Catholic students awarded for their journalism efforts

Photo courtesy of Juan Diego Catholic High School

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Juan Diego's yearbook staff created an award-winning publication this year.

SALT LAKE CITY - Journalism talent is flourishing in Utah's Catholic high schools.

Judge Memorial Catholic High School's newspaper, the Bulldog Press, was lauded by the Utah Press Association (UPA), a professional trade organization comprised of many of the state's media outlets.

"We have a really good editorial section and opinion section; they write things on health care reform, immigration," said Chris Sloan, the advisor to the Bulldog Press. He also teaches AP English Language and Composition, freshman English, New Media, and digital photography. "There's a lot of good editorials and a lot of good features stories."

For the judging, the UPA requested three issues of the paper. The Bulldogs submitted the October, December and January issues. The Bulldog Press - which won first place in newspapers in Class 1A-3A from the UPA - is visually "stunning," Sloan said.

In addition to the op/ed sections and features, the newspaper runs regular columns, including Rosie Reads, by a girl named Rosie who reviews books.

This school year the paper had two editors, Cricket Oles and Rosie Neville. Oles was also the student body president. Katie Harrington was the editor-in-chief of the Bulldog Press; she won the Utah Press Association's Super Journalist award.

The Super Journalist recipient is "a fearless student who has demonstrated ‘above and beyond' capabilities, and has gone the extra mile to get information and has written stories on issues of importance," according to the UPA.

Sloan said Harrington was deserving of the award. "I've been doing this for 25 years and she has a really sophisticated visual intelligence," he said. "I think she has a sense of what high school students want to read, but also what they should read."

Not to be outdone, Juan Diego Catholic High School received the first place in the 3A Category for the Best Overall Yearbook from Weber State University.

Each book was evaluated by the UPA for its cover and theme, photography, graphics and illustrations, journalistic quality, layout and design, coverage, and organization.

Four evaluators rated seven different areas; awards were given by division, and for outstanding performance in each area. Because of the excellent work, a few special awards were presented as well.

"We know how much work goes into producing a high school yearbook. You, the adviser, should be especially commended. Also, please express our encouragement and congratulations to your students. We look forward to seeing more great work in the future," said Sheree Josephson from the Department of Communication of Weber State University in a letter to contestants.

The Best Layout and Design, as well as the Most Professional Appearance and Best School Story and Coverage were also won by Juan Diego's yearbook.

"The kids wining these awards have been marvelous," said Clay Jones, the yearbook advisor.

Two courses are offered: Yearbook I, which is open to all students and teaches organizational and planning aspects of the school yearbook, The Tilma; and Yearbook II, a continuation of the training received in the first year.

"The Yearbook II students were responsible for most of the work, but the others also contributed," Jones said. "This just rewards them for all their efforts. At our school what we want is to get the Excellence (designation.)"

Cooley Colby and Ermish William were the Tilma editors; Gant Brendall and Gold Carmen were co-editors.