CSHS Yearbook Receives Top National Awards

Carroll Senior High School’s 2017-2018 “The Dragon” yearbook staff were recently informed that they are the recipients of the highest awards given to a yearbook following a critique by two national scholastic press associations.  

“The Dragon” won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist Award as well as the National Scholastic Press Association’s All American Award with four marks of distinction. In addition, an individual spread from the 2018 yearbook is a finalist for Design of the Year – an award that will be presented at the national journalism convention set for November 1-4 in Chicago. Twelve students from the CSHS Dragon Media program will be in attendance at the convention.

“It’s unbelievable that this is a reality for our staff,” Nicole James, 2018 managing editor and 2019 executive yearbook editor, said. “I’m so proud of all our hard work and dedication for last year’s book. I’m so excited to attend the NHSJC next week, no matter what the outcome is.”

CSPA and NSPA critique student publications from across the country, ranging from middle school publications up to the collegiate level. Publications are judged on excellence, shown through the design, photography, concept, coverage, and writing.

Josh McSwain, a current senior and one of the executive editors of the 2019 yearbook, said, “I was absolutely thrilled that we got such a great response from the book from the local community here at Carroll and nationally from the awards committees. We didn’t expect the book to be nationally recognized when we first started creating it.”

Mattison Pennington, the 2018 yearbook editor in chief, is currently in her freshman year at Baylor studying journalism. “We spent endless hours working on this book. It makes me so happy that our hard work paid off and the judges recognized the effort we put in,” Pennington said.

 “The Dragon” yearbook is a completely student-run, 350+ page publication advised by CSHS teacher and Dragon Media adviser, Mrs. Natalie Brown. The 2018 book was edited by Mattison Pennington. Current yearbook executive editors are Nicole James and Josh McSwain, who also served on the editorial board of the 2018 book. For more on the NSPA Design of the Year Awards visit: http://studentpress.org/nspa/2018-individual-award-finalists-announced/

Photo left to right: Seniors Josh McSwain 2018 design editor, Nicole James 2018 managing editor, Jessica Melocik 2018 reference editor.