Three high school journalism programs in the Shawnee Mission School District are some of the “best of the best” of all time in the U.S., according to the National Scholastic Press Association.
Why it matters: The NSPA this past weekend recognized its “Pacemaker 100,” the top 100 student-run publications of the past 100 years.
- The Pacemaker is the top prize in scholastic journalism, recognizing annually the best student publications from the country, which the NSPA has been handing out since the 1920s.
- Schools that made the all-time top 100 received 10 points for each Pacemaker award they’ve won over the years and another 5 points each they were a finalist for a Pacemaker.
- The “Pacemaker 100” schools were recognized during the in-person NSPA convention this past weekend in St. Louis.
Local winners: Overall, student-run publications from three schools in SMSD were named to the Pacemaker 100.
- Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Lair yearbook, which has earned 23 Pacemaker awards over the years and had three finalists, came in at #1.
- Shawnee Mission North’s Indian yearbook, with 18 Pacemaker awards and four finalists, landed at #4. SM North changed the name of the yearbook to The Brickhouse following the mascot change, though The Pacemaker 100 list still shows the original name of the yearbook.
- Shawnee Mission East’s Hauberk yearbook tied, with 15 Pacemaker awards and five finalists, for #9.
- The Harbinger and The Harbinger Online, both of SM East, and The Northwest Passage, SM Northwest’s student newspaper, also both landed on the top 100 list.
Key quote: “I believe the Shawnee Mission district is the powerhouse of scholastic journalism,” said Laura Widmer, NSPA executive director. “It has been for decades and it continues to be. It’s always amazing that people ask the question where are the strong journalism programs, and it’s like it’s in Kansas and it’s in Missouri.”
What they’re saying: The three journalism advisers at these schools — Becky Tate at SM North, Dow Tate at SM East and Susan Massy at SM Northwest — credit students’ hard work for placing so high in the top 100.
- Becky Tate said the dynamic between the district’s five journalism advisers, which she compared to a sibling relationship, was also key.
- Massy said the advisers can compete against each other for awards, but help each other — and each other’s students — out.
- Dow Tate said that the work he and the students do isn’t about the awards but more about those initially reluctant students who gain confidence over the years and end up leading other students.
Another key quote: “Certainly I am disappointed if we don’t get [the awards], I mean, I am, but when we’re making the book or making the newspaper, I’m not focused on, is this going to impress the judges or not?” Massy said. “We’re focused on what is the best publication we can put out, what’s the best information we can give to our student body, how can we help them remember the year, how can we help them remember what it’s like to be a teenager.”
Shawnee Mission district’s comments
Kristin Babcock, Shawnee Mission’s communications coordinator, told the Post via email that having three publications in an “all time” top 10 was an incredible achievement.
- Babcock said the district congratulates “every educator and student represented in this recognition of the best of the best,” as well as the current students and educators .
- “This accomplishment demonstrates the talent and hard work of our students, and highlights the commitment our educators show to preparing students for their futures,” Babcock said.
