Winners shine at annual event

Bonanza, Faith Lutheran and Green Valley high schools took top honors in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 34th annual High School Journalism Awards contest.

The Review-Journal honored student journalists from 26 high schools in 31 categories on Friday during a luncheon at the Suncoast ballroom.

The newspaper also presented $2,000 college scholarships to Kim DeGuzman of Advance Technologies Academy and Jade Vakilzadeh of Coronado High School.

Green Valley High won for best newspaper in a standard format, and Faith Lutheran was named best newspaper using a reduced format.

Bonanza High won for best news website, a new category.

Clarke Knight and Olivia Steinberg, co-editors of the Green Valley High InvestiGator, praised their staff's effort, including working many Saturdays and putting out an extra Christmas edition.

"We never rested on our laurels," Knight said. "We always worked just as hard from one day to the next and we never think about the past."

"We definitely put in a lot of time," Steinberg said.

Steinberg has been accepted to the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and is considering a career in fashion media.

Knight, who reads two print newspapers a day in addition to online news, said she'll probably work at the school paper when she goes to Smith College in Massachusetts, but she plans to major in chemistry.

This was the first year advising Faith Lutheran's Crusader Chronicle for Lisa McAllister, which made it doubly great to take top honors, said editor Marc Davies.

"She had experience in journalism, but I think it was the first time she taught the class, so to come in and win it her first time was special," he said.

The paper made a special effort to use page design to reach its teen readers, said Davies, who shared the award with editors Damon Kecman, Jakub Cernoch and Jordan Mazzocato.

"Kids tend to not really want to delve into a story with just text, so when they see a cool graphic or a layout it draws them into a story," Davies said.

Hopefully, those "kids" will be his readers one day, because Davies intends to study journalism at Niagara University in New York. Though the industry is in turmoil now, he said Review-Journal managing editor Charlie Zobell helped convince him there's still a future.

"He feels like the future is going electronic, and there's always a need to write," Davies said.

Bonanza's students started from scratch when building their website, said adviser Jody Wilber. The students learned how to use Dreamweaver, a Web design program.

"We were able to make everything unique and neat," she said.

"We had a ton of pictures on there. Our goal was to get at least one of every kid during the year," she said, adding they got about 70 percent of the way there.

As befits a digital generation, her students were far more interested in getting the paper online than in crafting a print edition. Only about 10 of her 25 students are interested in journalism as a career, she said.

"The design of an online paper is what's cool," Wilber said. "Online is what was appealing to them, and then that's where they would get into the reporting and the design."

Ryanne Issacs is the editor of Bonanza's paper edition. The website is www.bengalnewsnow.site11.com .

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.

HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM AWARD WINNERS

Best newspaper (standard format): First, The InvestiGator, Green Valley, Olivia Steinberg and Clarke Knight, editors; second (tie), The Expedition, Durango, Matt Dangleis, editor; The Roar, Coronado, Megan Smallen and Jade Vakilzadeh, editors; third, The Tribune, Liberty, Erika Delos Santos, editor; honorable mention, Accolades, Las Vegas Academy, Kellie Cook, editor.

Best newspaper (reduced format): First, Crusader Chronicle, Faith Lutheran, Marc Davies, Damon Kecman, Jakub Cernoch, and Jordan Mazzocato, editors; second, The Lance, Bishop Gorman, Kyler Pollick, editor; third, The Lone Wolf, Basic, Brittany Ham, editor; honorable mention, Cattle Call, Legacy, Brandon Andrews, editor.

Best news website: First, bengalnewsnow.com, Bonanza, Ryanne Issacs, editor; second, Liberty, James Moschella, editor; third, Sierra Vista, Nevena Cvijetic, Vivian Punzalan, Kyra Kinnaman, Samantha Howald and Ana Novakovic, editors; honorable mention (tie), Coronado, Megan Smallen and Jade Vakilzadeh, editors; and Clark, Pim Young, editor.

First Amendment: First, Nevena Cvijetic, Sierra Vista; second, Nadia Giglioli and Joe Rajchel, Green Valley.

Best editorial: First, Shelby Ashbaugh, Centennial; second, Ajay Batra, The Meadows; third, Nevena Cvijetic, Sierra Vista; honorable mention, Chanidapa Klinhom, Durango.

Humorous opinion writing: First, Kiara Jamerson, Canyon Springs; second, Julia Eppes, Clark; third, Andrew Duddlesten, The Meadows; honorable mention, Kalie Nelson, Foothill.

Serious opinion writing: First, Joe Rajchel and Nadia Giglioli, Green Valley; second, Genna McAllister and Jacob Connell, Faith Lutheran; third, Sage Leehey, Green Valley; honorable mention, Shelly Jensen, Silverado.

Pro-con opinion writing: First, Erinn Mahathe, Las Vegas Academy; second, Rubi Ramos and Travis Taylor, Durango; third: Alyssa McGee, and Elliot Manninen, Liberty; honorable mention (tie), Rachel Crosby and Brianne Ruddy, Arbor View, and Alexis Mora, Las Vegas Academy.

Best illustration: First, McKenna Stanger, Green Valley; second, Mariah Marsalla, Durango; third, Kenichiro Chaffee, Advanced Technologies Academy; honorable mention, Jonelle Offenberger, Legacy.

Best informational artwork: First, Tyler Floyd, Coronado; second, Shelly Jensen, Silverado; third, James Moschella, Liberty; honorable mention, Clarke Knight, Green Valley.

Best editorial cartoon: First, Tom Ward, Faith Lutheran; second, Tatiana Aldaco, Green Valley; third, Elliot Manninen, Liberty; honorable mention, Tyler Floyd, Coronado.

Best sports news story: First, Jordan Coburn, Green Valley; second, Dylan Rogers, Liberty; third, Marc Davies, Faith Lutheran; honorable mention, Ana Novakovic and Kacey Smith, Sierra Vista.

Best sports feature: First, Julia Eppes, Clark; second, Devan Underwood, Coronado; third, Jacky Becker, Green Valley; honorable mention, Estello Raganit, Sierra Vista.

Best news story: First, Kim DeGuzman, Advanced Technologies Acacemy; second, Mariah Birnbaum, Arbor View; third, Nevena Cvijetic, Sierra Vista; honorable mention, Alexandria Nelson, Canyon Springs.

Best news feature: First, Althea Hicks, Clark; second, Tesia Nunies, Canyon Springs; third, Clarke Knight, Green Valley; honorable mention, De’Ron Fantroy, Desert Oasis.

Best feature: First, Olivia Steinberg, Green Valley; second, Clarke Knight, Green Valley; third, Kailyn Brown, Legacy; honorable mention (tie) Ashley Dowd, Foothill, and Althea Hick, Clark.

Best entertainment story: First, Joseph Welker, Liberty; second, Alisha Wexler and Chris O’Connor, Green Valley; third, Katie Letelier, Bishop Gorman; honorable mention (tie), Sarah Gonzalez and Bronte Magnee, Las Vegas, and Ashley Wagner, Durango.

Best review: First, Jakub Cernoch, Faith Lutheran; second, Clarke Knight, Green Valley; third, Kim DeGuzman, Advanced Technologies Academy; honorable mention, Jay Garcia, Las Vegas.

Best Page One design (standard format): First, Megan Smallen and Jade Vakilzadeh, Coronado; second, Clarke Knight and Chris O’Connor, Green Valley; third, Tania Quintas, Durango; honorable mention, Shelby Ashbaugh, Centennial.

Best Page One design (reduced format): First, Jordan Mazzocato and Damon Kecman, Faith Lutheran; second, Kyler Pollick and Christina Romeo, Bishop Gorman; third, Brandon Andrews, Legacy.

Best sports page design (standard format): First, Alyssa Laiacona, Liberty; second, Samantha Sandusky, Durango; third, Ralph Nitollama, Green Valley; honorable mention, Desiree Tupas, Centennial.

Best sports page design (reduced format): First, Marc Davies, Faith Lutheran; second, Stephen Dixon, Basic.

Best features, arts or entertainment page design (standard format): First, Laura Lefkowitz, Megan Smallen and Jade Vakilzadeh, Coronado; second, Lindsay Richardson, Silverado; third, Erika Delos Santos, Liberty; honorable mention, Clarke Knight and Olivia Steinberg, Green Valley.

Best features, arts or entertainment page design (reduced format): First, Christina Romeo and Kyler Pollick, Bishop Gorman; second, Jordan Mazzocato, Faith Lutheran; third, Stephen Dixon and Brittany Ham, Basic.

Best copy editing: First, Sage Leehey, Green Valley; second, Clarke Knight, Green Valley.

Best headline: First, Jakub Cernoch, Faith Lutheran; second, Estello Raganit, Sierra Vista; third, Kyler Pollick, Bishop Gorman.

Best advertisement: First, Marez Paraz, Liberty; second, Natalie Schwebel, Centennial; third, Ashley Morris, Advanced Technologies Academy; honorable mention, Celeste Harper, Basic.

Best sports photo: First: Amanda Delgado, Liberty; second, Shelby Ashbaugh, Centennial; third, Tiffany Becker, Green Valley; honorable mention, Robert Vendettoli, Foothill.

Best news photo: First, Morgan Oswald, Green Valley; second, Samantha Brown, Foothill; third, Amanda Delgado, Liberty; honorable mention, Emilee Korach, Green Valley.

Best feature photo: First, Tabetha Steinberg, Green Valley; second, Heidi Lim, Clark; third, Taylor Phillips, Durango; honorable mention, James Moschella, Liberty.

Best photo illustration: First, Steven Coleman, Spring Valley: second, James Moschella, Liberty; third, Steven Coleman, Spring Valley; honorable mention, Kalie Nelson, Foothill.

Most Valuable Staffer Awards: Advanced Technologies Academy, Brianna Vargas; Arbor View, Brianne Ruddy; Basic, Brittany Ham; Bishop Gorman, Kyler Pollick; Bonanza, Brittany Dickens; Canyon Springs, Alexandria Nelson; Centennial, Shelby Ashbaugh; Cheyenne, Rebecca Lane; Clark, Megan Kolvenbach; Coronado, Jade Vakilzadeh; Desert Oasis, Presley Cardona; Durango, Travis Taylor; Faith Lutheran, Jakub Cernoch; Foothill, Kalie Nelson; Green Valley, Clarke Knight; Indian Springs, Sheyane Faga; Legacy, Lesly Amaya; Liberty, Shelby Gibbs; Las Vegas Academy; Kellie Cook; The Meadows, Lauren Ruvo; Morris Sunset East, Andrea Mitchell; Sierra Vista, Nevana Cvijetic; Silverado, Shelly Jensen; Spring Valley, Vanessa Hodges.

R-Jeneration scholarships: Kim DeGuzman, Advanced Technologies Academy; Jade Vakilzadeh, Coronado.

R-Jeneration Most Valuable Staffers: Florence Awuah, Las Vegas Academy; Shelly Jensen, Silverado; Krystal McKemie, Centennial; Kelsey Thompson, Las Vegas Academy.

R-Jeneration team members: Allison Cox, Palo Verde; Marc Davies, Faith Lutheran; Brittany Dickens, Bonanza; Lizzy Hernandez, Coronado; Sage Leehey, Green Valley; Michael MacDougall, Advanced Technologies Academy; Ralph Nitollama, Green Valley; Jacob Rubeck, Basic; Lauren Ruvo, The Meadows; Olivia Steinberg, Green Valley; Chelsea Stone, The Meadows; Kristiana Trinidad, Advanced Technologies Academy; Ashley Williams, Nevada State High School.

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

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Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Miss May 15, 2010 | 5:51 p.m. Report Abuse

   I absolutely agree Virgil. I said the same thing yesterday when the article about a higher graduation rate was printed. Once again I see that the public only cares to comment on the negative and doesn't give a crap about our kids' positives.

2. Virgil A. Sestini May 15, 2010 | 6:02 a.m. Report Abuse

   Finally we have some good news about students in our local schools. Too often the media emphasizes the negative.
   
   This kids and their teacher-advisors deserve this positive publicity. Good show to each of them.