Thirty-three students from the ODYSSEY Media Group production staff, Journalism I class and iliad Literary-Art Magazine editorial board pose for a staff photo at the Capitol Building in Columbia, South Carolina on March 8. Journalism I student Miriam Silk, a freshman, attended the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention for the first time this year. “I think (SIPA) is important because (of) the team bonding we’re doing,” Silk said. “I would have never talked to some of these people before SIPA, but now I’m sharing a room with (them).” Photo by David Ragsdale
Students from the ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary Magazine attended the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention in Columbia, South Carolina, from March 6-9.
From March 6-9, 33 members from the ODYSSEY Media Group production staff, Journalism I class and iliad Literary-Art Magazine editorial board gathered in Columbia, SC, for the annual Southern Interscholastic Press Association (SIPA) convention.
SIPA unites student journalists from across the South, with roughly 300 attendees from schools from Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi and more represented at this year’s convention. The conference gave attendees the opportunity to network with student journalists from other schools, attend a variety of informational sessions and participate in team and individual on-site competitions, among other journalistic opportunities.
For Journalism I student Sasha Barkan, a freshman, forging these connections is important.
“I think the ability to network and to connect with other journalists is something that makes SIPA really unique,” Barkan said. “Prior to (going) to SIPA, I didn’t really have a sense of what journalism looked like on a regional scale. At SIPA, I got the opportunity to engage in discussion with students who lived hundreds of miles away and learn about the different challenges they faced in their different settings.”
Preconvention classes kicked off at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications at 1 p.m. on March 7, covering subjects such as podcasting, multimedia, layout design and photography. Also available was a session on leadership led by OMG and iliad adviser David Ragsdale, which iliad Writing Director Margo McDaniel, a junior, attended.
“Some of the pre-cons I’ve done in the past, I didn’t get that much (of an) opportunity to talk to other kids from other schools. If I was talking to other kids, it was mostly from my publication,” McDaniel said. “But (this time), I liked all the mixing and mingling that we did. I felt like I got to reflect a lot on myself, (and) I feel like I got a lot out of it.”
ODYSSEY Media Group adviser and Southern Interscholastic Press Association Executive Committee Chair David Ragsdale addresses members of the ODYSSEY Media Group production staff, Journalism I class and iliad Literary-Art Magazine editorial board at the OMG’s 2025 SIPA convention reflection circle in Columbia, SC on March 9. Photo by Grady Dunston
For the official start of the convention on Friday night, staffers attended a keynote speech by veteran journalism educator Aaron Manfull, who is currently the Director of Student Media at Francis Howell North High School. Manfull’s speech focused on important lessons that he had collected over his 24-year career, such as the idea to let staffers run with ideas, to accept the fact that some staffers will be smarter than the editors or advisers, to work hard, to let staffers be who they are and to invest in those who want the investment. OMG Viewpoints Staffer and first-time SIPA attendee Gillian Williams, a junior, felt that Manfull provided crucial advice to building a strong staff work ethic.
“One of my key takeaways from Manfull was that it is important to ‘Let Kevin be Kevin.’ You will have certain staffers who are their own personality,” Williams said. “By letting (staffers) be (staffers), you’ll be able to see their full potential.”
“As I look back to our early days of SIPA, we didn’t know what we were doing, but the educational and social benefits were clear. Even though our program has evolved and my role within the organization has changed, SIPA brings us back each year for rewards that are less tangible than awards. SIPA is about building connections and memories that will last generations.”
— David Ragsdale,
OMG and iliad adviser and SIPA Executive Committee Chair
After the keynote speech, OMG News Editor Liza Larson and Digital Editor Lea D’Angelo, both sophomores, presented a session titled “Feature stories for hybrid publications”. The session focused on how to write in-depth feature stories, with a focus on packaging for both print and online publications.
“This was my first time presenting, so I was really scared. I was worried that everyone was gonna be tired because it was the last session of the night, but it ended up being really good,” Larson said. “People were engaged, asked a lot of questions and talked a lot, and I feel like me and Lea (were) really good at controlling the room, which is definitely what I was the most worried about.”
March 8 dawned with the opportunity for students to participate in Team On-Site Production (TOP) competitions in the categories of photography, online, newsprint, anchor, broadcast and literary-art magazine. OMG Diversity and Representation Editor Peter Atchley, a junior, competed in the online category, along with OMG News Staffer Abigail Holloway, a junior, Journalism I student Anna Flath, a freshman and D’Angelo.
“I think we did a good (job, and) I really liked our product. I’m glad that we were able to go in and execute (as a) team. I hadn’t done any broadcast in a while, but through TOP and my (pre-convention class), which was multimedia, I had a really great time experimenting,” Atchley said. “I think that’s a testament that (SIPA) is a great time to push yourself and do things outside of your comfort zone because the environment is very supportive.”
Later on Saturday, staffers had the opportunity to be a part of the SIPA Quiz Bowl, a competition between publications over a variety of journalistic topics. Eight teams participated in the event, with four hailing from CCHS. OMG competitors included Wyatt Meyer, Kevin Capcha, D’Angelo, Jane Ripps, Atchley, Holloway, Cooper Jones, Izzy Hammock, Barkan, Emlyn McKinney, Victoria Garland, McDaniel, Adah Hamman, Liya Taylor, Larson and Miles Lawrence.
Clarke Central High School principal Dr. Swade Huff receives the Dr. Kay Philips Administrator of the Year Award at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference in Columbia, South Carolina on March 8. Photo courtesy of Swade Huff
Later that evening, students attended a SIPA banquet that recognized SIPA All Stars — top students from publications across the South — with certificates and individual recognition on site. CCHS students Meyer, Ripps, Garland and iliad Literary-Arts Magazine Editor-in-Chief Olivia Hendershot were honored with the distinction.
“It felt great to be recognized as a senior All-star at SIPA along with my peers. It’s bittersweet that my student journalism career is coming to an end, but the journey has been great, and I’m motivated to finish strong,” Garland said.
At the banquet, CCHS principal Dr. Swade Huff was recognized as SIPA’s 2025 Dr. Kay Phillips Administrator of the Year for his commitment to scholastic press. Ragsdale, the SIPA Executive Committee Chair, and ODYSSEY Editor-in-Chief and SIPA President Meyer, a senior, introduced Huff, who spoke in encouragement of journalists and advisers seeking truth and reporting it and to holding those in power accountable.
“The speech felt empowering to hear. Hearing Dr. Huff speaking about our program and encouraging us to use our First Amendment rights was moving,” Jones, a Journalism I Facilitator and OMG Sports Editor, said.
The next day, Meyer got the opportunity to serve on the Southern Storytelling Panel, which also included Katrina Berry-Ivy, Awa Camara, Philip Caston, Maria Gonzalez, and was moderated by Ragsdale. The panel offered students advice and guidance on telling stories in the South.
“Serving on the panel allowed me to share my ideas about literary journalism and reporting with a sense of place, two journalistic styles that I’ve become passionate about throughout my high school career, particularly as they relate to Southern stories,” Meyer said.
Sunday also brought the Quiz Bowl semifinals and finals. Three of the CCHS teams made it to the semifinals, with OMG Sports Staffer and first-time SIPA attendee Kevin Capcha, a senior, participating on the team that made it to the final round against the Cedar Shoals High School Quiz Bowl team. Although they lost against CSHS, Capcha left with mixed emotions.
Executive producer of WTHS Media Awa Camara, a Tupelo High School senior (left) sits next to Tupelo High School broadcast adviser Katrina Berry-Ivy (right) at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association convention in Columbia, SC on March 9. Photo by Grady Dunston
“My Quiz Bowl experience was bittersweet. The experiences of competing with and against fellow classmates — being cheered on and cheering others — made the experience fun,” Capcha said. “I’m grateful for my teammates, the experience, and the opportunity to participate in this event.”
Following the panel and Quiz Bowl finals, Ragsdale addressed the convention as a prelude to SIPA Director Nina Brook’s administration of the SIPA awards ceremony. The ceremony included on-site, writing, media and best-in-show awards. CCHS’ accolades included six TOP awards, 32 individual awards for writing and media and Best in Show recognition for the iliad and ODYSSEY Newsmagazine and website.
“A lot of the awards the website has gotten this year (have) been more general like ‘Best in Show’ or ‘All-Southern’ so it was really rewarding to see how this time, specific packages that we worked hard on as a team were recognized, ” D’Angelo said. “It was really fun to see people’s faces when they got awards and to see how even if people who weren’t on the trip got something, we all still cheered for them.”
The awards continue the OMG’s recent streak of excellence. On March 4, the website received a SIPA evaluation and secured the highest distinction possible, an ‘All-Southern’ rating, which D’Angelo appreciated.
“Something that came up a lot in this critique was timeliness and our consistency in maintaining that for things like breaking news and event coverages, which is something we struggled with a bit at the beginning of the year,” D’Angelo said. “So, to reflect back and see how much we’ve grown as a staff over the course of the year felt good.”
The ODYSSEY Media Group and iliad Literary-Art magazine traveled to Columbia, South Carolina to attend the Southern Interscholastic Press Association journalism conference from March 6 to March 9. On the first day, students participated in many team bonding activities like eating lunch together, taking a tour of the University of South Carolina and going to Frankie’s Fun Park. “I had an amazing time bonding with people I don’t usually work with, specifically Journalism I students. I’m confident we will carry this energy into our final months of the school year,” Managing Editor Jane Ripps, a senior, said. Video by Liya Taylor
At the OMG’s end-of-convention reflection, Meyer reflected on the emotional lessons learned at SIPA.
“My freshman year, when we did the (reflection) circle, everyone said a little something. I got on the bus crying, (and) I spent the last 15% of my computer battery writing my cycle reflection right then and there,” Meyer said. “I never had such a circle of people (who) cared about me. I’ve always thought I’d have a senior speech that translates all of that and all those feelings about this emotional stuff we do, (but) there’s no way to encapsulate everything.”
For Ragsdale, bringing students to SIPA has been an ODYSSEY rite of passage since 2006. This year’s conference provided space for reflection.
“It’s been an interesting trip. Former ODYSSEY student Makayla Richards, who works for 11Alive, presented, we had four first-time presenters, we had a ton of first time attendees and I’m serving as Executive Committee Chair,” Ragsdale said. “As I look back to our early days of SIPA, we didn’t know what we were doing, but the educational and social benefits were clear. Even though our program has evolved and my role within the organization has changed, SIPA brings us back each year for rewards that are less tangible than awards. SIPA is about building connections and memories that will last generations.”
Staff Awards
Scroggins Award: Best of South: Newsprint: ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
Scroggins Award: Best of South: Online: ODYSSEY Media Group
Scroggins Award: Best of South: Literary-Arts Magazine: iliad Literary-Art Magazine
All-Southern: ODYSSEY Media Group
All-Southern: iliad Literary-Art Magazine
All-Southern: ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
Best In Show: Online: ODYSSEY Media Group
Best In Show: Literary-Arts Magazine: iliad Literary-Art Magazine
Best In Show: Newsprint: ODYSSEY Newsmagazine
Individual Awards
SIPA All-Star: Olivia Hendershot
SIPA All-Star: Wyatt Meyer
SIPA All-Star: Jane Ripps
SIPA All-Star: Victoria Garland
2026 SIPA Vice President: Samaya Ellis
Team On-Site Competition: Photography: Best Captions: Miles Lawrence
Team On-Site Competition: Newsprint: Best Design: Jane Ripps, Liza Larson, Edie Ash, Emlyn McKinney
Team On-Site Competition: Literary-Arts Magazine: Best Overall: Ollie Hendershot, Sam Harwell, Margo McDaniel
Team On-Site Competition: Literary-Arts Magazine: Best Written Element: Victoria Garland, Sasha Barkan, Niles Flath
Team On-Site Competition: Newsprint: Best Story: Wyatt Meyer, Cooper Jones, Izzy Hammock, Kevin Capcha
Team On-Site Competition: Newsprint: Best Design: Peter Atchley, Abigail Holloway, Lea D’Angelo, Anna Flath
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Prose Fiction: First Place: Waylon Vaughn
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Satire: First Place: Angel Jara
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Prose Fiction: Second Place: Victoria Garland
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Poetry Free Verse: Second Place: Anna Shaikun
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Personal Essay: Second Place: Maya Clement
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Drama: Second Place: Sam Harwell
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Drama: Third Place: Aza Khan
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Poetry Free Verse: Third Place: Caroline Orbock
Best Writing: Literary Magazine Personal Essay: Third Place: Amya Hopkins
Best Writing: Online Storytelling Portfolio: First Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Online Storytelling Features: First Place: Violet Cantarella
Best Writing: Online Personality Feature: Second Place: Violet Cantarella
Best Writing: Online Alternative Storytelling: Third Place: Staff
Best Writing: Online Sports News: Third Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Online Storytelling News: Fourth Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Portfolio: First Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Magazine Staff Editorial: First Place: Staff
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Sports Feature: First Place: Jane Ripps, Lydia Rowell
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Sports: First Place: Cadence Schapker
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Investigative Story: First Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Editorial Column: Second Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Feature: Second Place: Cesia Martinez
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Review: Second Place: Miles Lawrence
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Sports Feature: Second Place: Wyatt Meyer
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Personality Feature: Third Place: Abby Holloway
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Sports Feature: Third Place: Liya Taylor
Best Writing: Newsmagazine Sports: Third Place: Liya Taylor
Best Media: Online Sports Package: First Place: Jane Ripps, Lydia Rowell, Lea D’Angelo
Best Media: Online News Package: First Place: Staff
Best Media: Online Sports Package: Second Place: Staff
Best Media: Online News Package: Second Place: Emlyn McKinney, Lea D’Angelo, Kimberley Sanabria-Amaya
Best Media: Online Features Package: Third Place: Wyatt Meyer, Lea D’Angelo
