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Lions Roar wins 17th Star

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By Melinda L. Lucas

The staff of The Lions Roar, the student newspaper for Albany High School, earned a 17th consecutive Star Award along with a Tops in Texas and almost 50 individual honors announced by the Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC) last weekend.

The annual state-level journalism convention was held in Austin for the first time in two years, although judging was held and awards issued in both 2020 and 2021 despite the pandemic.

The Lions Roar received an overall rating of Distinguished Merit, qualifying the publication to be considered for a Star Award. The Lions Roar was one of just 13 papers statewide to be awarded a Star, making it one of the top student papers in the state among all classifications.

The Stars were announced at an awards ceremony on Sunday morning, while the special and individual awards were given on Saturday evening.

“With the exception of two 4A private schools that got Gold, every other staff that got a Star award was either 5A or 6A,” newspaper adviser Donnie Lucas said. “We were the only 2A, and there was not a 3A staff at all at that level.”

There were other schools nominated that didn’t receive a Star award, Lucas said.

This year, a total of only 13 Star Awards were given, including five Gold, three Silver, and five Bronze, fewer than in any of the previous years that Albany has entered the ILPC competition.

Over the past 17 years, the Lions Roar has received eight Gold Stars seven Silver Stars, and two Bronze Stars.

“Some staff members were disappointed that we didn’t get Gold or Silver this year, but I kept trying to remind them about the company they’re keeping and the size schools they’re competing against,” Lucas said. “Our kids remain competitive with newspaper staffs from much larger schools across the state.”

He added that he definitely sees a trend among Texas high schools toward a different type of journalism.

“We were the only traditional full-size newspaper to be given a Star award,” said the adviser. “The rest were all tabloid or magazine format, which calls for a totally different type of writing style.”

Lucas added that he hasn’t made the switch because UIL journalism events, such as the news writing and editorial writing contests that Albany students medaled in last week, have remained consistent in what they require.

“Veering away from a traditional style would not prepare the kids for UIL competition or even for what they can expect to have write in college classes,” Lucas said.

Special Awards

Albany senior Luke Ivy won a Tops in Texas this year for Page One Design.

The first place winners in each division, including the combined 1A-2A division as well as the 3A-4A, 5A, and 6A entries are judged again to determine one single winner across the state in each contest.

Ivy received his Tops in Texas during the Saturday evening ceremony.

In addition to the overall rating for the paper, staff members competed in the 1A-2A division for individual awards, earning close to 50 honors.

Each paper is allowed to submit two entries in each of the 30 contests.

Individual Winners

News Writing - 2. Cambree Clegg

Feature - 2. Ty Everitt

Editorial Writing - 1. Luke Ivy

Sports News Story - 1. Brooks Neece, HM Braylyn Abbate

Sports Feature Story - 1. Leddie Leech, 3. Brooks Neece

Feature Story - 2. Mayson Garcia

Entertainment Review - 3. Sarah Cotter

Entertainment Feature - 1. Susie Cormack, 2. Susie Cormack

Personal Column - 1. Sarah Cotter, 2. Susie Cormack

Personal Opinion Column - 3. Susie Cormack

Sports Column - 1. Luke Ivy, 2. Luke Ivy

In-Depth News/Feature Package - 1. Ty Everitt, Robyn Trail, 2. Ty Everitt, Sydney Russell

Student Art - 1. Ashley Richards

Infographic/Sidebar - 2. Sidney Russell

Cartoon - 1. Ashley Richards, 2. Ashley Richards

Sports Page/Spread Design - 1. Brooks Neece, 2. Brooks Neece

Feature Page/Spread Design - 1. Susie Cormack, Ty Everitt, 3. Ty Everitt

Entertainment Page/Spread Design - 1. Susie Cormack, 2. Susie Cormack

News Page/Spread Design - 1. Ty Everitt, HM Ty Everitt

Editorial Page/Spread Design - 1. Sarah Cotter, 2. Sarah Cotter

Page One Newspaper Design - 1. Luke Ivy, 2. Luke Ivy

General News Photo - 1. Ty Everitt, 2. Ty Everitt

Feature Photo - 2. Ty Everitt, 3. Ty Everitt

Entertainment Photo - 1. Ty Everitt

Sports Action Photo - 1. Braylyn Abbate, HM Susie Cormack

Sports Feature Photo - 2. Susie Cormack, 3. Leddie Leech

Portrait - 1. Susie Cormack, 2. Ty Everitt

Portfolio - 1. Ty Everitt

Headline - 2. Lions Roar Staff