Scholars Day, a 34-year tradition at Western Kentucky University, attracted nearly 450 Kentucky high school journalism students to campus Friday (Nov. 17) for a four-hour conference that included breakout sessions, keynote address, write-off contest and yearbook contest awards ceremony.

Student media advisers from Owensboro to Louisville brought their staffs to attend sessions taught by WKU faculty and students as well as other journalism professionals.

The conference goal was to encourage excellence in high school media classes. It also provided high school students with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills. Staffers and their advisers attended 20 breakout sessions with topics ranging from yearbook design and photography to editorial cartooning.
Twelve students entered the write-off contest.

Facilitated by Bob Adams, adviser to the College Heights Herald, WKU’s student newspaper, the write-off required students to type their stories about the keynote address on computers, self-edit and turn them in all in under an hour, just like in a real newsroom. Adams and Herald staffers judged the stories.

Stephanie Gladney, designer and writer from the Chicago Sun-Times, gave the keynote address on “Visual Journalism.”

For two Kentucky high school newspaper staffers, however, it was more than just another speech.
Kayla Golliher, a Bowling Green High junior, and Bekah Garr, a Taylor County High senior, won the speech story write-off competition; each earned $500 scholarships to attend WKU.

It’s the third year in a row that a student from Bowling Green High won one of the scholarships.
Journalism Scholars Day attendees came from Allen County-Scottsville, Barren County, Bowling Green, Crittenden County, Corbin, Daviess County, Eastern (Louisville), Edmonson County, Elizabethtown, Franklin-Simpson, Grayson County, Hopkins County Central, Lyon County, Muhlenberg County, North Hardin, Taylor County, and Waggener (Louisville).

Several came specifically for the awards ceremony. Twenty-five schools entered their yearbooks in the Mark of Excellence Yearbook contest, sponsored by WKU’s student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The Mark of Excellence Yearbook contest was coordinated by Jackie Bretz, Kentucky High School Media Institute Director and Talisman co-adviser.

Journalism Scholars Day, directed by Bretz, is co-sponsored by the School of Journalism & Broadcasting, the Kentucky High School Media Institute, WKU, WKU’s Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists, the College Heights Herald, Talisman and the Kentucky High School Journalism Association.

Originally called High School Press Day, the conference was renamed Journalism Scholars Day when Jo-Ann Albers became department chair in the late 1980s. Having a day devoted to high school journalism is a WKU tradition that dates back to the 1970s.  Pam Johnson is the current School of Journalism and Broadcasting director.

More information about Journalism Scholars Day can be found at www.wku.edu/khsmp.
This year’s Mark of Excellence Yearbook Contest Winners:

Division A

Best Academic Section: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School, editors Elizabeth Guess and Jessica Smith, adviser Tammy Duvall; second, The Cat's Eye, Mercy Academy, editor Greta Aschbacher, adviser Beth Turpin; third, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School, editor Kelley Halicks, adviser Dean Cassiboom.

Best High School Yearbook: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; second, The Cat's Eye, Mercy Academy; third, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School.

Best Sports Section: first, The Cat's Eye, Mercy Academy; second (tie), Rockette, Crittenden County High School, and Viking Voice, St. Mary High School; third, Final Exposure, Lyon County High School, editors Heather Norman and Lindsey Robertson; adviser Erin Cook.

Best Student Life Section: first (tie), Rockette, Crittenden County High School, and The Cat’s Eye, Mercy Academy; second, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School; third, Final Exposure, Lyon County High School.

Best Yearbook Advertising: first, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School; second, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; third, Final Exposure, Lyon County High School.

Best Yearbook Copy: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; second, The Cat’s Eye, Mercy Academy; third, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School.

Best Yearbook Cover/Theme: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; second, The Cat’s Eye, Mercy Academy; third, Final Exposure, Lyon County High School.

Best Yearbook Layout/Design: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; second, Viking Voice, St. Mary High School; third, The Cat’s Eye, Mercy Academy.

Best Yearbook Photography: first, Rockette, Crittenden County High School; second, The Cat’s Eye, Mercy Academy; honorable mention, Final Exposure, Lyon County High School, and Viking Voice, St. Mary High School.

Division AA

Best Academic Section: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School, editor Ashley Logan, adviser Jill Lewis; second, The Chieftan, Adair County High School, adviser Debra Shaw; third, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School, editor Sarah DuPlessis, adviser Julie Smith.

Best High School Yearbook: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School; second, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School; third (tie), The Wildcat, Edmonson County High School, editor D.J. Duvall, adviser Phyllis Miller; third (tie), Unionaire, Union County High School, editor Lauren Davis, adviser Nancy Brinkley; honorable mention, The Chieftain, Adair County High School.

Best Sports Section: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School; second, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School; third, The Chieftan, Adair County High School.

Best Student Life Section: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School; second, Unionaire, Union County High School; third, The Wildcat, Edmonson County High School.

Best Yearbook Advertising: first, Unionaire, Union County High School; second, The Wildcat, Edmonson County High School; third, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School.

Best Yearbook Copy: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School; second, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School; third, The Chieftan, Adair County High School.

Best Yearbook Cover/Theme: first, The Redhound, Corbin High School; second, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School; third, The Wildcat, Edmonson County High School.

Best Yearbook Layout/Design: first, The Wildcat, Edmonson County High School; second, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School; third, The Redhound, Corbin High School.

Best Yearbook Photography: first, Unionaire, Union County High School; second, The Redhound, Corbin High School; third, Etonian, Elizabethtown High School.

Division AAA

Best Academic Section: first (tie), Beacon, Bowling Green High School, editors Tara Whitt, Emily Thomas, Rachel Allnutt, adviser Patricia Crocker; first (tie), The Draconium, South Oldham High School, editor Caitlin Chilton, adviser Cindi Reedy; second, Cardinal, Taylor County High School, editors Bekah Garr and Sarah Cox, adviser Troy Benningfield; third (tie), Cirrus, Hopkins County Central High School, adviser Patricia Baggett; third (tie), The Rosecast, Assumption High School, adviser Becca Joaquin.

Best High School Yearbook: first, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; second, The Draconium, South Oldham High School; third (tie), Beacon, Bowling Green High School, and Cardinal, Taylor County High School.

Best Sports Section: first, Beacon, Bowling Green High School; second, The Draconium, South Oldham High School; third (tie), Cardinal, Taylor County High School, and The Rosecast, Assumption High School; honorable mention, The Patriot, Allen County-Scottsville High School, editors Brittany Downing and Lucas Alderson, adviser Lisa Logsdon.

Best Student Life Section: first, the Draconium, South Oldham High School; second, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; third, The Patriot, Allen County-Scottsville High School.

Best Yearbook Advertising: first (tie), Cardinal, Taylor County High School, and The Rosecast, Assumption High School; second, Cirrus, Hopkins County Central; third, The Draconium, South Oldham High School; honorable mention, Beacon, Bowling Green High School.

Best Yearbook Copy: first (tie), Cardinal, Taylor County High School, and The Draconium, South Oldham High School; second, Beacon, Bowling Green High School; third, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; honorable mention, The Patriot, Allen County-Scottsville High School.

Best Yearbook Cover/Theme: first, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; second, Beacon, Bowling Green High School; third, The Draconium, South Oldham High School.

Best Yearbook Layout/Design: first, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; second, Cardinal, Taylor County High School; third, Beacon, Bowling Green High School; honorable mention, The Draconium, South Oldham High School.

Best Yearbook Photography: first, The Rosecast, Assumption High School; second (tie), Beacon, Bowling Green High School, and The Draconium, South Oldham High School; third, The Patriot, Allen County-Scottsville; honorable mention, Cirrus, Hopkins County Central High School.

Division AAAA
Best Academic Section: first, Echoes, Daviess County High School, editor Taylor Tapp, adviser Gail Kirkland; second, The Trojan, Barren County High School, editor Carrie Tilghman, adviser Kelley Ross; third, Shamrock, Trinity High School, editor Andrew Osting, adviser Tony Lococco.

Best High School Yearbook: first, Echoes, Daviess County High School; second, The Trojan, Barren County High School; third (tie), Shamrock, Trinity High School; third (tie), Aquila, Graves County High School, editors Hailey Channell, Jenny Sanford, Morgan Gossum, adviser Kym Rickman; third (tie), The Trojan, North Hardin High School, editor Lauren Blair, adviser Dan Townsend.

Best Sports Section: first, Echoes, Daviess County High School; second, The Trojan, Barren County High School; third, The Trojan, North Hardin High School; honorable mention, Shamrock, Trinity High School.

Best Student Life Section: first, Aquila, Graves County High School; second, Echoes, Daviess County High School; third, The Trojan, North Hardin High School; honorable mention, The Trojan, Barren County High School.

Best Yearbook Advertising: first, The Talon, Eastern High School, editors Kristina Schermer and Katie Talbert, adviser Stephen Johnson; second, The Trojan, Barren County High School; third, Echoes, Daviess County High School.

Best Yearbook Copy: first, The Trojan, Barren County High School; second, Shamrock, Trinity High School; third, The Trojan, North Hardin High School; honorable mention, Aquila, Graves County High School, and Echoes, Daviess County High School.

Best Yearbook Cover/Theme: first (tie), Aquila, Graves County High School, and Echoes, Daviess County High School; second, The Trojan, North Hardin High School; third, The Talon, Eastern High School.

Best Yearbook Layout/Design: first, Echoes, Daviess County High School; second, Aquila, Graves County High School; third (tie), Shamrock, Trinity High School, and The Trojan, North Hardin High School.

Best Yearbook Photography: first, Shamrock, Trinity High School; second, Echoes, Daviess County High School; third (tie), Aquila, Graves County High School, and The Trojan, Barren County High School.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Jackie Bretz at (270) 745-6407.

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Office of Media Relations
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