The Knight Yearbook and Lance Newspaper won the top journalism awards at the recent S.I.S.P.A. Convention. Twenty-one members of the yearbook and newspaper staffs, along with newspaper advisor Mrs. Donna Goetz, attended the Southern Illinois School Press Association’s Spring Convention at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale on February 27. While there, students participated in onsite journalism and writing contests or attended workshops. The Lance received the Blue Banner Award for excellence in newspaper production, while the Knight received the Golden Dozen award for outstanding yearbook. The Knight also received first place for Theme, and Honorable Mentions for Graphics and Dividers. Students placing in the onsite contests are Adam Holbrook, Honorable Mention for Review Writing; Hannah Albers, Second Place for Editorial Writing; Zoe Timmermann, First Place for Editorial Writing.

The Southern Illinois School Press Association helps student journalists and advisers as they publish their schools’ newspapers and yearbooks. Through the support of the SIU Carbondale’s School of Journalism, the organization offers support, critique services, workshops, and much more to high schools and junior highs in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana.