McKinney ISD schools win journalism awards

by PegNews wire

MCKINNEY — Journalism publications, students, teachers and programs from all three McKinney ISD High Schools and one middle school recently won numerous awards in both state and national competitions. The programs captured honors at the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association (JEA/NSPA) National Spring Journalism Convention in Anaheim, California and at the University Interscholastic League, (UIL) Interscholastic Press League Conference (ILPC) at the University of Texas at Austin..

McKinney High School's yearbook, The Lion won several awards including Pacemaker and the 1st Place Best of Show for Yearbooks from 225-275 pages at the JEA/NSPA awards ceremony. The publication also won a Gold Star and a Distinguished Merit Award at the ILPC competition.

Reflections, the student yearbook at McKinney North High School also received one of the 28 national Pacemaker Awards. The staff also received Best of Show in the yearbook category 225-274 pages at the convention.

The McKinney North yearbook also received a Silver Star from UIL Interscholastic League Press Conference, placing the yearbook in the top five percent of yearbooks statewide.

The McKinney North student newspaper, Polaris, was awarded the Bronze Star at the UIL competition, placing the newspaper in the top 10 percent of newspapers statewide.

Rebecca Plumley, the yearbook, newspaper and DVD adviser for McKinney North, received the Edith Fox King Award. ILPC recognizes advisers who have made significant contributions to Texas scholastic journalism by awarding them its Edith Fox King Award. Recipients may be advisers, college professors, persons in the publishing or journalistic professions, and others deemed worthy of such recognition.

The 2007 McKinney Boyd High School yearbook was awarded the Bronze Star from the ILPC. In addition, McKinney Boyd yearbook students received six Individual Achievement Awards for last year's book, and the McKinney Boyd newspaper students received four awards for this year's newspaper.

Scott Johnson Middle School’s Journalism program also won several awards including top individual awards. Rachel Plumley received the Aspiring Young Journalist Award at the JEA/NSPA Convention. She is the first middle school student from the State of Texas to receive the national award. The honor is given to the student who has completed a portfolio and had it judged by the awards committee.

Ms. Plumley’s father, Louis Plumley, received the Journalism Education Association’s Rising Star Award. Plumley, the husband of McKinney North journalism instructor Rebecca Plumley, is the journalism teacher at Scott Johnson Middle School.

Source: McKinney ISD