Recognition
This school year, the McHenry Messenger, its staff and its contributors have earned the following honors from outside organizations…
Illinois Women’s Press Associations’s 2024 High School Communications Contest
Started in 1885, the IWPA is an organization of communications professionals whose objective is to maintain and improve the professional standards of members in mass communications in Illinois, to promote their interest, and to provide for the sharing of ideas and information. First place winners of their annual contest go on to compete in the National Federation of Press Women’s High School Communications Contest.
“MCHS cancels in-person learning Friday” by Grace Crockett (first place, News Story)
“Key Club Hosts Annual Gift Wrapping Event” by Reilly Byron (first place, Video News Story)
“A step further” by Lydia Lawrence and Lexi Janik (first place, Radio or Podcast Prepared Report)
“Countdown to Halloween | Urban legends of McHenry County” by Leylah Moreno (first place, News or Feature Photo)
“Teen girls ‘engulfed in growing wave of sadness,’ new national data finds” by Vanessa Moreno (second place, News Story)
“Still Fine” by Vanessa Moreno (second place, Feature Writing)
“Umm… Merry Christmas | Umm… Podcast Ep. 5” by Madisyn Spencer (second place, Radio or Podcast Prepared Report)
“Grace and Lace Owner Kelly Szarmek brings weddings to Warriors” by Alyssa Thomas (second place, Video Feature Story)
“Gallery | Rocket Relays (High Jump)” by Rose Wenckebach (second place, Sports Photography)
“Opinion | Let’s make this house a Homecoming” by Gabe Santos (third place, Opinion)
“WSM Visits McHenry’s Riverwalk Shoppes” by Maggie Maciaszek (third place, Video Feature Story)
“Lights on” by Lily Adams (honorable mention, Sports Story)
“Opinion: It’s time to confront racism at MCHS” by Lydia Lawrence (honorable mention, Opinion)
“Review | Reflecting on ‘The Last of Us'” by Leylah Moreno (honorable mention, Review)
“Gallery | Rocket Relays (Lady Warriors)” by Rose Wenckebach (honorable mention, Sports Photography)
Best of School Newspapers Online
School Newspapers Online (also known as SNO) is the platform that the McHenry Messenger uses to publish its online newspaper. They acknowledge the best stories being published on the SNO Sites network by labelling it as “Best of SNO” and republishing it on their website. The following articles have earned such designation this year:
“Have you seen the signs?” by Gabe Santos
“Crossing the bridge” by Lily Adams
“Creating a history” by Mackenzie Sroka
“More than just a victim” by Leylah Moreno and Gabe Santos
“People are people” by Mackenzie Sroka
“Proving the impossible” by Rose Wenckebach
Illinois High School Association State Journalism Tournament
Members of the McHenry Messenger’s staff competed alongside their fellow journalists from Warrior Student Media (including The Warrior Weekly and The Warrior) at the IHSA’s State Journalism Tournament. The following students placed in the top six at the tournament’s Sectional competition on April 6, 2024.
Rachel Kaminski – 1st in Advertising, 1st in Editorial Cartooning
Lydia Lawrence – 1st in Editorial Writing
Michalina Sotka – 2nd in Review Writing
Aika Villa – 3rd in Newspaper Layout
Grace Bellavia – 3rd in Photo Storytelling
Grace Crockett – 4th in News Writing
Emmanuel Sanchez – 4th in Radio News
Hunter Blake – 4th in Sports Writing
Leylah Moreno – 4th in Video News
Madison Harvey – 4th in Video News
Madisyn Spencer – 4th in Video News
Coco Levesque – 4th in Yearbook Layout
Kiera Miller – 5th in Yearbook Caption Writing
Eli Frommes – 5th in Yearbook Copy Writing
Lily Adams – 6th in Feature Writing
NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism
To earn the National Scholastic Press Association‘s Leadership Award in Student Journalism, a high school student must serve with distinction for at least two years on the staff of an NSPA-member broadcast, literary arts magazine, newspaper/newsmagazine, specialty magazine, website or yearbook. Students must also be in good academic standing and demonstrate journalistic excellence and staff leadership while maintaining the high ethical standards outlined in the NSPA Model Code of Ethics. Inductees are eligible to wear the NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism teal honor cord at graduation. The following students received this honor from the NSPA this year:
Hunter Blake
Paulina Borowski
Eli Frommes
Lydia Lawrence
Leylah Moreno
Gabe Santos
Mackenzie Sroka
Past Recognition
2022-2023
Highlights Include…
- All-State Journalism Team (IJEA)
- Third Best Overall Publication (IJEA)
- Fourth Place Team at IHSA State
- First Place in Copy Editing at IHSA State
- First Place Feature Story (IWPA)
- Frank Keegan Award for News (YJI)
2021-2022
Highlights Include…
- Online Pacemaker Nomination (NSPA)
- Third Best Overall Publication (IJEA)
- First Place Feature Story (IWPA)
- First Place in Photo Storytelling at IHSA State
2020-2021
Highlights Include…
- Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker Nomination (NSPA)
- Second Best Overall Publication (IJEA)
- Third in News Writing at IHSA State
- All-State Journalism Team (IJEA)
2019-2020
Highlights Include…
- Best Wesbite (IJEA)
- Third Best Hybrid Publication (IJEA)
- All-State Journalism Team (IJEA)