Joliet, Plainfield students earn awards at 2021 SPC Journalism Championship

Students at Joliet West High School and all four Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 high schools recently brought home awards after competing Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 in the 2021 Southwest Prairie Conference (SPC) Journalism Competition.

A news release from Joliet West High School said Joliet West earned a third place team award and placed in 12 of 16 categories, winning 14 awards with 11 students placing.

Joliet West students also earned three third, fifth, and sixth place finishes and one seventh place finish.

Senior Kailey Staniszewski, along with senior Trevor Gould, placed first in video news.

Senior Louie Mendoza earned top three finishes in three categories, including first place in Infographics and third place in yearbook layout double spread and yearbook theme development.

Junior Megan Krok competed in two categories and placed third in feature writing.

Juniors Haley Maser earned first in headline writing and sixth in news writing. Sophomore Holley Law and senior Emily Vayda finished sixth and seventh respectively in the photo storytelling category.

Seniors Kiersten Jordan finished fifth in infographics and editorial cartooning. Madison Horvat received fifth in advertising. Kelly Rappaport placed first in yearbook copy, and Jordyn Bew placed sixth for editorial writing.

Joliet West journalists are currently preparing or the Sectional Competition on April 10 and they hope to advance to state on April 24. The competitions will be held virtually but the team may compete together at the school.

At District 202, Plainfield East High School took third place overall.

Plainfield High School – Central Campus earned sixth place; Plainfield South High School earned seventh place; and Plainfield North High School took ninth place.

The following students were named all-conference winners and earned individual honors:

Plainfield High School – Central Campus

First place:

• Raven Easterly, senior ­– newspaper design

Second place:

• Emma Figlewicz, senior – headline writing

• Grace Leeth, sophomore – advertising

Third place:

• Erin Fagan, senior – news writing

• Aaliyah Solano, sophomore – review writing

Fourth place:

• Raven Easterly, senior ­– advertising

• Michael Totosz, junior – copy editing

Fifth place:

• Michael Totosz, junior – sports writing

Sixth place:

• Raven Easterly, senior ­– editorial cartooning

• Miguel Cambray Jr., sophomore – feature writing

Plainfield East High School

First place:

• Megan McDonough, senior, and Lindsey Schwerdlin, senior – yearbook theme development

•David Enriquez, senior – photo story telling

• Laine Cibulskis, junior – review writing

• Rayne Branch, sophomore – broadcast news

Second place:

• Laine Cibulskis, junior – copy editing

• Eddie Burgin, junior – infographics

• Adam Jackson, junior – photo story telling

Fourth place:

• Mikaela Ramirez, senior – editorial cartoon

• Ivy He, junior – yearbook copy writing

Fifth place:

• Eddie Burgin, junior – headline writing

Sixth place:

• Savannah Downing, senior – yearbook caption writing

• Laine Cibulskis, junior – editorial writing

Plainfield South High School

Second place:

• Brooke Anderson, senior – video news

• Delaney O’Sullivan, junior – review writing

Third place:

• Mia Emerson, senior – editorial cartoon

Fourth place:

• Ella Underwood, sophomore – headline writing

Sixth place:

• Mia Emerson, senior – advertising

• Noah Maldonado, senior - infographics

Plainfield North High School

Third place:

• Valerie Loeblich, senior – Video News

Fifth place:

• Madalyn Mirallegro, senior – editorial writing

• Hailee Munno, sophomore – review writing