For the first time in school history five Crofton Journalism students, seniors Rebecca Leader and Megan Tramp, junior Seth Pinkelman, and sophomores Grant and Jack Schieffer, participated in the State Journalism Championships on Monday, April 24, at Northeast Community College.
Rising above the rest, Pinkelman claimed his gold medal in Feature Photography with his preliminary submission of photos from this year’s homecoming coronation.
“It was a very fun experience with an unexpected result,” proclaimed State Champion Pinkelman. “I felt super nervous as they were calling out everyone else’s name. When they said my name last, I was happily shocked.”
After qualifying for state with their preliminary entries, Leader and Grant Schieffer participated in on-site competitions in their respective categories. Leader qualified in Newspaper News Writing with her article on the Battle of the Bands. At the state competition, Leader was given an hour and 15 minutes to attend a press conference and synthesize the information she heard into an informative news article, for which she received third place.
Grant Schieffer qualified in Headline Writing with three headlines that he wrote during the fall semester. At the competition, Grant was given six articles to examine, where he chose three to headline. Grant Schieffer was placed seventh for his work.
Tramp and Jack Schieffer were both entered in Broadcast News Story with their preliminary work from Warrior Way News. Tramp’s piece about the egg shortage was placed eighth. Jack Schieffer submitted a video about the stock market challenge held in school, which was ranked seventh.
Mrs. Courtney Baker has been teaching journalism class for three years now. She continues to enhance her curriculum every year. This year was her first year entering her students’ work into the state competition and was pleased with the outcome.
Baker stated, “This group of students represented Crofton Community Schools and our journalism program very well. We were all a little unsure what to expect and happy to have been recognized as qualifiers for the competition. I was proud of them and grateful they had the opportunity to be recognized for their work.”
Journalists, Rebecca Leader, Jack Schieffer, Seth Pinkelman, Grant Schieffer, and Megan Tramp at the NSAA State Journalism Championships.