4 named to all-state journalism team
By Melinda L. Lucas
Four 2022 graduates have been named to the 2021-2022 All-State Journalism Staff, which is awarded by the Interscholastic League Press Conference.
May graduates Ty Everitt, Susie Cormack, Sarah Cotter, and Luke Ivy each tallied the points required to earn a position on the statewide honorary staff that is recognized by the journalism branch of the University Interscholastic League.
Everitt, a freshman accounting major at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, was the managing editor of the Lions Roar, Albany High School’s student newspaper, earning points with newspaper awards as well as UIL journalism academic events.
He also earned a place on the All-State Staff his junior year.
Cormack, Cotter, and Ivy each served as co-editors of the student newspaper last year, earning qualifying points both with ILPC contests and UIL academic events in journalism.
Cormack is a freshman at the University of Colorado/Boulder, where she is a journalism major. In addition to ILPC honors, she placed in multiple UIL events at the district, region, and state level in journalism contests. She placed fourth in news writing at state.
Cotter, a freshman business major at Texas A&M University, earned points for ILPC individual awards and placed at the district, region, and state academic meets last May as well. She received fifth in editorial writing at the state competition.
A bioscience major at Rice University in Houston, Ivy was named to the state staff. He garnered points in ILPC individual achievement contests plus winning a Tops in Texas among all classifications for front page design. He also earned points for placing at the district and regional academic meets in journalism events.
“I am so proud of these great newspaper students,” newspaper adviser Donnie Lucas said. “They all worked hard to produce the best student paper possible along with participating in journalism events in UIL academic competition.”
The Lions Roar earned a 17th consecutive Star Award for their 2021-22 newspaper entries, picking up a Bronze Star this year.
“A minimum of 50 points is needed to be nominated, coming from their UIL journalism contests and the newspaper ILPC awards,” the sponsor said. “All four of these students tallied from 90 to 120 points to more than qualifiy.”
He added that there were other members of the local staff who narrowly missed the 50-point requirement.
“This recognition includes all schools ranging from Class 1A through 6A,” Lucas said. “As with our newspaper overall Star Award designation, our kids are competing against the entire state regardless of school size.”
