To receive recognition from the Newhouse School is quite an honor; to receive more than a dozen awards is almost unheard of.

But not for Fredonia.

Students and staff of the Fredonia High School newspaper, The Spectator, were presented with a plethora of awards at an assembly at the school on Thursday afternoon. Julie Walas, director of admissions, recruitment, and student engagement for the Newhouse School of Public Communications, made the trip from Syracuse with certificates and awards to present to Fredonia’s students in person.

Putting together the Spectator is a group effort, from co-advisors Lisa Reinhardt and Dadie Sedota offering guidance and support to the staff, to the co-editors of the Spectator, Owyn Darrell-Sterbak and Isaac Williams, leading the way.

Isaac Williams, left, was the recipient of two Empire State School Press Association Gold Awards for his work with the Spectator, Fredonia High School’s student newspaper. Williams received his awards from Julie Walas, right, on behalf of Syracuse University.

It was only fitting that the Spectator’s top four awards were split evenly between team and individual accomplishments.

“It’s not really about competition, it’s about cooperation,” Sedota said to a Fredonia High School assembly room full of more than 30 students and staff. “These awards belong to all of you because every single person in this room contributed in one way or another.”

Of the many honors the Spectator received, four Gold Awards from the Empire State School Press Association were given to Fredonia. Among the awards were arguably the top two honors among the 25 first-place awards in the statewide competition: Best Overall Newspaper and Service to School – an award that measures the impact of the publication on the school community.

“I think that really reflects the hard work that all of our students have put into the newspaper. I think it’s great to see so many of our perspectives and have that be valued in an award,” Darrell-Sterbak said.

Individually, Fredonia won two Gold Awards, signifying the best submission across the state, both of which went to Williams. The Fredonia junior, an aspiring photographer, won Best Photograph for a Fredonia Hillbillies varsity baseball photo. Additionally, Williams showed his prowess as a writer to claim the Best Written Work in a Newspaper award for an article detailing the scheduling conflicts students faced at Fredonia, which led to declining enrollment in the school’s French program.

“It’s just nice to be recognized for some of my work,” Williams said. “It’s also nice to have the Spectator be recognized because (Fredonia) is such a small school in such a big state. It’s really impressive that we can win all these awards competing with all these big schools.”

Fredonia also had multiple runner-up and honorable mention recipients, as well. Ray Dai received a Silver Award for Best Feature Story for his work on the national deficiency regarding geographical education. Ben Feit received a Silver Award for Best Written Work in a Newspaper for his reporting on the substitute teacher shortage. The Bronze Award for Best Written Work in a Newspaper went to Abigail Lauer for an article regarding vaping in schools.

Additionally, Emily McCann received honorable mention for Best Photograph; Kayleigh Helda received honorable mention for Best Artwork Portfolio; and Leah Hinds-Morrison received honorable mention for Best Editorial.

Four 2023 Fredonia graduates were also recognized: Rylee Beers, Best Sports Story; Allie Cook, Best Graphic Illustration; Emerson Bramer, Best Feature Story; and Hailey Hood for Best Photograph.

The district also earned the Bronze Award for Best Overall Layout, as well as honorable mention for its overall sports coverage, bringing the total number of awards for the district to 16.

“It’s very rewarding, mostly because this is one of those extracurriculars that can get overlooked. … There’s not a pep rally for the paper,” Reinhardt said. “When we get something like this, I want them to know how important it is.”

Walas noted how impressive Fredonia’s accomplishments were, especially when competing against much larger schools across the state. In a contest with 25 first-place categories, more than 150 submissions were submitted statewide, with Fredonia earning four of the 25 Gold Awards.

“I’m really proud of our staff for winning all these awards, and I think we can continue to win awards,” Williams said.

Walas highlighted the significance of Fredonia having such a strong showing in the awards race. “A small school in the corner of New York State, that is often left out and ignored, is producing this kind of work. With that kind of investment from the students, and that kind of support and enthusiasm for each other, it’s just really special,” Walas said.

Thursday’s visit itself was even more special for Walas, who grew up in Fredonia herself and attended the Fredonia Central School District through her freshman year of high school. On the trip from Syracuse, she visited her parents, Jim and Lynn Walas, who moved back to Fredonia after their family moved away when she was in high school.

“I thought it was going to be cool when I saw it. I was like, ‘This means something. I want to deliver this home,’ but I had no idea I would feel such an affinity still walking through here,” Walas said. “… This was so meaningful for me to come home, and I don’t think I recognized it was going to make me teary-eyed until (Principal Darrin Paschke) was talking. … The foundation of all of my career came from here, too. I do think it is really cool to reflect on that and to be here.”

After Walas herself left Fredonia, she graduated high school and attended Syracuse University, where she graduated from the Newhouse School. Walas has been with Syracuse University in various admissions, alumni and student facing roles since 2007. With her role at the Newhouse School, Walas is often seeking the best of the best to come to her alma mater, and Fredonia certainly put its best foot forward with the Spectator’s submissions.

“To think that I could bring this work to any of the national contests, they would also get recognition. This is really quality journalism work at a time in the world where journalism is so important,” Walas said. “I give all the credit in the world to the staff here that is taking care of the students in this way.”

Darrell-Sterbak, a senior, hopes to attend a college where she can double-major in language arts along with music, as she is also a seasoned cellist. From studying abroad, Darrell-Sterbak gained an enhanced appreciation for the art of journalism, which has sparked her interest in pursuing it further, alongside her musical aspirations.

“I did a semester abroad in France, and I realized that a lot of schools over there, and a lot of schools that I know my friends go to internationally from making international connections, they don’t have the opportunity to have their voice heard in school journalism and media like that. I think that’s important,” Darrell-Sterbak said.

She added, “In a world that is becoming increasingly divided, and information is sort of skewed in all sorts of different ways, I’m really inspired to be part of something that makes my voice be heard, and makes everybody’s voice be heard.”

Thursday’s ceremony was a proud moment for Reinhardt, who began her media career as a journalism student and writer for the Spectator under Sedota. Now, the two lead the next generation of talented media members, which – judging by a table filled with awards – seems to be on the right track.

“It’s very satisfying for them to all see that what they are doing matters,” Reinhardt said. “I am so proud of them.”