Lion newspaper lands gold at convention

Lyons Township High School's student newspaper, Lion, won not just one but two Golden Eagle trophies for both print and online news at the recent Northern Illinois School Press Association (NISPA) convention at the College of DuPage, signifying the highest award for overall journalism excellence among NISPA members. Lion amassed several individual awards.

Seven LT students placed in 10 individual contests, with six Blue Ribbons and four Honorable Mentions.

OVERALL NEWSPAPER CONTEST: Lion won the Golden Eagle award, the highest distinction the newspaper could win.

NEWS WRITING: Honorable Mention article about the life of Alexis Shapiro

Grace Dekoker- Senior, LaGrange & Harper Hill- Senior, Western Springs

FEATURE WRITING: Blue Ribbon article about the retirement of Mary Yena

Harper Hill- Senior, Western Springs

EDITORIAL WRITING: Honorable Mention argument about the Speak-up Line

Greg Smith- Senior, Western Springs

TEAM IN-DEPTH REPORTING: Honorable Mention story on the pregnancy center opening in LaGrange

Lars Lonnroth- Senior, LaGrange & Pilar Valdes- Senior, Countryside

INDIVIDUAL IN-DEPTH REPORTING: Blue Ribbon article on the proposed cuts to district 86

Mary Okkema- Senior, LaGrange

SPORTS: Blue Ribbon article on Scott Walker’s retirement from coaching

Grace Dekoker- Senior, LaGrange

GRAPHICS: Honorable Mention graphic about intramural soccer

Pilar Valdes- Senior, Countryside

OVERALL ONLINE CONTEST: For the first time in LT history, Lion website earned Golden Eagle distinction, the highest distinction a website can receive.

WEB BREAKING NEWS: Blue Ribbon coverage of the SC lockdown

Lars Lonnroth- Senior, LaGrange & Taylor Schmitt- Senior, LaGrange

WEB VIDEO PRODUCTION: Blue Ribbon coverage of the district 86 BOE meeting

Lars Lonnroth- Senior, LaGrange

WEB MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE: Blue Ribbon coverage of the substance abuse survey at LT

Lars Lonnroth- Senior, LaGrange