2012 Winners Announced

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Santa Clara University Communication Department High School Journalism Competition.

News Story

First Place
Miranda Roethler
Oregon Episcopal School
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Kara Tambellini
"Shelving Books"


Roethler, writing for Blowfish, an online student publication, examined the fate of independent bookstores and the printed word in the age of digital publishing. Judge Jeremy Herb, a reporter for The Hill, commented: "The author is clearly a talented writer and has a style that's both sophisticated and easy to read."

Feature Story

First Place
Camille Gacoscos
Jefferson High School
Daly City, CA
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Susan Sutton Callahan
"Holocaust Survivor Shares Painful Past"


In Tom-Tom, the Jefferson High student newspaper, Gacoscos movingly detailed the life of George J. Elbaum and his struggle for survival during World War II. Judge Mick Normington called it a "compelling story that captured a compelling life."

Sports Story

First Place
Sam LeFeber
Oregon Episcopal School
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Kara Tambellini
"Real Racing, Real Tracks, Real Drivers, Real Cheap Cars"

LeFeber describes the world of amateur auto racing in a fast-paced story that appeared in Blowfish. Judge Max Garrone praised the story's "incredible and compelling" use of quotes, and the author's ability to capture the racing scene.

Thanks to all the schools and student journalists who participated in this year's competition. Critiques for all entries will be emailed to journalism advisers.

Deadline is May 4th

Just a reminder that the deadline for the 2012 contest is May 4th. Please have your entries postmarked by that date. The entry form can be downloaded from the tab above or the link in the right-hand column.

2011 Winners Announced

Congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Santa Clara University Communication Department High School Journalism Competition.

News Story

First Place
Maru Arellano
Jefferson High School
Daly City, CA
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Susan Sutton Callahan
"Citizenship dreams dissipate with end of DREAM Act"

Arellano, writing for the Tom-Tom student newspaper, chronicled the failure of an immigration reform bill to pass the Senate. Judge Jeremy Herb, a Washington correspondent for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, wrote: "Very nice reporting that explains and localizes a national issue."

Feature Story

First Place
Jamie Brown
Jefferson High School
Daly City, CA
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Susan Sutton Callahan
"Ocular enthusiasts go gaga over new contacts"

Brown explored the latest Lady Gaga-inspired fashion trend for the Tom-Tom student newspaper. Judge Katie Powers, a freelance journalist, praised Brown's "strong voice" in a story that was "engaging, crisp and fun to read."

Honorable Mention
Olivia Ly
KIPP San Jose Collegiate
San Jose, CA
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Keely Sweeny Gabbert
"Samantha Alberto on Call of Duty"

Sports Story

First Place
Clarence Ramirez
Jefferson High School
Daly City, CA
Journalism Teacher/Adviser: Susan Sutton Callahan
"Softball season strikes out"

Ramirez reveals the real reason there will be no softball played at Jefferson High this year. Judge Max Garrone, an online media consultant, wrote: "Excellent quotes reflect your strong reporting in this story."

Thanks to all the schools and student journalists who participated in this year's competition. Critiques for all entries will be mailed to journalism advisers.

2011 Contest Update

Thank you for all the entries. They have been distributed to the judges. Good luck.

Today's the Day!

Monday, May 9, is the deadline for the 2011 Competition. Please have your entries postmarked today.

2011 Competition Entry Forms and Guidelines Are Available Online

Guidelines and entry forms are now available for the 2011 Santa Clara University Communication Department High School Journalism Competition. The deadline is May 9, 2011.

For the rules, entry form and other information simply click... here

2011 Judges

• Meredith Arthur is the Executive Video Producer for CHOW.com and TV.com, two divisions of CBS Interactive. She's a former associate editor of Harvest Books, an imprint of Harcourt.

• Davina Baum is managing editor at CHOW.com.

• Maggie Beidelman is the editor of Stanford Coverage for Palo Alto Patch.

• Chris Colin is the author of What Really Happened to the Class of '93, and his writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Mother Jones, Men's Journal, Smithsonian and several anthologies.

• Lisa Davis teaches journalism in the Communication Department at Santa Clara University. She is a freelance writer, former staff writer at Village Voice Media and author of The Sins of Brother Curtis.

• Max Garrone is an online media consultant working with companies like the San Francisco Chronicle and LinkTV. Previously he was a Sr. News Producer at SFGate.com and he occupied a variety of roles at Salon.com

• Jack Gillum is the database editor at USA Today and the former editor of The Santa Clara.

• Jeremy Herb is a reporter for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the former editor of The Santa Clara.

• Andrew Leonard is a staff writer for Salon, where he produces the hybrid blog/column How the World Works. His work has also appeared in Wired, The New York Times Book Review, The Nation and Newsweek.

• Katie Powers is a part-time writer for the Omaha World-Herald and a project coordinator at Infogroup. She is the former editor of The Santa Clara.

• Stephen Rodrick is a contributing editor for New York Magazine. He also writes for the New York Times Magazine.

• Amy Standen is a reporter for KQED's weekly science and environment radio program QUEST.

• Kurt Wagner is the current editor of The Santa Clara.

• Gordon Young is a lecturer in the Communication Department at Santa Clara University and a freelance journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Slate, and Utne Reader.