By Robert Henry
In its first year, Penn Points was named one of the 13 finalists in the National Scholastic Press Association’s annual Online Pacemaker award. The Pacemaker award is somewhat equivalent to an Oscar except for high school journalism. Penn Manor’s Penn Points is the only Pennsylvania Online newspaper finalist for the N.S.P.A. and one of few from the east coast.
This year Portland Oregon will be hosting the N.S.P.A. Convention in April where the award ceremony will be held along with seminars and journalism speakers. Other awards that will be given out are Yearbook/ Magazine Pacemaker, Best of Show award, J.E.A. write-off award, Journalist of the Year award, Aspiring Young Journalist award and Investigative Journalism award.
According to N.S.P.A. the Online Pacemaker competition has seen a 70 percent rise in entries since last year’s 2009 competition. This year, 132 high school websites entered into the category. All together the finalists include:
The Feather Online, Fresno Christian HS, Fresno, Calif.
http://www.thefeather.com
Suzanna Quiring, editor
Greg Stobbe, adviser
The Chronicle Online, Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif.
http://chronicle.hw.com
Jamie Kim, editor
Kathleen Neumeyer, adviser
The Saratoga Falcon, Saratoga HS, Saratoga, Calif.
http://www.saratogafalcon.org
Mira Chaykin, Brian Kim, editors
Mike Tyler, adviser
ipatriotpost.com, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla.
http://www.ipatriotpost.com
Arthur Yidi, editor
Diana Adams, adviser
Online Gargoyle, University Laboratory HS, Urbana, Ill.
http://www.uni.illinois.edu/og/
Danny Ge/Hadley Hauser/Maritza Mestre/Laura Dripps/Katherine Allen/Sindha Agha/Diana Liu, editors
David Porreca, adviser
Patriot, John Carroll School, Bel Air, Md.
http://www.jcpatriot.com
Kate Froehlich, editor
Mark Ionescu, adviser
The Rockville High School Rampage, Rockville HS, Rockville, Md.
http://www.rockvillerampage.com
Michaela Karem, Olivia Parker, editors
Peter Daddone, adviser
Wayland Student Press Network, Wayland HS, Wayland, Mass.
http://waylandstudentpress.com
Melanie Wang, Dave Ryan, editors
Janet Karman/Mary Barber, advisers
Communicator, Community HS, Ann Arbor, Mich.
http://the-communicator.org
Kerry Fingerle, Alia Persico-Shammas, & Cody Pan, editors
Tracy Rosewarne, adviser
Knight Errant, Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, St. Louis Park, Minn.
http://bsmknighterrant.org
Katie McClurg, editor
Jason Wallestad, adviser
Dart News Online, St. Teresa’s Academy, Kansas City, Mo.
http://www.dartnewsonline.com
Sydney Deatherage, editor
Eric Thomas, adviser
FHNtoday.com, Francis Howell North HS, St. Charles, Mo.
http://fhntoday.com/
David Hoehn, Katie O’Neil, editors
Aaron Manfull, adviser
Penn Points, Penn Manor HS, Millersville, Pa.
https://www.pennpoints.net/
Robert Henry, editor
Susan Baldrige, adviser
By Robert Henry
While I very much enjoy reading articles on Penn Points, I wish it did not enforce such strict commentary censorship. Regardless, congratulations to the Penn Points staff on the top 13 finish.
The stories in Penn Points are well written, interesting, timely, and in some notable instances, extremely cutting edge – but appropriate – for high school journalism. Congratulations on this honor!
Censored or not, I like reading Nacho’s comments.
Penn Points FTW! 🙂
This website needs a classier name. I think that’s what would put us even higher on the list.
Such outstanding news- you should all be very proud of your accomplishments. The Penn Points team rocks.
Congratulations to the entire Penn Points staff, Editor Henry and Advisor Baldrige!
Change is hard but you tackled the challenge of an online newspaper with enthusiasm.
To be recognized for the quality of your efforts in your inaugural year is, indeed, an accomplishment. The only PA online newspaper finalist!
I check your website every week and look forward to reading about what’s happening at the high school. This format enables parents and community members to be better informed about their school. You should all be very proud of the impact and success of your efforts!