What started out as a great day got even better for students who attended the Kansas Scholastic Press Association State Journalism Competition on May 6 in Lawrence.

After receiving their All-Kansas awards for both the yearbook and newspaper during the competition’s opening session, students competed in individual contests and later found out they had won their second consecutive Class 4A state journalism championship.

Hays won the “Sweepstakes Award” after compiling a total of 31 points to narrowly defeat Chanute with 29. Andover Central took third with 26 out of a field that included 19, 4A schools.

“Winning the state championship last year was one of the highlights of my teaching and professional career,” adviser Bill Gasper said. “Doing it again a year later is simply incredible. I have great students who continue to add to my highlight reel. I am so proud of these kids for their hard work and so thankful to them for putting up with me, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.”

Individually, Hays placed in 18 events, bringing home one first-place finish, a trio of second places and 14 honorable mentions. Journalism competition awards first, second and third and three honorable mentions in each event. Class 3A/4A compete against each other individually, but the Sweepstakes Award is given in each of the six classifications.

“That means those who placed were in the top six of all the students in Class 3A and 4A, a heck of an accomplishment,” Gasper said. “Kansas scholastic journalism ranks in the top tier nationally, so placing at state is not an easy thing to accomplish.”

To reach state students must first place in regional competition. Overall, approximately 2,400 students competed in regionals with about 1,300 competing at state. Seventy-seven schools were represented at the state competition.

Individual State Placers

Morgan Klaus: 2nd Academics Photography, HM Yearbook Sports Writing

Fengxue Zhang: HM Headline Writing & Design, 2^nd Editorial Writing

Nikki Vuong: HM News Page Design, HM News Writing

Kylie Brown: HM Photo Illustration, HM Sports Writing

Taylor Groen-Younger: HM Student Life Photography

Chelsey Augustine: HM Editorial Cartoon, 1^st Cutline Writing

Hannah Baxter: 2^nd Feature Writing

Tiana Lawson & Sierra Eichman, HM Yearbook Theme & Graphics

Sierra Eichman: HM Online Photo Gallery

Tiana Lawson: HM Online Photo Gallery

Anniston Weber, Fengxue Zhang, Kara Brooks, Madison Crees: HM Multimedia Storytelling

Raina Basso: HM Copy Editing

Brianna Brin: HM Yearbook Copy Writing