The Wildcat Chronicle, West Chicago Community High School's student publication clinched a coveted national win and three distinguished individual awards at the recent Journalism Education Association (JEA) National High School Journalism Convention in Kansas City, showcasing excellence in journalism.
The highlight of the event was the Chronicle's achievement in securing the prestigious Pacemaker award from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA). This esteemed accolade recognizes top-tier student media outlets across various mediums including online, print, yearbook, and magazine. The Chronicle's strategic initiatives, including daily content updates, the integration of a dedicated multimedia section, and innovative features like "wtw WEGO?" on Instagram and the Athlete of the Week spotlight, propelled the newspaper to stand out among the nation's leading online student publications.
Amidst stiff competition, the Chronicle emerged as a finalist two months prior, marking it as just three schools in Illinois' to earn this prestigious distinction.
The award ceremony at the JEA National High School Journalism Convention showcased twelve nationwide Pacemaker winners in the online category, the Wildcat Chronicle being one, a historic milestone in the paper's legacy.
"It is an honor to be a part of the best student newspaper website in the entire nation. None of this would have been possible without the contributions of our wonderful staff, every single one of whom dedicated countless hours towards ensuring that the Pacemaker award is something we can call ours,” Managing Editor Dhanveer Gill, a senior at West Chicago Community High School, said.
The conference also witnessed individual talents shining on the national stage, with students competing in various categories such as writing and multimedia. Senior Brandon Heath showcased his expertise in video package editing, while Managing Editor Karidja Monjolo's stellar performance in broadcast anchoring earned her an "Excellent" distinction.
"I’ve never competed in a broadcast competition but I definitely think throughout the year, I’ve had practice in that area with 'wtw WEGO?' but still I walked in there not knowing what to expect. Overall, I felt confident in my performance, but when they called my name for 'excellent', I was surprised and extremely proud of myself, and the work I had done," Monjolo said.
The Chronicle's talent extended to photography, with seniors Emily Ziajor and Sebastian Alarcon showcasing their skills in sports photography, and Editor-in-Chief Sasha Baumgartner doing the same in the photo storytelling category. Ziajor and Baumgartner received honorable mentions for their work.
"I honestly wasn't expecting to get an award in the sports action category. I genuinely felt just a rush of fulfillment because I finally achieved an award at a national level," Ziajor said.
In the realm of writing, Gill, Reviews Editor Michael Birdsell, Features Editor Alexa Morales, and newcomer Dania Cureno exhibited their prowess in various writing categories, showcasing the range of talents in West Chicago Community High School's journalism program.
"Going in, I was really nervous especially because I was running late after getting locked out of my room, but once I got to the competition room, I saw how calm it was. Although I didn’t take a win this time, I had another type of win: I made friends from the first five minutes you get before the competition starts. So, I would say overall it was a successful competition, and I would do it again in a heartbeat," Morales said.
The Wildcat Chronicle's triumph at the JEA conference underscores the institution's commitment to nurturing journalistic excellence and empowering the next generation of media professionals.
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