Student reporters earn 19 total awards
Five West Bend students earned blue ribbon honors in a statewide contest for high school journalists.
Members of the West Bend Current, a news website produced by students at West Bend East and West High Schools, earned a total of 19 awards in the 2018 Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association contest. Thirteen writers were recognized overall. Editor in chief Jessica Steger led the staff with five awards, including top honors for her story about an East English teacher whose husband was deployed to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Samantha Dietel earned a blue ribbon in the academic news category for her story about two seniors who volunteered to help Syrian refugees in February.
In the sports news category, Auburn Larson received top recognition for her profile of two brothers whose wrestling coach is their dad. Justin Scherzer won in the sports feature category for his story about the demise of the Wisconsin Little Ten conference.
Caitlin Marsch scored blue ribbon honors in the personality profile category for her story about a West junior who built benches in Jackson Park for his Eagle Scout project.
Full List of Awards
- The Current was given red ribbon honors for a website not published through a journalism class
- Jessica Steger: Blue ribbon, News Based Feature (“‘He’s the Hero of Our Family’: Local Teacher Has Ties to Relief Effort in Puerto Rico”)
- Jessica Steger: Red ribbon, Personality Profile (“A Snapshot of Talent”)
- Jessica Steger: Yellow ribbon, General News Story (“The Walking Students”)
- Jessica Steger: Yellow ribbon, Entertaining Feature Story (“‘I Knew I Would Regret It If I Didn’t Go’: Two WBHS Students Audition for American Idol”)
- Jessica Steger: Honorable mention, Academic News Story (“No Return for Exam Exemptions”)
- Kaitlyn Von Behren: Red ribbon, General News Story (“Staff Members Learn New Safety Plans”)
- Kaitlyn Von Behren: White ribbon, Humorous Column (“It Can Happen to You: How to Recognize Senioritis”)
- Kaitlyn Von Behren: Yellow ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“Which Makes Thee Startle: A Story of Mice and Men”)
- Samantha Dietel: Blue ribbon, Academic News Story (“‘They Have Been Through the Worst’: Two WBHS Seniors Help Refugees”)
- Samantha Dietel: Red Ribbon, News Based Feature (“The Secret Rock Life of a Guidance Counselor”)
- Auburn Larson: Blue ribbon, Sports News Story (“Like Father, Like Sons”)
- Auburn Larson: Yellow ribbon, Sports Feature Story (“Gauge Then Engage: Area Athletes Learn Leadership Skills”)
- Lily Mottet: Yellow ribbon, Personality Profile (“Student Artist Honored by Area Foundation”)
- Lily Mottet: White ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“School Board Election 2017”)
- Justin Scherzer: Blue ribbon, Sports Feature Story (“A Bittersweet End to the Wisconsin Little Ten”)
- Caitlin Marsch: Blue ribbon, Personality Profile (“The Bench Player”)
- Robert Pulford: Red ribbon, Humorous Column (“The OG Grinch Is the Best Grinch”)
- Grace Peplinski: Yellow ribbon, News Based Feature (“Science at the South Pole”)
- Gabrielle Diaz: Yellow ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“Which Makes Thee Startle: A Story of Mice and Men”)
- Abby Gawrych: White ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“School Board Election 2017”)
- Maddie Aamodt: White ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“School Board Election 2017”)
- Kritika Gupta: White ribbon (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“School Board Election 2017”)
The Current competed in the large school division of the NEWSPA contest. The student news site is advised by Eric Beltmann.
The West Bend Current 