Every week across the state of Texas, students write opinion pieces for their high school newspaper’s website. They share their take on sports teams, tardy policies, dress codes and multitudes of other topics. Once a year their advisors can enter two stories for judging. ILPC gives awards for the top stories. Just a few in the state get gold medals. Only one gets a Tops in Texas.
This year, that Tops in Texas medal goes to senior Sujeidy Ortiz for her story “What a Privilege.”
The award was announced at ILPC Spring Convention in Austin where hundreds of young journalists focused on learning, evolving and achieving new strategies and more awards for their school and themselves. ILPC gives young students many opportunities to be an all around better journalist, and even the opportunity to win awards that are special. Tops in Texas honors have never been won by a member of the Wildkat Media staff.
“Winning a gold medal for the first time over a story I wrote was already an incredible moment,” Ortiz said. “But then being named Tops in Texas, chosen from all the first place winners, was something I never even imagined for myself. Being the first student from Willis High School to receive this award means everything to me. As a first-generation student, there were times I questioned if I was capable of achieving something like this. That’s why this accomplishment means so much more. I’m beyond grateful to God and to the people who believe in me, even when I struggled to believe in myself.”
Winning awards was not the only thing ILPC helped young journalists learn. Over the weekend many Wildkat Media students adapted to the culture at UT and fell in love with college life.
“As a sophomore, it was really interesting going to ILPC,” sophomore Finley McDonald said. “The experience was so amazing, and I truly had a great time. I learned so much about how to make my stories deeper and overall better. Being on The University of Texas’s campus was so much fun and it definitely convinced me to think about attending there for college when I’m older. I got so many pictures and each one of them has a memory behind it. I can’t wait to go again next year.”
The atmosphere of ILPC was unlike anything Wildkat Media students have ever experienced. Many of the activities during ILPC showcased more to college life than what was first expected.
“ILPC was a new experience for me,” junior Isabella Zavala said. “I had never gone on an overnight trip for something school related, but I don’t regret it at all. ILPC taught me not only writing and interviewing skills but also helped me feel better prepared for college. I really enjoyed seeing Austin for the first time. The museum, the food, the atmosphere was new but also calming and very different from Willis. Seeing what a college campus and city was like was good for me so I can decide and weigh where I want my future to be.”
Learning and adapting to better journalism skills was extremely helpful to WIldkat Media. Taking away more information than they came in with is truly exceptional.
“This was my first time going to ILPC, and I feel like I’ve learned so much from just a day’s worth of lessons,” junior Ryder Sciba said. “We were able to choose our classes, so we had a bit of trouble deciding which ones to attend. The biggest thing I took away from that was the photography tips and how to edit many photos to come. I feel like we all made memories on that trip that we will never forget.”
Winning awards never achieved before. Wildkat Media won their very first ILPC star. Winning goals, setting new expectations, and showcasing Willis’s yearbook for years to come.
“Winning a star from ILPC has been a goal of mine since I started advising the Wildkat yearbook,” Wildkat media adviser Emily Meachen said. “It just is verification that the yearbook program is headed the right way.”
According to Meachen she is proud of what the Wildkat Media students have accomplished, but the awards are just part of the reason she loves her job.
“I don’t think awards and honors should be the ultimate goal in scholastic journalism,” Meachen said,. “Years ago I decided to just teach my students journalism, and see what happens. Some years we win more medals and accolades than other years, but I know when they leave my class I have done the best I could to teach them ethical, responsible journalism and some skills they will take with them long after they walk across the stage. I really have the best job in the world.”
