By winning two ILPC Gold Stars, Shield enjoys singular success

Staff members win 15 Tops in Texas awards, 83 5A individual achievement awards; co-EIC Evie Barnard wins 14 IAA’s, six Tops in Texas honors

Shield staff|May 15, 2023

Dave Winter

The first-period Shield class poses for a photo with its Interscholastic League Press Conference Gold Star Awards for print and online newspaper and some of its 15 Tops in Texas individual achievement award medals earned at the 2023 ILPC Spring Convention.

As a staff and as individual journalists, the students journalists of the Shield enjoyed a historic awards result at the 2023 Interscholastic League Press Conference Spring Convention the weekend of April 14-16 on the UT campus.

At Sunday’s Grand Awards Ceremony in the LBJ Auditorium on April 16, ILPC officials announced the Shield as one of five Newspaper Gold Star winners and as one of three Online News Gold winners. The Shield was the only staff in Texas to earn an ILPC Gold Star for both its print and online newspapers.

At Saturday’s announcement of Tops in Texas individual award state champions, ILPC announced that that the Shield had captured 15 Tops in Texas awards. Those eligible for Tops in Texas individual achievement awards the first place winners in each size classification of the individual awards contest.

Prior to the announcement of the Tops in Texas winners, ILPC published the list of individual achievement awards for each size classification. The Shield won a total of 83 5A individual achievement awards, 50 print newspaper awards and 33 online newspaper awards. That total includes 27 first place, 27 second place, 19 third place, one fourth place and 10 honorable mentions.

Shield co-editor in chief Evie Barnard enjoyed one of the best (if not the best) individual awards days in Shield history. She not only earned nine solo individual achievement awards (three first, five second and one third) and five individual awards on which she collaborated (three first, one second and one third), but she earned an unprecedented six Tops in Texas awards (three all by herself and three in collaboration with fellow staffers).

The complete list of Shield ILPC awards is included below.

Co-editors in chief Alice and Scott and Evie Barnard show off the pair of ILPC Gold Star Newspaper Awards the Shield won at the ILPC Spring Convention on April 16 at the UT’s LBJ Auditorium. The Shield was the only publication in Texas to earn a Newspaper and an Online News Gold Star. (Dave Winter)

2022-2023 ILPC GOLD STAR WINNERS

NEWSPAPER

The Shield (one of five Gold Star winners in the state)

ONLINE NEWS

The Shield Online (one of three Gold Star winners in the state)

The Shield was the only student publication in Texas to with both a NEWSPAPER Gold Star and an ONLINE NEWS Gold Star.

2022-2023 ILPC TOPS IN TEXAS WINNERS

Tops in Texas winners are double winners at ILPC. To be eligible for Tops in Texas, an entry must first win first place against all 5A schools. To win Tops in Texas, the entry must then place first a second time in competition against the first-place winners from all of the other UIL classifications.

Evie Barnard, cartoon, “All hope is not lost,” Tops in Texas winner

Print Newspaper Tops in Texas Awards

Evie Barnard, cartoon, “All hope is not lost”

Evie Barnard, personal opinion column, “Fighting for our future”

Evie Barnard, page one news magazine design, “Facing the fentanyl crisis”

Evie Barnard, JoJo Barnard, Kate Boyle, Gaby Esquivel, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack and Francie Wilhelm, in-depth news/feature package, “Slipping through our finders: Climate change issue”

Evie Barnard and Alice Scott, feature page/spread design, “What is driving your CO2 emissions?”

Evie Barnard and Alice Scott, infographic/sidebar, “How many Earths do you take up with your carbon footprint?”

Kate Boyle, sports column, “A pool of their own”

Morgan Eye, entertainment feature, “Guard finishes season without missing a beat”

Grace Nugent, sports feature story, “Fighting Fahrenheit in 512”

Charlie Partheymuller, sports feature photo, “Sanchez, super sophs help lead Knight surge to second place”

Alice Scott, news page/spread design, “Nicotine advertising targets teens”

Anderson Zoll exacts his revenge on fellow PAL Josie Bradsby. Moments earlier Bradsby and math teacher Carly Kehn pulled a surprise on Zoll. When Bradsby was supposed to pie Kehn, Kehn ducked leaving a path for Zoll to receive Bradsby’s pie. When it comes to pep rally pies during Pink Week, generally what goes around, comes around. (Charlie Partheymuller)

Online Newspaper Tops in Texas Awards

Meliah Arias, Jordyn Berger, Kate Boyle, Isley Cameron, Julia Copas, Tristen Diaz, Naomi Di-Capua, Meredith Grotevant, Oliver Harrington, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Helen Martin, Emerson Merritt, Caroline Owen, Lorelai Rigdon, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith and Francie Wilhelm, in-depth news/feature package, “Coverage of facilities condition, bond referendum to address them”

Gaby Esquivel, entertainment review, “‘Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio’: A beautiful adaptation”

Caroline Owen and Alice Scott, editorial writing, “Outdated Mac should be included in bond proposals”

Charlie Partheymuller, feature photo, “Anderson Zoll exacts his revenge on fellow PAL Josie Bradsby”

2022-2023 ILPC 5A NEWSPAPER INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Evie Barnard, page one news magazine design, “Facing the fentanyl crisis”

FIRST PLACE

Evie Barnard, cartoon, “All hope is not lost”

Evie Barnard, page one news magazine design, “Facing the fentanyl crisis”

Evie Barnard, personal opinion column, “Fighting for our future”

Evie Barnard, JoJo Barnard, Kate Boyle, Gaby Esquivel, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack and Francie Wilhelm, in-depth news/feature package, “Slipping through our finders: Climate change issue”

Evie Barnard and Alice Scott, feature page/spread design, “What is driving your CO2 emissions?”

Evie Barnard and Alice Scott, infographic/sidebar, “How many Earths do you take up with your carbon footprint?”

JoJo Barnard, entertainment page/spread design, “Let’s taco ‘bout a new lunch spot”

Kate Boyle, sports column, “A pool of their own”

Morgan Eye, entertainment feature, “Guard finishes season without missing a beat”

Lillian Gray, sports action photo, “Freshman Noble Pierce wrestles LASA opponent during Dec. 7 Tri Meet”

Lillian Gray, sports news story, “Wrestling team makes impact at Capital Classic”

Sophie Leung-Lieu, editorial page/spread design, “Enact environment education”

Chloe Lewcock, personal column, “Students should be informed on campus safety-related changes”

Grace Nugent, sports feature story, “Fighting Fahrenheit in 512”

Charlie Partheymuller, sports feature photo, “Sanchez, super sophs help lead Knight surge to second place”

Thomas Melina Raab and Kennedy Weatherby, photo story, “Track dashes through area”

Lanie Sepehri, headlines’ “Print newspaper headline portfolio”

Alice Scott, news feature, “Between the borders”

Alice Scott, news page/spread design, “Nicotine advertising targets teens”

Ingrid Smith, feature writing, “Kessler finds the fire within”

DOWN TO A SCIENCE: Senior Nick Boehle (King Charles) performs War is a Science in which he briefs his soldiers on what to expect for their upcoming battle against the Visigoths. Charles has just reluctantly allowed Pippin to join him in battle despite his lack of experience in combat. For Boehle, this number was an important moment to highlight his character’s values. “As someone who’s not much of an actor, it kind of took a little bit of time and direction to form this character,” Boehle said. “It’s a lot of ideas of a character meshed into one.” But after much work with scene partners and Assistant Director senior Finn Sewell McCann, Boehle feels confident in his performance. “I think I’m able to be comfortable with the character on stage now,” Boehle said. Reporting by Alice Scott. Photo by Gergő Major.

SECOND PLACE

Evie Barnard, page one news magazine design, “Slipping through our fingers”

Evie Barnard, photo portfolio, “Print newspaper photo portfolio”

Evie Barnard, student art, “Nicotine advertising targets teens”

Evie Barnard, news page/spread design, “Opioid death rate still increasing”

Noah Braun, entertainment feature, “Flipping the script”

Logan Davis, editorial writing, “Addressing substance abuse”

Kai Kirkham Macias, cartoon, “Accepting rejection”

Sophie Leung-Lieu and Alice Scott, headlines, “Print newspaper headline portfolio”

Sophie Leung-Lieu, Alice Scott and Francie Wilhelm, sports page/spread design, “Competing on the court”

Gergő Major, entertainment photo, “Down to a science”

Grace Nugent, sports column, “A league of her own: a sports love”

Charlie Partheymuller, sports news story, “Super sophs lead Knights’ surge to second in district”

Samantha Powers, news writing, “Texas vs. transgender teens”

Lanie Sepehri, portrait, “A Knight in shining arbor”

Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Maggie Mass, Lanie Sepehri, Alice Scott and Francie Wilhelm, photo story, “Like its titular character ‘Pippin’ continues evolving every act”

Trans youth parent Susan Mack attended the Trans Youth Rally at the Capitol on March 1. “My trans kid is beautiful,” Mack said. “From the time that they came out, they’ve really helped me change and grow my perspective and be more empathetic to everyone who is trans.” 
Mack gave a powerful speech about when she first became aware of the legislation and how she wanted to hide her head in the sand like an “ostrich.” She didn’t want to accept the reality for her child. After doing some reflection, Mack realized that the only way to protect her child and other trans children is to fight for them and try to vote out of office the people currently attacking them.
“What I found is that kids need help, not just my kid, but all trans kids, because trans kids are kids,” Mack said. “Hopefully [people showing up today] will help them know that there are a lot of Texans who do actually support them.” Photo by Elena Ulack.

THIRD PLACE

Evie Barnard, Alysa Bijl-Spiro, Kate Boyle, Josie Bradsby, Risa Darlington-Horta, Naomi Di-Capua, John Hamlet, Eliza Jensen, Sophie Kessler, Alex Kim, Kai Kirkham Macias, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Anna McClellan, Elle McRae, Thomas Melina Raab, Madelynn Niles, Grace Nugent, Caroline Owen, Samantha Powers, Layla Rollins, Lanie Sepehri, Alice Scott and Kennedy Weatherby, in-depth news/feature package, “2022 Mac Senior Book”

Naomi Di-Capua, Sophie Leung-Lieu and Alice Scott, feature page/spread design, “Seeing these stars”

Sophie Leung-Lieu, entertainment page/spread design, “Flipping the script”

Sophie Leung-Lieu, Alice Scott and Francie Wilhelm, infographic/sidebar, “Competing on the court”

Chloe Lewcock, entertainment photo, “Dancing the Knight away”

Alice Scott, feature writing, “Remembering Yolanda Zertuche”

Lanie Sepehri, sports page/spread design, “New kids on the pyramid”

Lanie Sepehri and Naomi Di-Capua, entertainment review, “’Midnights’ proves Taylor Swift is a true ‘Mastermind’”

Elena Ulack, general news photo, “Parents of trans youth rally at the Capitol”

Francie Wilhelm, news feature, “Climate change impacts Texas”

Senior Grace Nugent takes a photo of seniors Colby Napier and Tino Rodriguez at her last football game of her high school career, the playoff loss to Alamo Heights in November. Nugent spent the last game enjoying her time with her fellow journalists even as the score was not in favor of the Knights. Photo by Charlie Partheymuller. (Charlie Partheymuller)

HONORABLE MENTION

Sophie Leung-Lieu, editorial page/spread design, “A losing lineup”

Madelynn Niles and Samantha Powers, personal opinion column, “Revise advisory, extend lunch”

Charlie Partheymuller, sports feature photo, “Friday (nights), I’m in love”

Alice Scott, editorial writing, “A Band-Aid for a bullet wound”

Lanie Sepehri, general news photo, “Capitol protestors show their support for Ukraine”

2022-2023 ILPC 5A ONLINE NEWS INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

The third major “Pinocchio” adaptation of 2022, Guillermo Del Toro’s movie adaptation of “Pinocchio” was released in select theaters on Nov. 9 and added to Netflix on Dec. 9. (Evie Barnard)

FIRST PLACE

Meliah Arias, Jordyn Berger, Kate Boyle, Isley Cameron, Julia Copas, Tristen Diaz, Naomi Di-Capua, Meredith Grotevant, Oliver Harrington, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Helen Martin, Emerson Merritt, Caroline Owen, Lorelai Rigdon, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith and Francie Wilhelm, in-depth news/feature package, “Coverage of facilities condition, bond referendum to address them”

Gaby Esquivel, entertainment review, “‘Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio’: A beautiful adaptation”

Sophie Leung-Lieu, feature writing, “Bob to hit the big screen”

Caroline Owen and Alice Scott, editorial writing, “Outdated Mac should be included in bond proposals”

Charlie Partheymuller, feature photo, “Anderson Zoll exacts his revenge on fellow PAL Josie Bradsby”

Ingrid Smith, entertainment feature, “Georgia Halverson doesn’t just fiddle around”

Ingrid Smith, personal column, “Loretta Lynn’s trailblazing career empowers, inspires”

As the time between mass school shootings have passed and as the shootings become more and more part of our everyday reality, we have become desensitized to the fact that 20 children under the age of 8 were gunned down and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Connecticut almost 10 years ago. How have we not done more? (Evie Barnard)

SECOND PLACE

Evie Barnard, student artwork/cartoon, “A Band-Aid for a bullet wound”

Evie Barnard, JoJo Bernard, Isley Cameron, Jolie Gabriel, Chloe Lewcock, Gergő Major, Helen Martin, Emerson Merritt, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, Rio Sotelo, Sofia Thatcher, Elena Ulack, Camilla Vandegrift, Francie Wilhelm, photo slideshow, “Pink Week 2022 sets standard for fun, fundraising” (could be fourth place)

Naomi Di-Capua, entertainment photo, “Saxophonists perform ‘Seeing Stars’ before homecoming game”

Margot Evelyn, portrait, “Morning stretch”

Mia Gomez, computer art, “Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic confirmation to Supreme Court inspires, reassures”

Charlie Parteymuller, sports column, “Argentina will hoist the 2022 World Cup trophy”

Lanie Sepehri, entertainment feature, “A Starity is born”

Alice Scott, news feature, “Overworked from overtime”

Ingrid Smith, “Online newspaper headline portfolio”

Ingrid Smith, entertainment review, “Harry Styles is ‘Golden’ during Austin residency”

Ingrid Smith, podcast, “Levin finds their voice in the fight for abortion rights” (could be third place)

Camilla Vandegrift, feature writing, “On the road to success”

SETTING THE STAGE: Senior Lauren Ryan-Holt (Leading Player) welcomes the audience in the show’s opening number, ‘Magic to Do.’  As a play within a play, Pippin has many layers to it, including the opening number which is performed as if the cast members were arriving at rehearsal and setting up for the top of the show. “It’s the cast’s musical bait to the audience,” Ryan-Holt said. “We’re luring them into the production we’re about to put on. We describe the journey and all the magical, fantastic things that will take place along the way. We literally set the stage for both the show and the audience’s expectations.” Ryan-Holt opens the number and leads the other ensemble members until the song turns into a fully choreographed number. However, for Ryan-Holt, the opening seductive chords are her favorite part. “There’s just something so mystical and enticing about how it sounds,” Ryan-Holt said. “It’s the one part where you can feel the full focus of the audience.” Reporting by Alice Scott. Photo by Gergő Major.

THIRD PLACE

Evie Barnard, computer art, “Overworked from overtime”

Evelyn Griffin, Sophie Leung-Lieu, Julian Magee, Lucy Marco and Theo Roe, multimedia package, “Frazier: ‘He brings the energy. I bring the countriness.’”

Gergő Major, entertainment photo, “Setting the stage”

Ingrid Smith, editorial writing, “All hope is not lost”

Ingrid Smith, infograph/sidebar, “Pumpkin spice and everything nice”

Ingrid Smith, news writing, “Budget constraints force Mac orchestra directors to take over Lamar Middle School program”

Ingrid Smith, podcast, “En route to college, McClellan studies in Spain” (could be second place)

Francie Wilhelm, “Online newspaper headline portfolio”

Francie Wilhelm, personal column, “Worse than a Mercury retrograde”

FOURTH PLACE

JoJo Barnard, Chloe Lewcock, Helen Martin, Alice Scott, Lanie Sepehri, Ingrid Smith, and Francie Wilhelm, photo slideshow, “‘Descendants’ brings Disney magic to life” (could be second place)

FOCUSED: A lot of my mom’s work consists of her working from home, and that means meetings. While some are on the phone and some are on Zoom, they still require intense focus. As I watch her in this meeting, I can see how she is really paying attention to whatever is going on, and I know that once she’s done, the light will go off, and we can hopefully hang out. (Chloe Lewcock)

HONORABLE MENTION

Chloe Lewcock, portrait, “Focused”

Lanie Sepehri, news feature, “Fighting far from home”

JoJo Barnard, Isley Cameron, Lillian Gray, Amira Habib Weymouth, Stella Little, Helen Martin, Ingrid Smith, Elena Ulack and Francie Wilhelm, multimedia package, “Knights vanquish Jaguars in second faceoff to stay unbeaten in district play, crack 5A state Top 25”

Camilla Vandegrift, sports action photo, “Eli in the Sky”

Camilla Vandegrift, sports news story, “Blackwell’s cross-country record just the beginning”

2022-2023 ILPC ADVISER’S CHALLENGE AWARDS

FIRST PLACE

Dave Winter, subjective writing, “Before Collins lost the 2023 alumni game, he won it”

SECOND PLACE

Dave Winter, objective writing, “World Cup drama comes to Room 134”