2015 SCSPA Spring Conference Awards
Broadcast, newspaper and online media awards

1st Place Class A Spring and Yearly ESNA Photography Winner – Rachel Palekas, Richland Northeast HS
April 27, 2015
2015 Best in Broadcast
Wave TV, Summerville HS
2015 Best Newspaper
The Talon, Nation Ford HS
2015 Best in Online Media
SPINwired, South Pointe HS
2015 Most Improved Newspaper
The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
2015 Albert T. Scroggins Award
Devon Swale, Herff Jones
2015 Reid Montgomery Adviser of the Year
Beth Ward, Reflections yearbook, Mauldin HS
2015 SCSPA Scholarship
John Romanski, Fort Mill HS
2015 Jostens/SCSPA Yearbook Scholarship
Briahnna Ismail, Richland Northeast HS
2015 S.C. Scholastic Journalist of the Year
2015 Newspaper Palmetto Awards
Class I (1-1350 students): Norse News, Spartanburg HS
Class II (1351-1600 students): The Talon, Nation Ford HS
Class III (1601+ students): Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
Class IV (newsmagazines): The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
2015 Broadcast Evaluation Ratings
Merit:
- The CQ TV, Sumter HS
Honor:
Superior:
- The Silver Screen Report, Dutch Fork HS
- NAFO News, Nation Ford HS
All-State:
- Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Tribe Talk, Wando HS
2015 Newspaper Evaluation Ratings
Class 1 (1-1,350 students):
- Superior – Camden HS, Palmetto Leaf
- Superior – Spartanburg HS, Norse News
- Honor – Travelers Rest HS, The Blue & Gold
Class 2 (1,351-1,600 students):
- All-State – Nation Ford HS, The Talon
- Superior – Richland Northeast HS, The Cavalier
- Superior – South Pointe HS, SPIN
Class 3 (1,601+ students):
- Superior – Carolina Forest HS, The Prowler
- Honor – J. L. Mann HS, Mannuscript
- All-State – Wando HS, Tribal Tribune
Class 4 (Newsmagazines):
- Honor – Dorman HS, The Cavalier
- All-State – Dutch Fork HS, The Renaissance
- All-State – Irmo HS, The Stinger
- Superior – Lugoff-Elgin HS, The Pitchfork
- Superior – Sumter HS, The Cock’s Quill
2015 Online Media Evaluation Ratings
Merit:
- The CQ Online, Sumter HS
Honor:
- Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
Superior:
- BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
- Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
All-State:
- SPINWired, South Pointe HS
2015 ESNA SWEEPSTAKES
Class A:
1st Place – The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
2nd Place – The Talon, Nation Ford HS
3rd Place – Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
1st Place – Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
2nd Place – The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
3rd Place – The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
2015 Spring Photography Contest
Theme – Boundaries
1st Place – Jordan Rainier, “Shattering Boundaries,” South Pointe HS
2nd Place – Carry Klein, “Your only boundary is as far as your feet can take you,” West Florence HS
3rd Place – Carson Tucker, “The Alley,” Summerville HS
2015 Broadcast Individual Competitions
Anchor for a News Program:
- Merit: Sarah Catherine Swinford, NAFO News, Nation Ford HS
- Honor: Ian Kiker, Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Superior: Betsy Bullock, Wave TV, Summerville HS
Feature Story:
- Merit: Mark Maddaloni, Elizabeth Gearhart & Olivia McGuirk, Tribe Talk, Wando HS
- Honor: Sarah Catherine Swinford, NAFO News, Nation Ford HS
- Superior: Betsy Bullock, Ian Kiker & Cole Lowery, Wave TV, Summerville HS
Graphics:
- Honor: Zac Wichlei, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast HS
- Superior: Isaiah Schmidt & Elias Tupper,Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Superior: Joshua Felty, Tribe Talk, Wando HS
News Story:
- Merit: Gisele Bair & Demetrius Davis, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast HS
- Honor: Daniel Hudson & Michaela Baker, The Silver Screen Report, Dutch Fork HS
- Superior: Ann Bailey & Zachary Green, Wave TV, Summerville HS
Personality Profile/Human Interest:
- Merit: Kevin O’Dell & Ashley Thompson, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast HS
- Honor: Dailyn Filipiak and Eddie Oliver, Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Superior: Maddie Mason & Jamie Gilbert-Fitzpatrick, The Silver Screen Report, Dutch Fork HS
Public Service Announcement:
- Merit: Ali Doniphan, TNN, James Island Charter HS
- Honor: Sarah Catherine Swinford, NAFO News, Nation Ford HS
- Honor: Sharlyn Edgar & McGwire Finley, Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Superior: Betsy Bullock & PJ Collins, Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Superior: Mary Cather, JD Swinton, Nicole O’Connor & Emily Rogers, Tribe Talk, Wando HS
Reporter:
- Merit: Mairin Noonan, Tribe Talk, Wando HS
- Honor: Kevin O’Dell, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast HS
- Superior: Cole Lowery, Wave TV, Summerville HS
Sports Coverage:
- Merit: Marialena Sanchez-Hernandez, McGwire Finley & Eddie Oliver, Wave TV, Summerville HS
- Honor: Daniel Hudson & Sam Aaron, The Silver Screen Report, Dutch Fork HS
- Superior: Ana Otano, Vinh Ton, Olivia McGuirk & Mary McCarthy, Tribe Talk, Wando HS
2015 Spring Online Individual Competitions
Computer Graphics:
- Honor: Patrick Baird, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
Digital Storytelling:
- Superior: Claire Benson, Alicia Howley & Holden LeCroy, SPINwired, South Pointe HS
Features:
- Merit: Gracie Fulcher & Jamal Lucas, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Honor: Genna Contino, SPINwired, South Pointe HS
- Superior: Jamie Seagrist, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
News Features:
- Merit: Annabelle Baxter, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Honor: Josh Dantzler & Claire Benson, SPINwired, South Pointe
- Superior: Lexi Lavoie, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
Opinion Pieces:
- Honor: Holly Cannady, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
- Honor: Annabelle Baxter, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Superior: Molli Helms, SPINwired, South Pointe HS
Photography:
- Merit: Gracie Fulcher, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Honor: Amanda Reeves, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
- Superior: Holden LeCroy, SPINwired, South Pointe HS
Reviews:
- Honor: Gracie Fulcher, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Superior: Joseph Calamia, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
- Superior: Alicia Howley, SPINwired, South Pointe HS
Sports:
- Merit: Jamal Lucas, Wave Breaker Online, Summerville HS
- Honor: Summer Huechtker & Whitney Burrell, SPINWired, South Pointe HS
- Superior: James Otovic, BMCN, Brashier Middle College Charter HS
2015 Spring ESNA Winners
ADVERTISING
Class A:
- 1st Place – Staff, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Breonalee Smith, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 2nd Place – Cailynn Miller & Kourtney McCoy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
ART
Class A:
- 1st Place – David Beck, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 2nd Place – Kennedi Stokes, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Megan Velho, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
- 2nd Place – Nigel Grant, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 3rd Place – Mallory Alexander, The Cavalier, Dorman HS
CENTERSPREAD
Class A:
- 1st Place – Kennedi Stokes, La’Aundrea Young & Kayleigh Gates, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 2nd Place – Hannah Bucciarelli & Alexa LaFranca, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Danielle Cassells, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 2nd Place – Tommy Sanders,Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Anna Maria Gardiner, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
COLUMNS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Braelyn Diamond, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Kayleigh Gates, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 3rd Place – Kevin Crumley, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Mary Scott Gilbert, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Jonnie Gordon, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Amanda Redfoot, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Lydia Burgess, Sara Grace Bridwell, Burke Lipscomb & Beth Ann Townsend, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
- 2nd Place – Alexa LaFranca, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Megan Cash, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Kimberlee Lawson & Kristin Keisler, The Cavalier, Dorman HS
- 2nd Place – Lucie Wall & Rebecca Taube, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Anna Maria Gardiner & Raleigh Norris, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
EDITORIALS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rose Needle & Anderson Scull, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Danielle Cassells, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
- 3rd Place – Palmetto Leaf staff, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Tommy Sanders, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Brianna Ondik,The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Abby Beauregard & Rebekah Street, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
FEATURES
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rose Needle & Alex Brooks, Norse News, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Caroline Carey, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
- 3rd Place – Kaitlynn Stephens, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Logan Denny, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Hayley Younginer, Raleigh Norris & Anna Maria Gardiner, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 3rd Place – Sydney Gray-McDonald & Isabel Houck, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
FRONT PAGE DESIGN
Class A:
- 1st Place – Ellen Knight,The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Rachel Limbaugh & Caroline Wolfe, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Mary Louise Vann, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Makayla Rippy,The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 2nd Place – Michaela Baker, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 3rd Place – Tommy Sanders, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
LAYOUT
Class A:
- 1st Place – Caroline Carey, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
- 2nd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 3rd Place – Rachel Limbaugh, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Anthony Deas, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
- 2nd Place – Carina Leaman, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 3rd Place – Jonnie Gordon & Montana Wall, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
NEWS FEATURES
Class A:
- 1st Place – Gabriela Nolasco & Sydney Huor,The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 2nd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 3rd Place – Jack West, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Devon Lee,Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Haley Dixon, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Robin Hendricks, Maddie Mason & Lacee Getter, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rachel Palekas, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Caroline Wolfe, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Breana Davis, SPIN, South Pointe HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Michaela Baker, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 2nd Place – Haley Dixon, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Mackenzie Howard, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
REVIEWS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Jonathan Avelino, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 2nd Place – Yessica Naranjo, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 3rd Place – Jordan Rainier, SPIN, South Pointe HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Jenks Donaldson, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Bailey Wiseman, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Robin Hendricks, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
SPORTS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Reid Williams, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 2nd Place – Matthew Anderson, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 3rd Place – Caroline Welch, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Hannah Jane Dantzscher, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Sophia Bookhultz, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Sydney Gray-McDonald, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
2015 Yearly ESNA Winners
ADVERTISING
Class A:
- 1st Place – Staff, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Makayla Rippy,The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 2nd Place – Breonalee Smith, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Kourtney McCoy & Cailynn Miller,The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
ART
Class A:
- 1st Place – Maggie Hedrick, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 2nd Place – David Beck, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Kennedi Stokes, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 2nd Place – Megan Velho, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
- 3rd Place – Nigel Grant, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
CENTERSPREAD
Class A:
- 1st Place – Steven Bledsoe, Brandon Jones, Reid Williams & Marveon Mobley, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 2nd Place – La’Aundrea Young, Kayleigh Gates & Kennedi Stokes, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 3rd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 2nd Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 3rd Place – Tommy Sanders, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
COLUMNS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Braelyn Diamond, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Jordan Rainier, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 3rd Place – Kayleigh Gates, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Mary Scott Gilbert, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Jonnie Gordon, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
- 3rd Place – Zach Hilts, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
COMPUTER GRAPHICS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Steven Bledsoe & Hayley Kelly, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 2nd Place – Aaron Murphy, William Perry & Henry Kerfoot, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 3rd Place – Lydia Burgess, Sara Grace Bridwell, Burke Lipscomb & Beth Ann Townsend, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Emma Smith, Mannuscript, J.L. Mann HS
- 2nd Place – Becca Spilka, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 3rd Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
EDITORIALS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rose Needle & Anderson Scull, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Danielle Cassells, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
- 3rd Place – Staff, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Tommy Sanders, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Logan Denny & Lucie Wall, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Michelle Crane, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
FEATURES
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rose Needle & Alex Brooks, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Cooper Ellis, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 3rd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Logan Denny, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Tommy Sanders,Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Becca Spilka & Lacee Getter, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
FRONT PAGE DESIGN
Class A:
- 1st Place – Ellen Knight, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Rachel Limbaugh & Caroline Wolfe, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Ellen Knight, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Michaela Baker, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 2nd Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
- 3rd Place – Makayla Rippy, The Pitchfork, Lugoff-Elgin HS
LAYOUT
Class A:
- 1st Place – Ellen Knight, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Caroline Carey, Norse News, Spartanburg HS
- 3rd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Anthony Deas, The Cock’s Quill, Sumter HS
- 2nd Place – Carina Leaman, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 3rd Place – Jonnie Gordon & Montana Wall, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
NEWS FEATURE
Class A:
- 1st Place – Gabriela Nolasco & Sydney Huor,The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 2nd Place – Jekima Hibbert, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 3rd Place – Aaron Murphy, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Devon Lee, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Erin Slowey, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Anna Maria Gardiner & Becca Spilka,The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Class A:
- 1st Place – Rachel Palekas, The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
- 2nd Place – Caroline Wolfe,The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Avery Williams, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Michaela Baker, The Renaissance, Dutch Fork HS
- 2nd Place – Lexie Smith, The Cavalier, Dorman HS
- 3rd Place – Emma Smith, Mannuscript, J.L. Mann HS
REVIEWS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Kennedi Stokes, Palmetto Leaf, Camden HS
- 2nd Place – Meredith Turner, The Blue & Gold, Travelers Rest HS
- 3rd Place – Jonathan Avelino, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Joshua Mataosky, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Jenks Donaldson, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Bailey Wiseman, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS
SPORTS
Class A:
- 1st Place – Reid Williams, SPIN, South Pointe HS
- 2nd Place – Harrison Vandiver, The Talon, Nation Ford HS
- 3rd Place – Matthew Anderson,The Cavalier, Richland Northeast HS
Class B:
- 1st Place – Hannah Jane Dantzscher, Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 2nd Place – Jenks Donaldson,Tribal Tribune, Wando HS
- 3rd Place – Sophia Bookhultz, The Prowler, Carolina Forest HS