DHS news staffers bring home top award

Published Sunday, April 27, 2008

By Staff

Decatur High School journalism students took home several awards at last weekend's University Interscholastic League/Interscholastic League Press Conference in Austin.

The newspaper received a bronze star, placing them in the top 10 percent of all size and classification of high school newspapers statewide.

Tyler Tamplen won a Tops in Texas award - given to one student from middle school through 5A in the state - for portrait photography for his portrait of Cassidy McQuiston. It is Decatur's fourth Tops award all-time.

Other awards included the following:

Diana Rivera - honorable mention, sidebar graphic;

Mirna Rodriguez - 1st place, class section spread;

Kayla Slimp - 1st place, entertainment feature; 3rd place, academic feature story; 3rd place, in-depth news/feature package; honorable mention, in-depth news/feature and in-depth news/feature package;

Courtney Coats - 1st place, news feature;

Callie Hargrave - 1st place, feature/entertainment page design;

Tyler Tamplen - 1st place, portrait; 3rd place, feature photo and photo story; honorable mention, sports feature photo, photo story and academic photo;

Racey Burden - 1st place, feature writing;

Tori Wolverton - 3rd place, entertainment feature;

Ben Copeland - 1st place, sports column; and

Cassie Partridge - honorable mention, editorial writing

Eleven staffers also participated (along with 1,200 students from other schools) in the 81st annual Interscholastic League Press Conference, attending six sessions each.