![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![All smiles. The group poses for a photo with last year’s book, “This is Our House,” along with their award for third Best in Show. Meikle, who was an Editor-in-Chief for the yearbook last year as well, holds both and stands at the center of the group. “That was an amazing feeling, going and grabbing the third place award,” Meikle said. “All of it paid off. I cried so much over that book, being able to receive [the award] was one of the highlights of my high school career, it was like the coolest thing ever.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8bookpose_philly-1200x800.jpg)
Journalists win big at 2017 Student Media Olympics
Results are in for the 2017 Student Media Olympics, and West Linn student journalists made a splash earning Best of Category in 8 of the 38 categories in the competition ranging from Print Journalism and Yearbook to Photography, Online and Broadcast Media. Hosted by the Northwest Scholastic Press Association, students from around the Pacific Northwest compete by submitting their best work published over the course of the year.
Yearbook, Journalism and Broadcast students from West Linn competed, winning 24 awards in total. The student website, WLHSnow.com, run by Editor in Chief Zoe Craig and Web Editor Jake Nielson won “Best of Category” for website.
Broadcast Journalism students produce a monthly News Broadcast called The Breakdown, headed up by Broadcast Editor Keaton Straub which also earned “Best of Category.” The Brodcast Journalism class also won “Best of Category” in News Radio/Podcast for their Breakdown Podcast – March 2017
Judges evaluate entries and while all students submitting receive comments, highlighting strengths and noting suggestions for improvement, they reserve certificates for select entries noted as Superior, Excellent, and Honorable Mention along with one Best of Category award.
Competing in events like this allows students to compare their work with others and get feedback from media professionals to help them perfect their craft. Students also competed at Fall Press Day at the University of Oregon as well as at the National Journalism Convention in Seattle in April.
WLHS WINNERS:
Broadcast News: Best of Category, “The Breakdown” Keaton Straub, Rory Cheevers, Liana Li, Andre Best; Honorable Mention, “The Provoked Wife” Keaton Straub.
Broadcast Human Interest: Excellent, “What’s Your Dutch?” Liana Li; Excellent, “What is WLHSnow?” Andre Best, Cassidy Juster.
Newspaper Opinion: Excellent, “Kaepernick’s Protest is Meaningless” Philip Chan
Newspaper Human Interest: Best of Category, “The Voice” Philip Chan; Honorable Mention, “Embracing the Stage” Brooke McKelvey; Honorable Mention, “Behind the Spoflight” Brooke McKelvey
Newspaper News Feature: Superior, “Forecast: English with a chance of art” Evan McKinley, Excellent, “Theater Never Rests” Brooke McKelvey
Photography Human Interest: Excellent, “The Provoked Wife” Kate Walters
Podcast/Radio News: Best of Category “The Breakdown Podcast” Parker Edwards, Harry Winsper; Superior, “Phone Free on 3/3” Brice Brown; Superior, “Oscars Recap” Derek Swartz
Podcast/Radio Human Interest: Best of Category, “Permaculture” Katherine Stallard
Podcast/Radio Sports: Best of Category, “Championship Recap” Rory Bialostosky
Website: Best of Category “WLHSnow.com” Zoe Craig, Jake Nielson
Yearbook Theme Package: Excellent, Isabella Cao, Rameen Ali, Kate Walters
Yearbook Sports Spread: Excellent, Isabella Cao, Kate Walters
Yearbook People Spread: Best of Category, Gigi Schwietzer, Isabella Cao; Honorable Mention, Madi Tatyrek, Isabella Cao
Yearbook Non-Traditional Coverage: Best of Category, Isabella Cao; Superior Gigi Schwietzer, Devinne Amesquita, Kate Walters
Yearbook Personality Profile: Best of Category, Kate Walters
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