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

Shield staff reports

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.

Freshman JoJo Barnard earned fourth runner-up Best of the Best in Texas in the design category for this Feb. 10, 2023 entertainment page design rating the taco offerings at two food trucks near McCallum.

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

Print

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).

Junior co-EIC Alice Scott earned Best of the Best in Texas for writing this staff editorial, “A Band-Aid for a bullet wound,” which appeared in the first issue of the current school year. The board ed was also one of the five articles in Scott’s print story portfolio, which also earned Best of the Best in Texas honors.

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