More than 680 students and teachers from 36 Nebraska schools gathered Oct. 15 at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to learn about journalism and media at the fall convention of the Nebraska High School Press Association.
The convention, co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, offers a variety of learning opportunities for students studying broadcasting, newspaper (online and print) and yearbook.
The daylong event kicked off with a keynote presentation by Boyd Huppert, an award-winning news reporter for KARE TV in Minneapolis.
Throughout the day, students and teachers could attend 38 breakout sessions on a variety of media-related topics — from newswriting to social media — presented by 24 media professionals and educators.
“It’s exciting to see scholastic journalism so well represented at this event,” said Michelle Carr Hassler, NHSPA executive director and associate professor of practice in journalism at Nebraska. “And it’s so rewarding to witness the enthusiasm of students and teachers, who spend the day learning all they can about media from the experts.”
As part of the convention, the NHSPA also recognizes outstanding student work and the efforts of teachers.
The NHSPA presented its 2018 Distinguished Adviser award to Lori Larson, who teaches journalism at North Platte High School.
The NHSPA also recognized the winners in its annual awards competition.
The following schools won the highest honor — the Cornhusker Award — in the yearbook category: Millard South (The Patriot), Bellevue East (The Chieftain), Elkhorn (The Antler), Scottsbluff (The Bluff), Millard West (The Prowler), Papillion-La Vista (The Monarch), Mount Michael (The Seeker), Lincoln Southwest (The Talon), Lexington (The Minuteman), Blair (The Tattler), Marian (The Crusader) and Scribner-Snyder (The Trojan).
The following schools won Cornhusker Awards in the newspaper category: Scotus Central Catholic (The Rock Bottom), Marian (The Network), Papillion-La Vista South (The Titan Legacy), Millard West (The Catalyst), Westside (The Lance), Gretna (The Voice), Millard North (The Hoofbeat) and Omaha Bryan (The Orator).
The following schools won Cornhusker Awards in the online news category: Papillion-La Vista (PL Pulse), Fairbury (The X-Ray), Millard West (The Catalyst), Marian (The Network) and Westside (Westside Wired).
Major sponsors of the convention and awards include the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Nebraska Press Association Foundation, the Omaha World-Herald and School Newspapers Online Sites.
At an NHSPA adviser meeting, members re-elected Erica Brockmoller of Lexington to its executive board and elected the following new members: Ranae Duncan of Omaha Bryan, Lori Larson of North Platte and Lynn Hofmann of Shelby-Rising City. They join current board members Brandi Benson, Lincoln Southwest; Kristen Harris, McCook; Rod Henkel, Yutan; Mark Hilburn, Millard West; Marsha Kalkowski, Marian; Beth Kavan, Grand Island Northwest; Diane Schieffer, Elkhorn; David Stevens, Scribner-Snyder; and Angela Wolfe, Omaha Burke.
The NHSPA is open to all high school instructors of journalism and/or advisers of student publications in Nebraska. Learn more.
