Hays wins state journalism championship

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Hays High School won the Class 4A Sweepstakes Award for garnering the most overall points at the state journalism contest on May 2 in Lawrence.

The state championship performance was a result of 15 students placing in the top six spots at the event, which is sponsored by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

Hays scored 46 points to beat out Chanute and Holton with 27 points apiece. Other team scores are listed below. Scoring is based on individual placing.

Five points is award for first; four points for second; three for third, and one point for honorable mention. Only six placers are awarded for each individual contest.

“I am so proud of these students and what they have accomplished this year,” adviser Bill Gasper said. “As far as I know, this is the first time that Hays has won a state journalism championship. It’s a great achievement and these students deserve a ton of recognition.”

During the competition, Gasper said students compete in three different divisions – 5A-6A, 3A-4A, and 1A-2A. A Sweepstakes winner is then awarded to each of the six different classes.

“I’ve been involved in the journalism field for nearly 35 years, both as a teacher and a working journalist, and this ranks right at the top of one of my career highlights,” Gasper said. “One of my goals has always been to win the Sweepstakes, and these students went out and got it. I am so grateful to them for their hard work and their dedication. Their support of me and the journalism program is something I will always remember and always cherish.”

In addition to the state championship, Hays High was awarded All-Kansas for last year’s yearbook and this year’s newspaper. All Kansas is the top award given by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

“As you can see, our students have the ability to excel as individuals as well as work successfully in a team environment to produce outstanding publications,” Gasper said. “It’s been a great year and I hope the Hays community is equally as proud of these kids as I am.”

Junior Sylina Zhang is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Guidon and attributed to the award by placing in two of her events.

“Us journalists are like a family,” Zhang said. “We yell at each other, we laugh with each other, we have fights, we have fun, but at the end of the day, we really do produce quality work.”

Zhang truly believes in the importance of this journalism program.
“We are often overlooked,” Zhang said. “But winning the state championship definitely proved to us and the community that incredible talent can be found here in Mr. Gasper’s program.”

Individual Results
Infographics – Jasmine Lawson, first
Yearbook Layout – Jasmine Lawson, second
Academic Photo – Cheyenne Schwab, second
Academic Photo – Tiana Lawson, HM (Honorable Mention)
Multimedia Storytelling – Sylina Zhang & Kara Brooks, third
Student Life Photography – Morgan Klaus, HM
Online Photo Gallery – Sierra Eichman, second
Online Photo Gallery – Amanda Dinkel, HM
Feature Writing – Brianna Mathias, HM
Editorial Writing – Sylina Zhang, first
Yearbook Copy Writing – Kirsten Prindle, HM
Cutline Writing – Kirsten Prindle, first
Cutline Writing – Chelsey Augustine, third
Yearbook Sports Writing – Morgan Klaus, first
Yearbook Sports Writing – Kylie Brown, third

Team Results
Hays High School 46
Chanute High School 27
Holton High School 27
Bonner Springs High School 19
Piper High School 16
De Soto High School 15
Girard High School 7
Augusta High School 6
Basehor-Linwood High School 6
Louisburg High School 6
Spring Hill High School 6
Rose Hill High School 5
Baldwin High School 5
Iola High School 4
Rock Creek High School 4
Ottawa High School 4
Paola High School 4
McPherson High School 3
Buhler High School 1
Circle High School 1
El Dorado High School 1
Jefferson West High 1