Members of ODYSSEY Newsmagazine, ODTV, ODYSSEY Online and the iliad pose for a picture on Feb. 28 before the Southern Interscholastic Press Association banquet. The trip allowed students go to a variety of classes to improve their journalism skills. “The trip was an incredible experience, both for me as a journalist and as a member of the ODYSSEY community,” Grace Allen-Polaneczky said.
By ANEESA CONINE-NAKANO – Web Master
COLUMBIA, S.C. – 41 members of Clarke Central High School’s ODYSSEY Newsmagazine, ODYSSEY Online, ODTV and iliad Literary-Art Magazine participated in the University of South Carolina’s Southern Interscholastic Press Association’s convention in Columbia, S.C. The convention took place from Feb. 27-March 1 and was attended by more than 450 student journalists from across the Southeast.
SIPA 2015 President Nicholas Byrne poses with 2015 Member at Large Michaela Baker after the opening ceremony on Feb. 27.
CCHS senior and 2015 SIPA President Nicholas Byrne gave a welcome speech and introduced the 2016 candidates. CCHS junior Kevin Mobley was introduced as CCHS’ SIPA 2016 vice presidential candidate.
Thirty-seven students attended pre-convention classes at USC’s Coliseum on Feb. 27. Junior and first-time attendee Flynne Collins participated in a design class.
“My Pre-Con class was a great time. I picked up some valuable skills as a student and a journalist,” Collins said.
Tiernan O’Niell presents on Staff Bonding on Feb. 29 with Brittney Butler and Kevin Mobley.
Mobley, junior Tiernan O’Neill and senior Brittney Butler presented the session, “Staff Bonding” with adviser David Ragsdale on Saturday morning. The session explored the importance of a close-knit staff.
“I had a wonderful time presenting at SIPA. I really hope others learned from our presentation because that is why I decided to do it. It was really cool to present with two juniors because they will be able to present next year even though I won’t,” Butler said.
On Saturday afternoon, Iliad Editor-in-Chief Ethan Crane and Managing Editor Emily Watson presented with Ragsdale on producing a lit-mag, including methods of soliciting student work.
“I was very pleased by the turn out and the comments from our session. We had good feedback from the audience and were able to answer a lot of their questions,” Crane said.
Ragsdale was recognized on Saturday by SIPA as the recipient of its Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award. According to the SIPA website, the award is to “recognize advisers, teachers and friends of scholastic journalism who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent and energy to SIPA.” The award came as a surprise to the veteran adviser.
“After re-establishing the Iliad in 2001 with great kids, we were able to make my idea for a school newsmagazine a reality two years later. Along the way, I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with gifted and talented kids, amazingly supportive parents, and admin who understand the need to provide students with an open public forum for expression,” Ragsdale said. “This is just the work we do. I’d never have expected this kind of recognition for simply doing what I love.”
On Sunday morning, senior and ODYSSEY Online Editor-in-Chief Susanna Conine-Nakano, freshman and Web Master Aneesa Conine-Nakano and sophomore staff writer Christina Kurian presented with Ragsdale on multimedia. The session reviewed multiple types of multimedia and how to implement them best.
“The session went well and I was really enjoyed getting to work with a freshman and a sophomore on it because I think they are a lot more confident with presenting now and can continue to teach others about the importance of multimedia,” S. Conine-Nakano said.
Two teams from CCHS, the Red Squad and the Gold Squad, competed in the quiz bowl competition. The Red Squad qualified for the semi-final round, then defeated Wando in the first round of the finals but eventually lost to Oxford High School. The Red Squad members were Butler, Crane, O’Neill and senior Chad Rhym. The Gold Squad members were S. Conine-Nakano, Mobley, Collins and senior Louise Platter.
“I think it was a good experience because there was some big competition with the other teams,” Rhym said.
Seniors gather after the award ceremony on Mar. 1 to to debrief on their SIPA experience and their ODYSSEY journey.
At the closing ceremony and awards banquet, Mobley was named SIPA 2015-16 Vice President. Mobley will help plan the 2016 SIPA spring convention at a meeting in Columbia in September.
The 2014 the Iliad was recognized as All-Southern and was declared the Scroggins Award winner, SIPA’s highest honor. Crane is this year’s Iliad Editor-in-Chief, with Watson and Anna Grossman serving as editors.
“It’s very gratifying to receive that level of recognition for the work that the staff put into the Iliad as well for the creative works of all of the CCHS’ student,” Crane said.
ODYSSEY’s website, ODYSSEY Online, received an All-Southern rating and was also named a Scroggins Award winner. Editor-in-Chief Susanna Conine-Nakano, Digital Managing Editor Robert Walker and Senior Digital Copy Editor Crane make up the Online Leadership Team.
The 2014-15 ODYSSEY Newsmagazine was recognized as All-Southern and was declared Best Newspaper in Georgia. The ODYSSEY has garnered both titles every year since 2006.
“We had a really good work flow this year and it helped us do well. It was really exciting to be recognized for our work and I think a lot of people were happy with the outcome,” Platter said.
Awards were won by staffs of all four publications:
Scroggins: the iliad, Best Magazine at SIPA
Scroggins: ODYSSEY Online, Best Website at SIPA
Best in Georgia: ODYSSEY Newsmagazine, Best Newspaper in Georgia
All-Southern: ODYSSEY Online
All-Southern: the iliad
All-Southern: ODYSSEY Online
Superior rating: ODTV
Individual awards:
Iliad
First Place: Sarahi Garfias, Prose Non-Fiction
First Place: Mary Merritt, Prose Fiction and Narrative
Second Place: Ethan Crane, Poetry Contest
Third Place: Gansiry Thioub, Prose Non-Fiction
Best of Show: Ethan Crane, Best Cover
Honorable Mention: Ethan Crane, Best Spread
ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
First Place: Sarahi Garfias, Editorial Column
First Place: Katy Mayfield, Review
Second Place: Brittney Butler, Sports Column
Third Place: Louise Platter, Entertainment/Feature Column
Best of Convention: Ella Sams, Newsmagazine Front Page/Cover
Award of Merit: Chad Rhym, Environmental Portrait
ODTV
Second Place:Karla Dougan, News Script
Third Place: Rigel Turner, Academic Script
ODYSSEY Online
Best of Convention: Kevin Mobley, Online Sports
Best of Convention: Hannah Rollins,Online Opinion Pieces
Best of Convention: Louise Platter, Online Feature:
Award of Merit: Christina Kurian, Online Feature
Award of Merit: Louise Platter, Online News
Award of Merit: Chad Rhym, Online Opinion Pieces
Award of Merit: Sophie Fernandes, Online Photography
Adviser
Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award: D. A. Ragsdale
