KSPA adds at-home events to competition, releases state results
This year’s Kansas Scholastic Press Association’s state journalism competition would have been held at the University of Kansas in Lawrence on May 2 if not for the COVID-19 school closings. In order to combat the circumstances, KSPA created multiple new events allowing students to participate from their homes.
The results of this year’s Kansas Scholastic Press Association (KSPA) state journalism contest are as follows:
Feature Writing – Alicia Feyerherm – First
Sports Writing – Brenna Schwien – Second
Multimedia – Allison Brooks & Alicia Feyerherm – Fourth
Cutline Writing – Hope Schumacher – Fifth
Copyediting – Allison Hillebrand – Sixth
Editorial Cartoon – Paige Polifka-Denson – Sixth
Due to the COVID-19 closings, the previously on-site competitions were moved online instead of taking place at the University of Kansas in Lawrence on May 2.
Prompts were released on April 17 at 3 p.m., and students were allowed until April 18 at 11 p.m. to complete them. “Film Review” was also added to the lineup of previously on-site submissions.
KSPA also expanded their state-only digital submission options, adding Multimedia Storytelling, Online Photo Gallery and Social Media competitions.
In Multimedia Storytelling, a team of no more than four students use at least three types of media to explain how students are staying connected during a time of social distancing.
The Online Photo Gallery allowed students to compile journalistic photos from this school year into a gallery with a theme of their choice.
For the Social Media competition, a team of up to four students can use three links to social media pages to showcase how their staff is remaining active and pursuing safe reporting during the COVID-19 school closings.
Journalism adviser Jessica Augustine said that she was very proud of all of the students involved, not just the ones who placed at the state level.
“With us moving back to Class 5A/6A, our competition was a lot tougher, and with the digital submissions being the entries from regionals and the on-site contests being online, it was a challenge this year,” Augustine said.
The administration also took the time to congratulate the participants. Principal Martin Straub told the students to “treasure this honor and enjoy this success.”
“Journalism not only develops effective lifelong communication skills,” Straub said. “It cultivates a sense of responsibility to be accurate, to be truthful, to be inspiring, and, at times, to be entertaining. One never knows what the future holds. We’ve all certainly learned that, haven’t we? Go Indians!”
21cleiker@usd489.com
Caitlin Leiker is a senior, and this is her third year in newspaper. She is involved in Chamber Singers, Musical, Spring Play, National Honor Society,...
