2014 NSPA Online Pacemaker finalists announced

MINNEAPOLIS – The National Scholastic Press Association is pleased to announce finalists in the Online Pacemaker competition.

The Online Pacemaker competition recognizes the top student-directed online news publications in 2015. The 30 finalists were selected from 172 entries. A team of three judges worked over the course of several weeks to select the finalists based on content and coverage, writing and editing, design, rich media and interactivity. Judges are kept anonymous to preserve the fairness and impartiality of the contest.

“This year’s best sites excelled not only with their written coverage but with their photography, multimedia or graphics,” said one judge. “The narrow margins between this year’s finalists are an encouraging indicator of journalism’s exciting future.”

Judges noted that this year’s finalists showcased strong, localized coverage of hard-hitting issues coupled with a solid multimedia presence. The top sites also showed creative and thorough story planning, one judge commented.

“It’s not easy for students to produce quality journalism on a continuous schedule with so many other demands on their time,” said Kirsten Chang, contest and critique coordinator. “These programs bring together the best reporting, writing, photography, design and video skills, and provide a fantastic learning environment for students.”

The Pacemaker winners will be announced at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Denver, April 16-19. The NSPA Awards Ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Convention registration is now open online.

1500 or greater enrollment

CdS Sunrise, Corona Del Sol HS, Tempe, Ariz.
http://cdssunrise.com
Carson Pyatt, editor
Kris Urban, adviser

El Estoque, Monta Vista HS, Cupertino, Calif.
http://elestoque.org
Nathan Desai, Daniel Fernandez, editors
Michelle Balmeo, adviser

blue devil hub, Davis Sr. HS, Davis, Calif.
http://bluedevilhub.com
Ashley Han, Sarah Garrett, Riley Donahue, editors
Kelly Wilkerson, adviser

Panther Prowler, Newbury Park HS, Newbury Park, Calif.
http://www.pantherprowler.org
Mariam Syed, editor
Michelle Saremi, adviser

The Paly Voice, Palo Alto HS, Palo Alto, Calif.
http://palyvoice.com
Molly Fogarty, Charles Yu, editors
Paul Kandell, adviser

Hi-Lights, William R. Boone HS, Orlando, Fla.
http://hilights.org
Tommy McDonald, editor
Renée Burke, adviser

RHStoday, Robinson HS, Tampa, Fla.
rhstoday.com
Isabel Hanewicz, editor
Jill Burns, adviser

ODYSSEY Online, Clarke Central HS, Athens, Ga.
http://www.odysseynewsmagazine.net
Susanna Conine-Nakano, editor
David Ragsdale, adviser

Chant, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, Ga.
http://nchschant.com
Alicia Bush, editor
Lindsay Kovel, adviser

DevilsAdvocateDevils’ Advocate, Hinsdale Central HS, Hinsdale, Ill.
www.hcdevilsadvocate.com
Christi Carras, Sanjana Srinivasan, editors
Cherise Lopez, adviser

NNHSNorthStar.com, Naperville North HS, Naperville, Ill.
http://www.NNHSNorthStar.com
Kathryn Jenkins, editor
Tara Jewell/Ryan Smith, advisers

HiLite Online, Carmel HS, Carmel, Ind.
http://hilite.org/
Helena Ma, editor
Jim Streisel, adviser

Zephyrus, Edina HS, Edina, Minn.
http://www.edinazephyrus.com/
Drew Davis, editor
Elizabeth Barniskis, adviser

Bearing News , Rock Bridge Sr. HS, Columbia, Mo.
http://bearingnews.org
Renata Williams, Brett Stover, editors
Robin F. Stover, adviser

TheKirkwoodCall.com, Kirkwood HS, Kirkwood, Mo.
http://thekirkwoodcall.com
Tyler Altenthal, editor
Mitch Eden, adviser

blueandgoldonline, Taipei American School, Taipei, Taiwan
http://blueandgoldonline.org/wp/
Carol Chen, editor
Ron Bell, adviser

The Rider Online, Legacy HS, Mansfield, Texas
http://www.therideronline.com
Sarah Pearson, Alanna Zaskoda, editors
Leland Mallett/Rachel Dearinger, advisers

Tiger Times Online, Texas HS, Texarkana, Texas
http://www.tigertimesonline.com
Caroline Purtle, editor
Rebecca Potter/Clint Smith, advisers

Less than 1500 enrollment

The Oracle, Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles
http://oracle.archeronline.org
Yasmeen Namazie, editor
Kristin Taylor, adviser

The Boiling Point, Shalhevet HS, Los Angeles
http://www.shalhevetboilingpoint.com/
Nicole Feder, editor
Joelle Keene, adviser

The Chronicle, Harvard-Westlake School, North Hollywood, Calif.
http://www.hwchronicle.com
Zoe Dutton, Scott Nussbaum, editors
Kathleen Neumeyer, adviser

The Foothill Dragon Press, Foothill Technology HS, Ventura, Calif.
http://foothilldragonpress.org
Canela Lopez, editor
Melissa Wantz, adviser

Mill Valley News Online, Mill Valley HS, Shawnee, Kan.
http://www.mvnews.org
Shelby Hudson, Raya Lehan, Jena Smith, editors
Kathy Hill Habiger, adviser

Communicator, Community HS, Ann Arbor, Mich.
http://www.chscommunicator.com/
Ela Steiger, Sophia Camp, Natalie Potter, editors
Tracy Anderson, adviser

Knight Errant, Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, St. Louis Park, Minn.
http://bsmknighterrant.org
Molly Eldevik, editor
Jason Wallestad/Kari Koshiol, advisers

The Echo, St. Louis Park HS, St. Louis Park, Minn.
http://www.slpecho.com
Ivy Kaplan, editor
Lori Keekley, adviser

The Eye, Singapore American School, Singapore
http://saseye.com/
Jeane Khang, Jenna Nichols, editors
Robin Worley, adviser

The Eagle’s Tale Online, Canyon HS, Canyon, Texas
http://www.eaglestaleonline.com
Tasha Brown, editor
Laura Smith, adviser

The Review, St. John’s School, Houston
http://www.sjsreview.com/
Cara Maines, editor
David Nathan/Shelley Stein, advisers

TRN WIRED, Prince George HS, Prince George, Va.
http://trnwired.org/
Travis Temple, editor
Chris Waugaman, adviser