Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Two House High School students were honored Saturday for placing at the New Mexico Scholastic Press Association’s state journalism competition.
Senior Evelyn Garrett took second place in the news photography competition. Gilbert Swaim, a junior, finished third in editorial writing.
The March 6 competition was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 90 student journalists from across the state participated in the competition. Participants learned where they placed during a virtual awards ceremony Saturday morning.
This is the second year Garrett and Swaim have earned honors at the competition. Last year, Garrett finished first in newspaper photojournalism, while Swaim finished third in sports writing.
“Due to COVID-19, the challenges of taking pictures this year were very hard,” Garrett said. “I’m happy to know that I had good enough pictures to win second place.”
For the photography contest, entrants were required to submit their three best news photos and explain their technical and artistic choices to a judge. For writing contests, entrants were given information and a prompt the morning of the competition and were required to produce entries on the spot.
Swaim took on a new challenge by entering the editorial writing contest, as the House High School newspaper, The House Roundup, does not publish editorials written by students.
“I’m happy that I was able to go into a writing style I have little experience doing and still (was) able to place in the top three,” Swaim said.
Superintendent Bonnie Lightfoot praised Garrett and Swaim.
“These students work diligently to learn from their teacher all the tricks of the trade. I am proud of their creativity and eagerness,” she said. “The virtual nature of education these days is definitely an obstacle, but these kids, and their sponsor, are committed to overcome adversities.”
Journalism teacher Emily Priddy praised the students’ work.
“The pandemic has created all kinds of logistical issues for our student photographers, and Evelyn had to work around some significant obstacles to produce award-winning images,” she said. “Meanwhile, Gilbert basically walked in cold and took third place in the state with a type of writing he’d never tried before. I’m super-proud of both of them.”