The Roxbury
Review, the student newspaper of Roxbury High School, won two
first-place awards in its division in the annual journalism competition of the
Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA).
The student newspaper took an additional 13 awards in other categories.
The awards were announced at the GSSPA’s fall conference on October 27 at
Rutgers University. The GSSPA is a statewide scholastic journalism association.
The Review
was also designated a 2003 “Gold Medalist” newspaper by the Columbia
Scholastic Press Association in its annual critique of student newspapers
nationwide. To achieve this status the Review scored 944 out of a
possible 1,000 points against a standard that rates student newspapers for
writing, design, editing, graphics, coverage, and photography.
In addition, CSPA awarded the Review “All-Columbian Honors” in
the areas of coverage and writing and editing.
“It is gratifying
to have the work of the student journalists validated by outside professional
organizations,” said Jane Hopper, journalism teacher and adviser to the
Review. “The achievement of so many honors affirms the hard work and
dedication displayed by these students on a daily basis.”
The Review has been entered into the CSPA national contest that
will implement another independent round of judging.
In January, the Review staff will be notified if it has won
additional accolades as a group and/or individually.
In the GSSPA competition, Heather Collura received a first place in news writing for her story on Spirit Week published in the October 2002 issue. Noma Ndlosvu, a June 2003 graduate, was awarded first place for her editorial entitled “Let’s Get Gaellic in Spirit,” published in the November 2002 issue. In addition to the first-place awards, Review staff members received the following awards: second place, Reviews/ Entertainment (Lauren Brajer, “Lord of the Rings”), Photography (Don Varley, “Hallway”), Art/Illustration (Megan Alfieri “School Daze” graphic), In-Depth Reporting (“School Daze” middle spread, Staff), Special Projects (January Issue on Iraqi War, Heather Collura and Laurie Duncan); third place in news writing (Heather Collura), Special Projects (“Teacher for a Day,” Kelly Toves and Megan Alfieri), Reviews /Entertainment (Danny Benson, “Eight Crazy Nights”), Sports (Scott Fontana); and Honorable Mention in Columns (Emily Mercadante, “Chronic Illness”), In-Depth Reporting (“Relationships” middle spread, Staff), and Overall Excellence (Staff)