Pennsylvania School Press Association

R&W Production editor Courtney Sabo’s page layout for “A Perfect Ratio” from our Jan. issue is now featured on this international design community, which hosts over 25,000 pages by designers and artists from around the world.

To view Sabo’s entry, visit: http://npd.snd.org/photo/photo/listFeatured?xg_source=msg_feat_photo. The R&W is listed among publications with circulations under 20,000.

Sabo also serves as Editor in Chief of Bloomsburg High School’s monthly magazine.

Conestoga’s Spoke Newspaper / Web publication earns “Best of Philly” Award

The publishers of Philadelphia Magazine noted the publication’s gutsy approach to journalism, writing, ““Nationally recognized and award-winning, Conestoga’s seasoned journalists learn to tackle serious topics – growing up gay, teen pregnancy, swine flu, illegal gambling – for their published-seven-times-a-year paper and even richer, ever-updating website, Stoganews.com.”  No further information about the magazine’s accolades for this top-notch program may be found on the web (yet) – you’ll have to buy a copy of the magazine to get the full scoop.

PSPA congratulates the staff and advisers of The Spoke for a job well-done!  Everyone at Conestoga High School can take pride in this exemplary program, the best in Philly and one of the best in Pennsylvania.

Longtime Wyoming Valley West publications adviser Les Nicholas will be inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame this June.  Read the entire story on Les as published in Wilkes-Barre’s The Times Leader.

PSPA congratulates the following Pennsylvania recipients of the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Scholarship  :

Aleah Goldin, Moravian Academy, Bethlehem

Christopher Yakubisin, Hempfield Area High School, Greensburg

See a list of all the Scholars at www.freedomforum.org/freespirit

Gryphon Adviser Jim Zervanos and his debut novel Love Park

LOVE Park is the debut novel by Jim Zervanos, adviser of the Penncrest High School literary magazine, Gryphon.  The novel is about a colorful Greek-American family living in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, and it’s been getting rave reviews.

Charles Baxter, author of National Book Award-nominated The Feast of Love, declares, ”LOVE Park is both funny and moving, and I enjoyed it tremendously.” Larry Platt, editor-in-chief of Philadelphia magazine, calls LOVE Park “a love letter to Philadelphia” and a ”must-read debut.”

The protagonist is twenty-six-year-old Peter Pappas, who vows to change his life this summer - or at least to move out of his childhood home.  When an affair with an exotic widow jump-starts his journey into adulthood, he learns a secret that just might set him free - if it doesn’t destroy his family first.

LOVE Park will be available nationwide starting May 1, 2009.  You can order it here, or check out the author’s page for more information.

Journalism 1 reporters Linh Nguyen’s article “Engineering and electronics combine for some award-winning BOT KICKIN’” and Meghan Ashford’s feature “Why would this manager hire you?” were selected by the American Society of Newspaper Editors for inclusion in the National Edition.

ASNE chooses their stories based on the quality and appeal to a broad teen readership, representing the most interesting or moving selections of the week. Links are on our site: http://bloomsburgasd.schoolwires.com/bloomsburghs/site/default.asp#

Student representative Lyndsie Guy, Halifax High School junior, and Yearbook Adviser Becki Enders recently traveled to Philadelphia to participate in the Inaugural Peter Jennings Institute for Journalists and the Constitution.

The program, named in honor of the late news anchor, was created for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the Constitution, its role in American life, and the relationship of the press and the Constitution. Taking place from March 17-19, students and professionals used this as an opportunity to combine their resources to learn more about the power that the United States Constitution holds.

Held at the National Constitution Center on the historical mall in Philadelphia, PA, twelve students were invited from across the Commonwealth to attend. Ten of the attendees came from schools that are currently participating in the PennCORD program.

PennCORD, which stands for the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy, is an infant program that encourages a partnership between students and teachers to inform others about the importance of civic knowledge, democratic deliberation, and public action.

The two remaining student/adviser positions for the conference were available through the Pennsylvania School Press Association.  Guy and Enders received one of these positions after an application process, making it possible for them to attend the Institute.

Attending students and advisers spent an all expenses paid weekend with nationally accredited journalists. Together they debated constitutionally based Supreme Court cases, viewed a moot court trial set in the year 2015, and attended a debate between Senator Jon Kyl (R., AZ) and Representative Barney Frank (D., MA). The debate was moderated by Ted Koppel (ABC News) and the topic was Should Terror Detainees Have the Right of Habeas Corpus?

Students and advisers were also given the opportunity to meet with Kayce Freed Jennings, wife of the late Peter Jennings, and George Stephanopolous, among other notable journalists.

Guy is a member of both her high school yearbook and newspaper staff, a member of National Honor Society, and is the Vice President of Student Council and the treasurer for the Class of 2008. After high school she plans to attend college and to major in either journalism or English.

Bloomsburg High School reporters Hillary Drumheller and Julia Davis earned national journalism honors this week when their February article about teacher diversity was selected by the American Society of Newspaper Editors for placement in the National Edition.

ASNE chose this story based on its quality and appeal to a broad teen readership, representing the most interesting or moving selections of the month. Their article is also posted on the Red & White online edition.

This is Drumheller’s second National Edition selection this year. Davis serves on the Student Board of the PA School Press Association.