Senior Kori Keeter qualified for state in news writing, feature writing, editorial writing and copy editing, and she is the alternate to state in headline writing. She also competed in current events at the regional meet. Freshman Liam Shewmake was an alternate for state in computer science. However, someone else had dropped out before Shewmake, allowing him to advance to state.
Senior Maddox Mayo placed fourth in ready writing and sophomore Adelyn Winter placed fourth in feature writing, making both of them alternates to state.
“I knew that focusing on journalism events would give me a better chance at advancing to state,” Keeter said.
Thirteen students, seniors Keeter, Shianne Bracey, Chloe Hibbs, Samuel Gilmore, Mayo, juniors Brilee Canada, Madelyn Tedrow, Jocelyn Tedrow, sophomores Winter, Reed Truette and freshman Lyla Nichols, Shewmake and Kylen Morris qualified for region. They competed at Grayson College in Denison in their respective events on April 24.
Nichols qualified for region in poetry and said that being able to have fun in her event was an important part of competing.
“I enjoyed poetry because I was able to act out my poems as much as I wanted to instead of reading them,” Nichols said. “I did poetry last year, and it’s my favorite, so I’ll continue to do it throughout high school.”
Senior Mayo said that reading literature helps him improve his writing by thinking more creatively.
“Between district and region, I did try to improve my grammar and the flow of my reasoning in my writing,” Mayo said. “I read more works by Albert Camus, specifically his essay on Sisyphus. Hopefully, with my knowledge and writing skills, college work, or any higher form of education I undertake, will be easy.”
Morris said that staying up with current events was difficult. He said he was surprised by himself and his team, and that he looks forward to the years to come.
“Studying for current events was not easy,” Morris said. “I did my best to make educated guesses on topics I was unsure about. I was quite surprised with myself and my team that we got first in current events and advanced to region. I look forward to next year.”
