Dutch Fork High's Journalism Programs Receive Top Honors

Dutch Fork High School’s journalism programs shined at this year’s Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention, taking home several top awards and honors at the event in Columbia on March 1-3.

Principal Gregory Owings and Assistant Principal for Instruction Sarah Longshore both received the Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year Award on March 2. This was the first time in the program’s history that a team won the award, usually given to an individual.

Students also earned numerous awards: The team of Tapanga Brigman, Ryan Pittman, Collyn Taylor and Brandy Williams were first runners-up in the regional Journalism Quiz Bowl; Ryan Pittman and Luke Amick won Best Videography in the Broadcast On-The-Spot Feature contest; and Laken Radvansky received an honorable mention in SIPA’s Broadcast Anchor category.

"We are very proud of our outstanding journalism program at Dutch Fork High School," Dr. Owings said. "Our newspaper, yearbook, literary magazine, and Silver Screen student broadcast are the best anywhere. We appreciate our wonderful teachers who guide and motivate our students."

Longshore added: "Journalism is so important in our school because it teaches students to think critically about the world around them and the impact their stories will have on others. Whether they actually become journalists or not, a good journalism and mass communications program at the high school level is one of the best investments we can make for our students."

Deborah Gascon was also given a Distinguished Service Award at the SIPA event for her contributions to scholastic journalism in the state and region.

Collyn Taylor, a senior at Dutch Fork High, completed his term as SIPA’s vice president. Jamie Mason, a junior, won the vice presidency for the 2013-2014 school year.

Submitted by Lexington-Richland 5's Office of Public Information