Mattoon High School student journalists recently won 17 awards at a SIU press conference.
Mattoon High School student journalists recently won 17 awards at a SIU press conference.
Student journalists from Mattoon High School won a grand total of 17 prestigious awards at Southern Illinois University’s recent Southern Illinois School Press Association Conference in Carbondale for their dedicated reporting and publishing efforts.
“Mattoon High School journalists are so very passionate about telling the stories of their peers and their school,” Amanda Bright, staff advisor, said. “I love that SISPA judges saw that, and I love that the students will be encouraged to continue their ethical and important work. I am proud to be their advisor each day.”
Mattoon High School’s yearbook, “MHS Riddle,” edited by Macie Drum and Mattie Eaton, copped a Golden Dozen prize at the event including kudos for photography and advertising, including praise for its sports spread by Darien Harvey.
The editors of the school newspaper, “MHS Mirror,” are Derby Roan and J.J. Bullock. “MHS Mirror” garnered honorable mentions for Victoria Leitch for her “Preparing for the test of your life” newspaper story and Derby Roan for “Mattoon schools welcome deaf and hard of hearing program.”
Gabriel Tomer was lauded for his “MHS to welcome new principal” piece, while the entire editorial board was commended for “Fighting for First Amendment rights.”
In newspaper feature stories, Kayla Tolliver received honors for “Don’t judge a book by its cover”; sports writer Sophie Collins scored for “Racquet to racquet”; as did Trenton Bitting, for an editorial called “Trump: Love or hate, at least you know him.”
Sophie Collings also won praise for “The team gathers in one final breakout,” her captioned photograph.
In visual formatting, Victoria Leitch’s front-page layout and overall layout by the entire “MHS Mirror” newspaper staff won top ratings in the “Blue Banner” category for schools exceeding 700 in enrollment.
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