Three local student publications received top honors at Syracuse University's Empire State School Press Association annual conference in late October. The Brocton Review was awarded the Gold All New York rating in the all-round newspaper category, ranking the Brocton High School newspaper among the top 11 newspapers in the state.
Fredonia High School's newspaper, The Spectator, and yearbook, Folio, received All New York Silver awards in each all-round category. Six silver awards were given to newspapers, and three to yearbooks in the state. The Brocton and Fredonia publications also received numerous awards in a range of categories judged at Syracuse's Newhouse School of Mass Communications.
"It is great to receive recognition from Syracuse," Folio co-adviser Lisa Reinhardt said. "There are always excellent judging commentaries that highlight strengths and weaknesses. This helps advisers to continue to develop quality publications. Our journalism program has been winning awards at Syracuse for more than 30 years. This would not be possible without the support of our administrators, school board and community,
Article Photos
Submitted Photo
Fredonia Spectator writers, from left, front row: Mirjam Haider, Monica Orosz, Keely Geise, Ian Muldwoney, Meg Bleck. Back row: Tara Sharp, Bri Tschip, Pierce Blodgett, Dan Siracuse and Aubrey Cunningham.
Although many of the award-winning publications were published in larger urban and suburban schools, the two Chautauqua County schools won more than 50 awards. The Review received 28, including 14 gold first place ratings, while The Spectator won 17, including eight gold awards.
According to Dadie Sedota, who advised the 2010-2011 Brocton paper, the Review has won many awards through the years at Syracuse University, but 14 gold awards is the most they have won in one year.
"A gold plaque from Syracuse is a coveted award for the many schools throughout the state involved in this judging," Sedota said. "Students in Brocton and Fredonia can be proud to earn recognition at Syracuse. Student publications challenge students to think critically, to research, use sources and technology to write relevant, accurate stories for their readers. It is a huge time commitment for editors. In addition to the writing and editing, students must create pages that are visually attractive, create art and photos, sell ads and learn all phases of the publishing process."
Gold award winning entries include:
Brocton Review: Service to school (series of articles about school budget effects on students); Advertising (staff, Sara Sobecki, Maegan Graves); Special topic/event coverage (school budget); Design portfolio (Elizabeth Bromsted); Picture layout story (Elizabeth Bromsted); Editorial (Kristen Becker, Christian Deakin); Sports feature (Christian Deakin); Feature photograph (Elizabeth Bromsted); Photographer (Kristen Becker); Columnist (Christian Deakin; Front page (Elizabeth Bromsted); News story (Victoria Hannold).
Fredonia Spectator: First Amendment Honor Roll (staff); Service to school (series of articles on underage drinking, teen mothers and volunteer opportunities); Editorial (staff); Feature story (Katie Blasdell); News story (Shiva Aghazadeh, Eliz Arnavut); Sports feature (Kelsey Ruffino). Fredonia Folio: Sports photography (Sean Pecuch-two awards); Photographer (Sean Pecuch).
Silver award winning entries:
Brocton Review: Special event/topic coverage (Cell phone policy stories); Picture layout story (Elizabeth Bromsted); Sports photograph (Cody Foy, Alexis Appel); Photographer (Elizabeth Bromsted); News story (Elizabeth Bromsted).
Fredonia Spectator: Sports photograph (Sean Pecuch-two awards); Photographer (Sean Pecuch).
Bronze award winning entries: Brocton Review: Editorial (Christian Deakin); Sports photograph (Kristen Becker); Columnist Zachary Delcamp, Leo Schwab); News story (Jeremy Little).
Fredonia Spectator: Feature photograph (James Hobbs); Sports photograph (Sean Pecuch); Front page (Katie Muldowney).
Honorable mention entries:
Brocton Review: In-depth coverage (Kristen Becker); Sports photograph (Elizabeth Bromsted); Photographer (Cody Foy); News story (Abbigale DeLand).
Fredonia Spectator: Editorial (staff); In-depth coverage (Eliz Arnavut and Kayline Lowther); Sports news (James Hobbs); Columnist (Nikk Michalski).
The complete list of award winning publications and judging comments is available at esspaspi.wordpress.com. Advisers of the award-winning publications in 2010-11 include Reinhardt, Sedota, Kate Sommer-Elliot (Spectator) and Andrew Pingitore (Folio).
