Texas Association of Journalism Educators award Shield staffers 148 Best in Texas awards
Eleven of the newspaper staff’s 43 superior-award winners also earn Best of the Best in Texas distinction in competition with superior winners from all across Texas
April 24, 2023
McCallum journalists combined to win 148 individual awards (43 superior, 54 excellent and 51 honorable mention) in the 2023 Texas Association of Journalism Advisers Best in Texas Newspaper and Broadcast Contest. The superior winners were all also considered in a second round of judging, which determined the Best of the Best in Texas. The Best of the Best categories were broader and considered superior winners in several related categories. TAJE announced a top five in each of these larger Best of the Best categories.
Shield journalists earned a total of 11 Best of the Best in Texas honors in competition with all of the other superior winners from schools all across Texas. Current Shield EIC Alice Scott earned two Best of the Best in Texas honors for her print story portfolio and for her issue 1 editorial, “A Band-Aid for a Bullet Wound,” which won in the subjective writing category. 2021-2022 co-editor in chief Alysa Bijl-Spiro also earned a Best of the Best in Texas nod for her online in-depth news story, “To solve deficit, district to add a class to each teacher’s workload so fewer teachers are needed,” which one in the online objective writing category.
To see all of our Best of the Best in Texas and Best in Texas winner, please see the list below.
2023 Texas Association of Journalism Educators Best of the Best in Texas Contest winners
Online
Objective Writing
Alysa Bijl-Spiro, Best of the Best in Texas, “To solve deficit, district to add a class to each teacher’s workload so fewer teachers are needed,” Feb. 5, 2022
Sophie Leung-Lieu, third runner-up, “Bob to hit the big screen,” Nov. 20, 2022
Packages
Theo Roe, Evelyn Griffin and Julian Magee, second runner-up, “You name it. Red River Trucking Co. plays it,” May 16, 2022
Subjective Writing
Grace Nugent, second runner-up, “Friday (nights), I’m in love,” June 4, 2022
Design
JoJo Barnard, third runner-up, “Let’s taco ‘bout a new lunch spot,” Feb. 10, 2023 (page 10).
Objective Writing
Alice Scott, first runner-up, “Remembering Yolanda Zertuche,” Oct. 14, 2022 (page 20).
Portfolios
Alice Scott, Best of the Best in Texas, story portfolio.
Subjective Writing
Alice Scott, Best of the Best in Texas, “A Band-Aid for a bullet wound,” Oct. 14, 2022 (page 31).
Madelynn Niles, first runner-up, “Revise advisory, extend lunch,” April 29, 2022 (page 29).
Kate Boyle, second runner-up, “A pool of their own,” Oct. 14, 2022 (page 23).
Lanie Sepehri and Naomi Di-Capua, fourth runner-up, “‘Midnights’ proves Taylor Swift is a true ‘Mastermind,’” Nov. 18, 2022 (page 12).
2023 Texas Association of Journalism Educators Best in Texas Contest winners
Online, Newspaper and Broadcast categories
| Category | Student name | Rating | URL |
| O1. Photo Portfolio | Gergő Major | Honorable Mention | (1) Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act (Setting the stage featured image), (2) Pink Week 2022 sets standard for fun, fundraising (Fun after the festivities), (3) Surrounded by peers, Bauld goes out a winner (COVER SLIDE), (4) Wrestling team competes against Connally, LASA (fourth slide in gallery), (5) A Major debut (cover slide) |
| O2. Story Portfolio | Francie Wilhelm | Excellent | (1) Breaking down the bond, (2) Starbucks workers go on strike, (3) Cancer can’t stop Callan, (4) Worse than a Mercury retrograde, (5) State-mandated tutoring causes controversy |
| O4. Multimedia Presentation | Theo Roe, Evelyn Griffin, Julian Magee | Superior | You name it. Red River Trucking Co. plays it. |
| O4. Multimedia Presentation | Alice Scott, Sophie Leung-Lieu | Excellent | After year and a half of online school, young students face whole new normal back on campus |
| O4. Multimedia Presentation | Alice Scott, Ingrid Smith, Kate Boyle | Excellent | 22 questions with Austin ISD At-Large Position 9 Board of Trustee candidates Arati Singh, Heather Toolin |
| O5. Photo Gallery | Lillian Gray | Honorable Mention | Remembering the lives lived at 2606 Greenlawn Parkway |
| O6. News Story | Morgan Eye | Superior | Firefighters extinguish blaze at vacant Dart Bowl; authorities investigating its cause |
| O6. News Story | Francie Wilhelm | Superior | Starbucks workers go on strike |
| O6. News Story | Lanie Sepehri, Morgan Eye | Superior | Dysfunctional air conditioning in library prompts decision to shut down blood drive prematurely |
| O6. News Story | Ingrid Smith | Superior | Mac hosts belated graduation for veterans |
| O6. News Story | Ingrid Smith | Honorable Mention | Ice storm leaves students, teachers in dark |
| O7. News-Feature Story | Amaya Collier | Superior | Jackson Heights street food vendors provide cultural exchange, struggle to survive amid city restrictions |
| O7. News-Feature Story | Ingrid Smith | Honorable Mention | https://macshieldonline.com/44872/news-2/ketanji-brown-jacksons-historic-confirmation-to-supreme-court-inspires-reassures/ |
| O8. Feature Story | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Superior | Bob to hit the big screen |
| O8. Feature Story | Francie Wilhelm, Amaya Collier | Superior | Cancer can’t stop Callan |
| O8. Feature Story | Elena Ulack | Excellent | Bringing birding to Mac |
| O8. Feature Story | Camilla Vandegrift | Excellent | On the road to success |
| O9. In-Depth News/Feature Story | Alysa Spiro | Superior | To solve deficit, district to add a class to each teacher’s workload so fewer teachers are needed |
| O9. In-Depth News/Feature Story | Ingrid Smith | Excellent | Continuing the conversation about teen dating violence and abuse |
| O9. In-Depth News/Feature Story | Ingrid Smith | Honorable Mention | Abbott edict threatens trans children, their families |
| O10. In-Depth Package | Staff | Superior | Without further ado, we present to you the Who’s Who of ’22 |
| O12. Sports Feature Story | Alysa Spiro, Lucy Marco | Superior | Looks like chocolate, tastes like gold |
| O12. Sports Feature Story | Naomi Di-Capua | Superior | Mac baseball alum bound for the mound in Memphis |
| O12. Sports Feature Story | Lillian Gray | Superior | Surrounded by her peers, Bauld goes out a winner |
| O12. Sports Feature Story | Amira Habib Weymouth | Excellent | Freshmen Knights find success, opportunity in their first season on the high school court |
| O12. Sports Feature Story | Merrill Price | Excellent | For these young Knights, experience the best teacher – The Shield Online |
| O13. Entertainment Feature | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Honorable Mention | Sweet treats that hit the spot |
| O14. Headline Writing | Francie Wilhelm | Excellent | (1) Breaking down the bond, (2) Starbucks workers go on strike, (3) Cancer can’t stop Callan, (4) Worse than a Mercury retrograde, (5) State-mandated tutoring causes controversy |
| O15. Caption Writing | Ingrid Smith | Superior | (1) Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act (PERFORMING FROM THE PIT-PIN), (2) First alumni ‘game’ since 2019 morphs into ‘everything, everywhere, all at once’ scrimmages (LAST-SECOND SCORE), (3) Mac becomes ‘fairytale’ for winter dance (DANCING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND), (4) Cabaret 2022 succeeds in bringing the ‘Light’ (LAST TIME FOR THE TRIO), (5) Students, teachers come dressed to express (BAT BRIGADE) |
| O15. Caption Writing | Alice Scott | Superior | (1) Cabaret 2022 succeeds in bringing the ‘Light’ (FLYING SOLO), (2) Thankful for Thanksgiving travels (TIME TRAVELER SPOTTED, (3) Fine arts beats the flood (BANDTASTIC), (4) Flash flood strikes Austin as school dismisses Monday (BUS STOP BLUES), (5) Taco Shack 2022 offers a full range of emotions (U-KNIGHT-ED WIN OR LOSE) |
| O15. Caption Writing | JoJo Barnard | Excellent | (1) Students, teachers come dressed to express (A SWEET SURPRISE), (2) Mac becomes ‘fairytale’ for winter dance (DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY), (3) Like its title character, ‘Pippin’ evolving with each act (WORTH THE WORK), (4) Knights vanquish Jaguars in second faceoff to stay unbeaten in district play, crack 5A state Top 25 (FRESHMEN MAKE BEST FANS), (5) ‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life (INTO THE SPOTLIGHT) |
| O15. Caption Writing | Francie Wilhelm | Honorable Mention | (1) Mac becomes ‘fairytale’ for winter dance (FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING), (2) Welcome back to Mac (FIRST DAY ON THE JOB), (3) ‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life (DEVIL-ISHLY), (4) Fine Arts beats the flood (STAYING FLUID AND FLEXIBLE), (5) A ‘Knight at McCallum’ to remember (FISHING FRIENDS) |
| O16. Staff Editorial | Caroline Owen, Alice Scott | Excellent | Outdated Mac should be included in bond proposals |
| O16. Staff Editorial | Alysa Spiro | Excellent | 6,042 miles. |
| O16. Staff Editorial | Ingrid Smith | Honorable Mention | All hope is not lost |
| O17. Sports Column | Grace Nugent | Superior | Friday (nights), I’m in love |
| O17. Sports Column | Charlie Partheymuller | Honorable Mention | Argentina will hoist the 2022 World Cup trophy |
| O18. Personal Column | Ingrid Smith | Honorable Mention | Loretta Lynn’s trailblazing career empowers, inspires |
| O19. Personal Opinion Column | Josie Bradsby | Superior | In defense of Valentine’s Day |
| O19. Personal Opinion Column | Morgan Eye | Excellent | Masks on or off, let’s agree to coexist peacefully |
| O20. Entertainment Review | Ingrid Smith | Superior | Harry Styles is ‘Golden’ during Austin residency |
| O20. Entertainment Review | Grace Vitale | Honorable Mention | ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ at least there’s Florence Pugh |
| O21. News Photo | Leah Gordon | Honorable Mention | Protestors march on Capitol after U.S. Supreme Court overturns constitutional protection for abortion (ninth photo in gallery) |
| O21. News Photo | Cilley Phan | Honorable Mention | More than 100 students marched for 49 minutes in protest of the possible reversal or Roe v. Wade (cover slide) |
| O21. News Photo | Devin Neal | Honorable Mention | Wachsmann tells students she is leaving teaching after 11 years (cover slide) |
| O22. Feature Photo | Francie Wilhelm | Honorable Mention | Best of luck (cover slide) |
| O22. Feature Photo | Evie Barnard | Honorable Mention | Large crowd assembles in gym for boisterous homecoming pep rally (cover slide) |
| O23. Sports Action Photo | Charlie Partheymuller | Excellent | Everyone scores for Knights in dismantling of Eastside (cover slide) |
| O23. Sports Action Photo | Charlie Partheymuller | Excellent | Knight defense stifles Vikings, leading to uneventful third quarter (cover slide) |
| O23. Sports Action Photo | Leah Gordon | Excellent | Ever-changing moods (cover slide) |
| O23. Sports Action Photo | Lillian Gray | Excellent | A pin for the win (cover slide) |
| O23. Sports Action Photo | Camilla Vandegrift | Excellent | Starting on the front foot (third photo in gallery) |
| O24. Sports Feature Photo | Naomi Di-Capua | Honorable Mention | She’s committed (cover slide) |
| O24. Sports Feature Photo | Lillian Gray | Honorable Mention | Just before varsity tip-off, girls basketball program takes time to appreciate teachers (seventh slide in gallery) |
| O25. Portrait | Gergő Major | Honorable Mention | Costume contest main Monday attraction on outdoor stage (cover slide) |
| O25. Portrait | Chloe Lewcock | Honorable Mention | Love, labor and the little moments (Focused) |
| O26. Editorial Cartoon | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Superior | The lighter of two evils |
| O26. Editorial Cartoon | Amaya Collier | Excellent | ‘Robin Hood’ is robbing us |
| O26. Editorial Cartoon | Evie Barnard | Honorable Mention | All hope is not lost |
| O26. Editorial Cartoon | Kai Kirkham Macias | Honorable Mention | Accepting rejection |
| O28. Infographic Presentation | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Honorable Mention | Worse than a Mercury retrograde |
| N1 Photo Portfolio | Evie Barnard | Honorable Mention | Evie Barnard — Print Newspaper Photo Portfolio |
| N1 Photo Portfolio | Charlie Partheymuller | Honorable Mention | Charlie Partheymuller — Print Newspaper Photo Portfolio |
| N2 Story Portfolio | Alice Scott | Superior | Alice Scott — Print Newspaper Story Portfolio |
| N2 Story Portfolio | Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Lanie Sepehri — Print Newspaper Story Portfolio |
| N2 Story Portfolio | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Excellent | Sophie Leung-Lieu — Print Newspaper Story Portfolio |
| N4 News Story | Samantha Powers | Superior | Texas vs. transgender teens |
| N4 News Story | Logan Davis | Excellent | Shutting doors for safe students |
| N4 News Story | Noah Bruan | Honorable Mention | Posters or propaganda? |
| N5 News Feature Story | Alice Scott | Honorable Mention | Between the borders |
| N5 News Feature Story | Alice Scott | Honorable Mention | Overworked from overtime |
| N6 Feature Story | Alice Scott | Superior | Remembering Yolanda Zertuche |
| N6 Feature Story | Ingrid Smith | Superior | Mac Apes don’t monkey around |
| N6 Feature Story | Alice Scott | Excellent | Back to the beginning |
| N6 Feature Story | Chloe Lewcock | Excellent | Adamson to say adieu |
| N6 Feature Story | Gaby Esquivel and Caroline Owen | Excellent | McCallum meets Mac |
| N6 Feature Story | Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Gifted second chance at life, Dashner finds fire within |
| N6 Feature Story | Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Never judge a Knight by his armor |
| N6 Feature Story | Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Superstar of science |
| N6 Feature Story | Kate Boyle | Honorable Mention | Lifeguarding: a year-round call |
| N6 Feature Story | Nate Williams | Honorable Mention | Rogers to retire |
| N6 Feature Story | Sophie Leung-Lieu and Helen Martin | Honorable Mention | Where are they now? |
| N6 Feature Story | Sophie Leung-Lieu and Naomi Di-Capua | Honorable Mention | Kisses from Bob |
| N7 In-Depth News/Feature Story | Ingrid Smith | Superior | A change in tempo |
| N7 In-Depth News/Feature Story | Alice Scott | Excellent | Nicotine advertising targets teens |
| N8 In-Depth News/Feature Package | Helen Martin, Alice Scott and Lanie Sepehri | Superior | A taste of Fascist Peach Cobber; following their (day) dreams |
| N8 In-Depth News/Feature Package | JoJo Barnard, Amaya Collier. Chloe Lewcock | Excellent | New year, new policies |
| N8 In-Depth News/Feature Package | Sophie Leung-Lieu and Naomi Di-Capua | Honorable Mention | Seeing these stars |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Elena Ulack | Superior | Kehn committed to ‘her kids’ |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Lanie Sepehri | Superior | Families that play together, stay together |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Caroline Owen | Excellent | Committed to committing |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Francie Wilhelm | Excellent | New kids on the pyramid |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Grace Nugent | Excellent | Fighting Fahrenheit in 512 |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Leah Gordon and Caroline Owen | Honorable Mention | Rosenblatt rises above |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Honorable Mention | Knights overcome curve balls |
| N10 Sports Feature Story | Thomas Melina Raab | Honorable Mention | Smile through it all |
| N11 Entertainment Feature | Morgan Eye | Superior | Guard finishes season without missing a beat |
| N11 Entertainment Feature | Lanie Sepehri and Sophie Leung-Liu | Honorable Mention | The Word on Wordle |
| N12. Headlines | Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Lanie Sepehri — Print Newspaper Headline Portfolio |
| N14 Staff Editorial | Alice Scott | Superior | A Band-Aid for a bullet wound |
| N14 Staff Editorial | Logan Davis | Excellent | Addressing substance abuse |
| N15 Sports Column | Kate Boyle | Superior | A pool of their own |
| N17 Personal Opinion Column | Madelynn Niles | Superior | Revise advisory, extend lunch |
| N17 Personal Opinion Column | Evie Barnard | Excellent | Fighting for our future |
| N17 Personal Opinion Column | Isley Cameron and Leah Gordon | Excellent | Breaking the silence |
| N17 Personal Opinion Column | Sofia Thatcher | Excellent | A losing lineup |
| N17 Personal Opinion Column | Grace Vitale | Honorable Mention | Revising summer reading |
| N18 Entertainment Review | Lanie Sepehri and Naomi Di-Capua | Superior | ‘Midnights’ proves Taylor Swift is a true ‘Mastermind’ |
| N18 Entertainment Review | Eliza Jensen | Excellent | ‘House of the Dragon’ revives ruined franchise |
| N19 News Photo | Elena Ulack | Honorable Mention | Parents of trans youth protest at the Capitol |
| N20 Feature Photo | Gergo Major | Excellent | Ain’t no sunshine OR With or without you |
| N20 Feature Photo | Morgan Eye | Excellent | Mac band kicks off marching season at Capital City competition |
| N20 Feature Photo | Evie Barnard | Honorable Mention | Seniors cheer during homecoming pep rally |
| N20 Feature Photo | Sophie Kessler | Honorable Mention | Jumping around |
| N21 Sports Action Photo | Lillian Gray | Superior | Wrestling team makes impact at Capital Classic |
| N21 Sports Action Photo | Charlie Partheymuller | Honorable Mention | Super soph Mitchell Butler OR Senior Emmanuel Lozano runs the ball during the Knights’ 56-0 win over Eastside |
| N22 Sports Feature Photo | Evie Barnard | Honorable Mention | Senior homecoming king and queen, Angel Vasquez and Ary Sanchez, smile at one another while swaying to the school song |
| N22 Sports Feature Photo | Kennedy Weatherby | Honorable Mention | Senior Esme Barraz prepares to run 400 meters at area track meet |
| N23 Portrait | Francie Wilhelm | Honorable Mention | Senior Ashley Nicely poses in front of ‘Black Girl Magic’ poster |
| N24 Editorial Cartoon | Evie Barnard | Superior | A Band-Aid for a bullet wound |
| N24 Editorial Cartoon | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Excellent | Addressing substance abuse |
| N25 Original Artwork | Kai Kirkham Macias | Superior | A farewell to ‘Fish’ |
| N25 Original Artwork | Kai Kirkham Macias | Superior | The evolution of ‘Fish’ |
| N25 Original Artwork | Evie Barnard | Excellent | Overworked from overtime OR Nicotine advertising targets teens |
| N26 Infographic Presentation | Alice Scott, Francie Wilhelm and Sophie Leung-Lieu | Superior | Competing on the court |
| N26 Infographic Presentation | Evie Barnard | Superior | Opioid death rate still increasing |
| N26 Infographic Presentation | Grace Nugent | Honorable Mention | The Wordle starting word bank |
| N27 Alternative Copy | Evie Barnard and Alice Scott | Excellent | What is driving your CO2 emissions? |
| N28 News Magazine Cover Design | Evie Barnard | Superior | Facing the fentanyl crisis |
| N28 News Magazine Cover Design | Evie Barnard and Alice Scott | Excellent | Slipping through our fingers |
| N30 News Page Design | Evie Barnard | Excellent | Opioid death rate still increasing |
| N31 Editorial Page Design | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Superior | Enact environment education |
| N31 Editorial Page Design | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Excellent | A losing lineup |
| N32 Feature Page Design | Alice Scott | Honorable Mention | Back to the beginning |
| N32 Feature Page Design | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Honorable Mention | Flipping the script |
| N33 Sports Page Design | Caroline Owen | Honorable Mention | Making a splash |
| N33 Sports Page Design | Lanie Sepehri | Honorable Mention | New kid on the pyramid |
| N34 Entertainment Page Design | Jojo Barnard | Superior | Let’s taco ’bout a new lunch spot |
| N34 Entertainment Page Design | Sophie Leung-Lieu | Excellent | Music makes a movie |
| N35 Photo Essay Page | Alice Scott and Lanie Sepehri | Excellent | Like its titular character, ‘Pippin’ continues evolving every act |
| N35 Photo Essay Page | Naomi Di-Capua | Excellent | Knights end 15-year drought in playoffs |
| N35 Photo Essay Page | Naomi Di-Capua | Excellent | Coming home with a win |
| N36 Double Truck Design | Evie Barnard and Alice Scott | Honorable Mention | What is driving your CO2 emissions? |
| B1. News Story | Alice Scott | Superior | A new normal for elementary schools |
| B8. Interview/Conversational Podcast | Ingrid Smith | Superior | En route to college, McClellan studies in Spain |
| B8. Interview/Conversational Podcast | Evelyn Griffin, Julian Magee, Theo Roe | Excellent | Feedback Loop, Episode 8, Part 2 — Red River Trucking Company |
| B8. Interview/Conversational Podcast | Alysa Spiro, Evelyn Griffin, Theo Roe | Excellent | Feedback Loop, Episode 7, Part 2 — Jessie Lucas |
| B8. Interview/Conversational Podcast | Madelynn Niles, Anna McClellan, Theo Roe | Excellent | McCallum students can ‘count’ on Cowles |
