Sainty Journalism Students Place At State KSPA
Launch the media gallery 1 playerIn February, seventeen Saint Francis journalism students placed in 18 categories at the regional Kansas Scholastic Press Association contest, which qualified them to compete at the KSPA state competition on Saturday, May 6, in Lawrence at the University of Kansas. The following six students came home with state awards: Katie Schmid, Jenna Confer, Dakota Morris, Jaron Berig, Madison Tice, and Reagan Beims.
At state, Katie Schmid earned first place in copy editing. Schmid is a Saint Francis senior and the 2017 Editor-in-Chief as well as co-Design Editor of the Wigwam yearbook,. “I was amazed, truly amazed,” Schmid said. “I have loved this contest, copy editing, from the very start. I feel I have accomplished a great deal only because of the phenomenal teaching former journalism teacher Mrs. Day and now Ms. Wiswell. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Jenna Confer earned third place in yearbook theme. Confer is a Saint Francis senior and holds the title of 2017 Wigwam co-Design Editor and Student Life Editor. This was the first year Confer has placed at the state competition. “It was such an awesome feeling that all of my hard work had paid off,” Confer said. “I’ve never placed at State Journalism before making it a huge honor and a great way to end my senior year.”
Dakota Morris, Saint Francis freshman, received honorable mention in academics photography. “It feels pretty good to place,” Morris said. “Because, to be honest, the picture I sent in I thought wasn’t good enough for state.”
Jaron Berig, Saint Francis freshman, received honorable mention in infographics. “Placing at state as a freshman feels rewarding and makes me think of what else I can do in the future,” Berig said.
Madison Tice received honorable mention in news page design. Tice is a Saint Francis junior and the 2017 Wigwam Academics Editor. “It is a huge accomplishment to place at state journalism, Tice said. “It’s like they said in the conference, we are already the best of the best to make it, but placing makes it an even bigger achievement.”
Reagan Beims received honorable mention in headline writing and design. Beims is a Saint Francis junior and the 2017 Wigwam Sports Editor. “It's always fun to make it to state in journalism ‘cause it helps show that our school is both academically strong and athletic,” said Beims. “So being one that can place at state is a cool feeling and I'm glad I can represent Saint Francis in that way.”
Results were being posted on Twitter during the six-hour drive back from the state competition in Lawrence. Whenever a student’s name was identified as a winner, cheers would erupt from the back of the bus.
Rogie Wiswell, Saint Francis journalism adviser, said she was proud of all of the students’ efforts. “These yearbook students, whether they placed or not, all seventeen of them are the best of the best to make it to state journalism and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The students who competed at the KSPA state contest include: Freshmen Jaron Berig, Cassidy Busse, Alondra Gomez, Audrey Meyer, Seth Mills, Dakota Morris; Sophomores EmmaLee Archuleta, Jessica Confer, Bryce Raby-Culwell, Connor Keller, Tayton Weeter, Shelby Wolff; Juniors Reagan Beims, Jake Faulkender, Madison Tice; and Seniors Jenna Confer and Katie Schmid.
