The Southern Interscholastic Press Association championship quiz bowl team poses with their trophy. Menu Editor Audrey Enghauser, who was part of the winning team, feels that she has learned a lot about working as a team at SIPA. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot about leadership from the (pre-convention session) that I went to that Ragsdale and (the ODYSSEY leadership team) presented at,” Enghauser said. “(I also learned) how to work as a staff (and) I can take (that) back to ODYSSEY.” Photo by Gerardo Navarro
From March 6 through 8, members of the ODYSSEY Media Group, Journalism 1 and iliad Literary-Art magazine attended the annual Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference.
For three days at the Columbia Marriott hotel in Columbia, South Carolina, nearly 400 students from 22 different schools traveled from all across the southeast for the annual Southern Interscholastic Press Association spring convention. Among those students were 42 CCHS students involved with the ODYSSEY Media Group, iliad Literary-Art Magazine and Journalism 1 class.
“Pre-con was a really cool experience because we had so long in one space to really focus on a specific skill. I feel way more comfortable (with) InDesign now and had lots of time to get to know the other (students) taking the course, which was different than the regular sessions,” News Staffer Isabella Johnson, a Clarke Central High School sophomore, said.
The ODYSSEY Media Group’s Leadership Team, which is composed of Editor-in-Chief Elena Gilbertson Hall, Senior Copy Editor Mackenzie Caudill, Managing Editor Naomi Hendershot and Digital Editor Owen Donnelly, presented a session about leadership. The session was facilitated by adviser David Ragsdale.
Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group talk to other student journalists during a pre-convention session n leadership at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association on March 6. Staff writer for the Endeavor yearbook Haylie Lewis, a sophomore at Bullitt East High School, attended the session and believes it taught her a lot about being a leader. “My biggest takeaway was to be a positive and understanding leader because no one wants to work with or for someone who doesn’t know how to be compassionate when it’s most needed,” Lewis said. Photo by David Ragsdale
Staff writer for the Endeavor yearbook Haylie Lewis, a sophomore at Bullitt East High School in Mount Washington, Kentucky, believes attending the session on leadership was essential to her growth as a staff leader.
“My biggest takeaway was to be a positive and understanding leader because no one wants to work with or for someone who doesn’t know how to be compassionate when it’s most needed,” Lewis said.
After pre-convention sessions, the official convention started off with an opening ceremony and a SIPA hype video at 8 p.m. followed by University of South Carolina senior and social media strategist CJ Tamasco, about using social media platforms. After Tamasco’s session, Ragsdale facilitated a session with Photography Editor Krista Shumaker and Donnelly called “Cross Platform Coverage”.
OMG teacher volunteer, 2013 OMG EIC and a former 2013 SIPA president Chloe Hargrave helped prepare the speakers and was pleased by the session.
“It’s just been really interesting to watch it from an adult’s perspective. I think it’s really great to see (OMG staffers) step up as presenters in the room and watch (OMG staffers) be a lot more responsible and represent the magazine,” Hargrave said.
“It inspired me to see a female journalist speaking about her experience. I appreciate how (Garden & Gun editors) strive to include people from all backgrounds and demographics in their magazine.”
— Elizabeth Ingle,
Journalism 1 student
The next morning, on Saturday March 7, an 8 a.m. pre-qualifying round for the Quiz Bowl competition – a journalism and current events trivia game, was held at the hotel. CCHS had five teams entered. Shortly after, keynote speaker Amanda Heckert, Deputy Editor at Garden & Gun and Editor of the magazine’s book, Southern Women, gave a speech about representation of women in Southern culture.
“It inspired me to see a female journalist speaking about her experience. I appreciate how (Garden & Gun editors) strive to include people from all backgrounds and demographics in their magazine,” freshman and Journalism 1 student Elizabeth Ingle said. “I feel like that’s rare in a magazine (to) center so much around Southern culture, considering how exclusive the South can be.”
Following the keynote speaker, the 2021 SIPA presidential candidates Donnelly and Grace Moore, a junior from Sparkman High School in Madison County, Alabama, gave their speeches.
Digital Editor Owen Donnelly presents at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association during the session “Cross Platform Coverage” on March 6. Along with presenting, Donnelly ran for SIPA president and was grateful for his friends during this stressful time. “(I need to work on) getting less overwhelmed. Keeping my cool more under pressure is still something that I think I need to work on,” Donnelly said. “When there’s so much going on I really get overwhelmed and I can tend to snap at people. And I think I did a little bit of that, but, you know, everyone was really kind and forgiving and supportive. So it really meant a lot that they recognized that and took everything I did or said with a grain of salt.” Photo by Gerardo Navarro
“It was really scary before I went up. I walked up and could feel my heart pounding and my hands shaking, but I just started reading and did it like I had practiced so many times, and it came out pretty good,” Donnelly said. “It really helped to have so many familiar faces in the background, especially Mr. Ragsdale in the very back looking at me giving me positive feedback.”
After Heckert’s talk and presidential campaign speeches, sessions took place covering various aspects of journalism. Ragsdale facilitated multiple sessions with CCHS students on Saturday: iliad Editor-in-Chief Beatrice Acheson and Managing Editor Georgia Blue Simmons co-presented “Lit Mag A-Z”, and Social Media Coordinator Luna Rechiert co-presented a session with Writing Coach Elena Webber on “How to Social Network”. Ragsdale also co-facilitated an adviser’s roundtable discussion with Tammy Watkins, the adviser of Wando High School’s Tribal Tribune.
“My first time presenting at SIPA went really well. The session went well and the audience was cooperative in terms of participation which was nice,” Reichert said. “I was not too nervous, which definitely made it easier, but I think the biggest thing for me was that, looking back on who I was a year ago, I don’t think I could’ve been able to present.”
Along with the many sessions available for students to attend on Saturday, the convention also held many Team On-Site Production (TOP) competitions in areas ranging from broadcast, newsprint, photography and literary magazine production.
“I felt like as a TOP team we really bonded, and working with a time limit made us work harder and work together more. TOP really helped me get out of my shell because I had to interview someone I didn’t know at all, which ended up being very fun,” iliad Outreach Director Clementine Acheson said. “I also enjoyed getting to see Beatrice’s process of designing a spread.”
“TOP really helped me get out of my shell because I had to interview someone I didn’t know at all, which ended up being very fun.”
— Clementine Acheson,
iliad Outreach Director
After TOP competitions, all five CCHS teams participated in the Quiz Bowl quiz bowl quarter-finals. Three out of the five ODYSSEY teams made it to the semifinal round. For first-time competitor Kaija Gilbertson Hall, who competed on an all-Journalism 1 team, the experience was memorable.
“It was my first time being involved with a competition of that sort. The competition was intense, but it really brought the team together,” Kaija said. “It felt really good to almost beat last year’s champions, especially as a team of all freshmen.”
Following competitions, students attended the SIPA Banquet, which was followed by a talent show. For first-time attendee Amelia Baer, a Journalism I student, Saturday evening offered a different type of insight on the convention.
“It was really inspiring to see everyone come together to support the performers on stage, especially when they were visibly nervous or anxious,” Baer said. “It showed that even though there were some aspects of competition, the heart of the convention is about more than that.”
The ODYSSEY Media Group attended the Southern Interscholastic Press Association on March 6-8 in Columbia, South Carolina.
On Sunday, students attended one last round of sessions, including Variety Editor Natalie Ripps presenting with Broadcast Editor Colin Frick in a session called “Ensuring the Story”.
“Our presentation at SIPA went really well. We were asked to lead a session (about) interviewing and how to go beneath the surface when talking to a source. Throughout the session, the energy and interactivity was very high,” Ripps said. “I think Colin and I definitely were cautious about our confidence and comfort during the presentation, two elements that are huge while interviewing someone.”
Members of the ODYSSEY Media Group’s winning Southern Interscholastic Quiz Bowl teams share a moment while on-site at the convention. OMG has had winning teams (from bottom) in 2016, 2018 and 2020. “I think that is really awesome that this year we continued our winning ways in the Quiz Bowl competition. It’s such a fun event to participate in during SIPA, since everyone is watching and you have your friends from home as well as new friends you made on the trip cheering you on,” Delia Adamson, a member of the 2018 winning team. “I am really proud of the individuals who won this year and continue to put the ODYSSEY Media Group name out into the world of Southern journalism.” Photos by ODYSSEY photographers
Following the session, students moved to the Quiz Bowl Final Four. After the semifinal round, two CCHS teams went into the final round. The A-Team, consisting of Elena Gilbertson Hall, Sports Editor Alexander Robinson, Webber and Menu Editor Audrey Enghauser, faced the C-Team, consisting of Viewpoints Editor Shea Peters, Johnson, News Staffer Natalie Schliekelman and Sports Staffer Gretchen Hinger. The A-Team took home the Quiz Bowl trophy at the end of the contested round.
“This is my first time winning the whole competition, so it’s pretty exciting. I think our whole team studied and worked hard which paid off because it was really fun. It feels good, as a senior, to go out as the champions,” Elena Gilbertson Hall said.
After Quiz Bowl, the convention moved into closing ceremonies hosted by outgoing SIPA Executive Committee Chair Phillip Caston, adviser of WHS’ Legend yearbook. Caston announced Donnelly as the SIPA 2021 president. For Robinson, the 2020 SIPA president, the moment was powerful.
“I’m incredibly proud of Owen Donnelly. I’ve known him for most of his life and have seen firsthand all of the effort he puts into the (ODYSSEY) program,” Robinson said. “It’s great knowing that I’ll be succeeded by a member of the ODYSSEY as president, and even better knowing that Owen is that person.”
“It’s nice to feel validated about something you put your all into. It shows that the hard work we do in ODYSSEY really does pay off.”
— AJ Carr,
OMG Podcaster
Caston then moved into the award ceremony, naming the multiple winners from different publications. OMG Podcaster AJ Carr, a CCHS junior, was among those named.
“Winning an award was one of the best feelings ever. I called my parents to tell them I had won, and I broke down crying on the phone,” Carr said. “It’s nice to feel validated about something you put your all into. It shows that the hard work we do in ODYSSEY really does pay off.”
Even though there is always next year to look forward to for returning members, this year was the last SIPA for the seniors on staff.
“It’s bittersweet just because it’s always great. It’s always fun. But at the same time, I am leaving, this is the last time I’ll come here again as a student,” Robinson said. “It’s not disheartening, but it’s a dose of reality that I’m not necessarily wanting to accept just yet.”
For Ragsdale, this is his 15th trip to SIPA, and he was named the Vice Chair of the SIPA Executive Committee while on site. He finds the conference an important part of the experience for CCHS journalists.
“For whatever reason, we catch lightning in a bottle each SIPA — kids step up, they bond and push themselves beyond their perceived limitations,” Ragsdale said. “I’m lucky in that I’ve been able to attend so many of these and I’m doubly fortunate to have volunteer chaperones who are able to see how special this weekend and our kids truly are.”
Click to hear testimonials from members of the Odyssey Media Group and Journalism 1 program about their SIPA experience.
Online – ODYSSEY Media Group
Scroggins special distinction publications: these publications received an All-Southern rating and represent the best candidate from each member state attending the convention
Newsprint (Best in State), Georgia – ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
Literary Magazine Awards:
Literary Magazine, Superior – iliad
Newspaper/Newsmagazine Awards:
All-Southern – ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
Online Awards
All-Southern – ODYSSEY Media Group
Editorial cartoon – Best in show: Lilli Sams
Literary Magazine, Gallery Spread – Best in show: Beatrice Acheson
Online, Features package – Best in show: Maya Cornish & Ireland McCage
Online, News package – Best in show: Audrey Enghauser & Ireland McCage
Online, Opinion package – Best in show: Ireland McCage
Podcast – Best in show: Alexander Robinson & Owen Donnelly
Online, Sports package – Best in show: Owen Donnelly, Luna Reichert & Gretchen Hinger
Online portfolio – Best in show: Owen Donnelly
Photography, Club – Best in show: Krista Shumaker
Photography, Environmental portrait – Best in show: Luna Reichert
Newsmagazine, Feature Story – First Place: Tecoya Richardson
Newsmagazine, News Feature – First Place: Valeria Garcia-Pozo
Newsmagazine, Sports story – First Place: AJ Carr
Online, News – First Place: Owen Donnelly
Literary Magazine, Poetry – Second Place: Grace Lang
Newsmagazine, Review – Second Place: Audrey Kennedy
Online, Blog – Second Place: Alexander Robinson
Online, Investigative story – Second Place: Mackenzie Caudill
Literary Magazine, Fiction – Third Place: Shea Peters
Literary Magazine, Non-fiction – Third Place: Jessica Mack
Newsmagazine, Staff Editorial – Third Place (tie): ODYSSEY newsmagazine staff
Online, Alternative storytelling – Third Place: Lillian Sams & Margaret Keller
Online, Features – Third Place: Roxanne Domizi
Online, Reviews – Third Place: Shea Peters
Illustration – Award of merit: Frances Thrasher
Literary Magazine, Cover – Award of merit: Beatrice Acheson and Avery Ray
Literary Magazine, Gallery Spread – Award of merit: Beatrice Acheson
Literary Magazine, Nonfiction spread – Award of merit: Beatrice Acheson
Literary Magazine, Poetry spread – Award of merit: Beatrice Acheson
Literary magazine portfolio – Award of merit: Beatrice Acheson
Newsmagazine, In-depth cover story package – Award of merit: Natalie Ripps and Krista Shumaker
Online, Features package – Award of merit: Andrew Robinson and Owen Donnelly
Online, News package – Award of merit: Mackenzie Caudill & Owen Donnelly
Online, Opinion package – Award of merit: Natalie Ripps & Owen Donnelly
Online, Photo Gallery – Award of merit: Krista Shumaker and Luna Reichert
Online, Sports Package – Award of merit: AJ Carr and Ireland McCage
Photography, Pictorial/scenic – Award of merit: Amanda Ochieng
Editorial cartoon – Honorable mention: Lilli Sams
Infographic – Honorable mention: Audrey Kennedy
Art portfolio – Honorable mention: Lilli Sams
Broadcast, News story – Honorable mention: Colin Frick
Broadcast, Promos – Honorable mention: Krista Shumaker
Literary magazine, Fiction spread – Honorable mention: Beatrice Acheson
Literary magazine, Gallery Spread – Honorable mention: Beatrice Acheson
Literary magazine, Table of contents – Honorable mention: Beatrice Acheson
Online, Photo Gallery – Honorable mention: Luna Reichert
Online, Podcast – Honorable mention: AJ Carr
Online, Sports package – Honorable mention: Gretchen Hinger & Owen Donnelly
Photography, Computer special effects – Honorable mention: Trinity James
Quiz Bowl Champions – Audrey Enghauser, Elena Gilbertson Hall, Alexander Robinson and Elena Webber
Review writing – 1st Place – Ireland McCage
Literary Magazine Team On-site Production competition, Best Visual Elements & Overall – Beatrice Acheson, Georgia Blue Simmons & Clementine Acheson
