Chasing championships: The Mirror

The editorial staff headed to Kansas City to attend the JEA/NSPA’s National Spring Journalism Convention and ended up winning several top national awards

By Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief • Apr 9, 2024

COURTESY OF ELIZABETH TORRES

From L to R: Sports Editor Isabel Valles, Opinion Editor Joel Nam, Design/Layout Editor Brianna Alvarado, Online Editor-in-Chief Daimler Koch, Arts and Entertainment Editor Madison Thacker, Executive Editor Angelina Gevorgyan and News/Features staff writer Delmis Vaquerano prepare to write their wills shortly before taking off on Spirit Airlines. They celebrate the newspaper’s Best of Show award, landing in first place among hundreds of other high school newspapers from across the country.

WHO: The Mirror Staff

WHAT: Won a lot of awards

WHEN: April 4-6, 2024

WHERE: The National Spring Journalism Convention at the Sheraton and Westin Hotels in Kansas City

WHY: Because of their hard work and dedication

HOW IT WORKS: Hundreds of high school journalists travel with their advisers to conventions hosted by the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA). These biannual events hand out awards to competing newspapers for design and writing, as well as host on-site writing competitions that allow student journalists to be recognized for their outstanding individual skills.

WHO WON:

NSPA Staff Awards:

1st Place Best of Show: Newspaper

7th Place Best of Show: Website

NSPA Individual Awards:

1st Place Editorial Leadership: Angelina Gevorgyan

1st Place Newspaper/Newsmagazine Design: Brianna Alvarado, Jalyn Bautista, Angelina Gevorgyan

2nd Place Newspaper/Newsmagazine Design: Brianna Alvarado

8th Place Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: Cameron Struble

Quill & Scroll National Media Contest:

2nd Place News Writing: Madison Thacker

Honorable Mention Political Writing: Daimler Koch

Honorable Mention Political Writing: Isabel Valles

1st Place Beginning Writer: Madison Thacker

2nd Place Editorial Cartoon: Isabela Arca

2nd Place Newspaper Front Page Design: Brianna Alvarado

1st Place Features Page Design: Brianna Alvarado

1st Place Editorial Page Design: Brianna Alvarado

JEA On-Site National Media Contests:

Superior News Writing: Delmis Vaquerano

Honorable Mention Feature Writing: Angelina Gevorgyan

Superior Review Writing: Madison Thacker

Honorable Mention Commentary Writing: Daimler Koch

Superior Newspaper Layout: Brianna Alvarado

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About the Contributor

Daimler Koch, Online Editor-in-Chief

As the Executive Editor-in-Chief of my own weekly satirical newsletter, I’m always striving to improve my writing skills in all forms. During my first year of Journalism, I was an Arts and Entertainment staff writer and later the editor of the Opinion section. Now, I’m the Online Editor-in-Chief for the Mirror. Outside of school, I’m always either reading, pretending to be four different people for my newsletter, or preparing for my next martial arts belt test. After I graduate high school, I will go to college and study to become an English professor.

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