Local student journalists earn 24 awards
Ten West Bend students have been recognized 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 24 awards in the 2020 Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association contest.
Editor in chief Samantha Dietel led the staff with seven awards, including top honors for her editorial about the importance of young voters. She also earned first place in the in-depth reporting category for her series about school safety.
“This was an impressive package with plenty of voices,” one of the judges said. “The anxiety that students feel was vividly expressed.”
In the sports feature category, Lily Mottet scored blue ribbon honors for her story about a group of football players who haven’t won a game together for eight years. Rachel Gergetz took first place in the academic news category by profiling two student inventors who engineered a solution to a schoolwide technology problem.
The Current competed in the large school division of the NEWSPA contest. Articles published between Feb. 28, 2019 and Feb. 28, 2020 were eligible. The student news site is advised by Eric Beltmann.
Full List of Awards
Samantha Dietel, Editor in Chief
- First place, In-Depth Reporting (“Safety Series II”)
- First place, Editorial (“Schools Must Encourage the Youth Vote”)
- Second place, General News Story (“Fear Grips Local Students After School Threats in Wisconsin”)
- Third place, News-Based Feature (“That’s the Ticket”)
- Third place, Personality Profile (“‘It Felt Like I Wasn’t Doing Enough’: Interview with Climate Activist Ally Bubb”)
- Fourth place, Stories That Promote Change (“Local Students Demand Government Action on Climate Change”)
- Fourth place, Entertaining Feature Story (“East Grad Worked Behind the Scenes at the Milwaukee Film Festival”)
Lily Mottet
- First place, Sports Feature (“West Seniors Aim to Break Eight-Year Losing Streak”)
- First place, Entertaining Feature Story (“Where’s Walter?”)
- Fourth place, Academic News Story (“The Return of Art History”)
- Fourth place (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“Decision 2019: School Board Election”)
Caitlin Marsch
- Second place, Sports News Story (“Competitive Winter Guard Enjoys Inaugural Season”)
- Second place, Personality Profile (“Feeding A Dream”)
- Honorable mention, Academic News Story (“Student Club Takes Over Patty’s Closet”)
Rachel Gergetz
- First place, Academic News Story (“Student Inventors Detangle the Chromebook Disaster”)
- Fourth place (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“Decision 2019: School Board Election”)
Megan Landvatter
- Second place, Academic News Story (“Navigating a New Path”)
- Honorable mention, General News Story (“Teacher Honored by US Field Artillery Association”)
Brandon Labecki
- Fifth place, Review (“Don’t Resist the New ‘Dark Crystal’ Series”)
- Honorable mention, Review (“Movie Review: I Lost My Body”)
Veda Selin
- Second place, News Photo (“What I Stand For Is What I Stand On”)
- Third place, News Photo (“The House Is On Fire”)
Olivia Langdon
- Second place, Essay and Series Photo (“Dolphins Game Show”)
Justin Scherzer
- Fourth place (shared), In-Depth Reporting (“Decision 2019: School Board Election”)
Elise Marlett
- Fifth place, Academic News Story (“Youth Impact Club Will Promote Mental Wellness”)
The Current Website
- Red ribbon honors
The West Bend Current 
Congratulations to the Current staff!
Lots of hardworking students getting recognized for their outstanding work – well done Current staff!