Four Laguna Blanca Students Earn Gold Circle Awards

Four Laguna Blanca students received honors in the 34th annual Gold Circle Awards given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), an international student press association that recognizes superior work by student journalists. The CSPA received 4,166 yearbook and digital media entries, as well as 7,093 print news and magazines entries.

A 2nd place Gold Circle Award went to Carina Tedesco '18 in the category of Photo layout: Full Page for “The Spirit of Laguna Photo Spread.”

Sonya Kotler '18 earned a Certificate of Merit Gold Circle Award in the category of Computer generated art/illustration for her art titled, “How Do I Manage Stress?” 

Rose Houglet '18 received a Certificate of Merit Gold Circle Award in the category called General Feature for her article titled, “Dual Dreaming.

Sonya Kotler '18 and Kailea Hieshima '18 received Certificates of Merit Gold Circle Awards in the category of Newsmagazine Cover for the cover titled, “The Mental Health Breakdown.”

Kailea Hieshima '18 received a Certificate of Merit Gold Circle Award in the category called General or Humor commentary for her article called “Dear Maker of Women’s Pants.”

“This recognition is significant in that our student journalists compete with top-ranked public and private schools with staffs three to four times the size of our staff,” says Journalism Instructor Trish McHale.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association was founded in 1925 to unite student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges, textbooks, critiques, and award programs.

Gold Circle Awards are offered by Columbia Scholastic Press Association to recognize superior work by student journalists usually as individuals but sometimes as an entire staff working with either print or online media. These media are published in schools or colleges throughout the United States and in overseas schools following an American plan of education.

Each student’s work is evaluated against others produced in similar circumstances. Judges are experienced journalists and educators familiar with the context surrounding student journalism as produced in schools and colleges. In recent years, more than 15,000 entries have been submitted for this annual competition and about 1,200 awards were given in the various categories. Awards are First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Certificate of Merit.

For more information about the Gold Circle Awards, visit its website.
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