Rockwood Student Journalists Earn National, State Recognition
![Rockwood students smile in five separate pictures, along with MHSNews and CSPA logos.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743712315/rsdmoorg/tdwfbwaomc5o7bcdfajd/MHSCSPAAwards2025forweb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743712315/rsdmoorg/tdwfbwaomc5o7bcdfajd/MHSCSPAAwards2025forweb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743712315/rsdmoorg/tdwfbwaomc5o7bcdfajd/MHSCSPAAwards2025forweb.jpg","width":680}])
Rockwood Student Journalists Earn National, State Recognition
The Marquette Messenger/MHSNews student publication earned the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Gold Crown, multiple Marquette students earned national CSPA Gold Circle awards, and student journalists from all four Rockwood School District high schools received awards and recognition at the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association (MIJA) JDay event during the month of March.
This is only the second time in the publication's history that the Messenger has earned the CSPA Gold Crown, and this year's submission included the Messenger as well as the MHSNews broadcast platform. Marquette is one of only 19 high schools from around the country -- and one of two from Missouri -- to earn Gold in the Hybrid News category and one of only 73 high schools from around the nation and four from Missouri to earn a Gold overall.
A total of five current Marquette students and 2024 graduates also earned CSPA Gold Circle awards for their work during the 2023-2024 school year. This year's contest drew more than 5,600 entries, with only 1,125 earning first, second or third place or a Certificate of Merit (honorable mention).
Senior Anvi Talyan earned first place in Magazine Alternative Story Form and Magazine Informational Graphic, 2024 graduate Elliott Jorgensen earned third in Video News Package, and 2024 graduate Myles Edgington and Jorgensen (Video Feature Package), Jorgensen (Video News Package), 2024 graduate Rhianna Li (Video Feature Package) and senior Layla Shockley (Newspaper Photo Illustration) earned Certificates of Merit. Marquette earned seven of Missouri's 34 Gold Circle national awards.
Student journalists from all four Rockwood high schools also earned awards and recognition at the MIJA JDay event and competition at the University of Missouri in Columbia on March 26, including Best of Show, All Missouri and MIJA Honor Roll mention. Rockwood students also earned marks of Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention for their work. Check below for more information about the MIJA JDay results.
Congratulations to these outstanding Rockwood student journalists!
MIJA JDay - Best of Show (141 total from around the state)
- Emily Chien, Marquette, Online/Print News Feature
- Gabe Conaway, Marquette, Broadcast News Feature
- Hannah Goellner, Rockwood Summit, Yearbook Traditional Package--Student Life
- Kate Jesperson, Marquette, Online/Print Sports Reporting
- Caleb Monzyk and Anvi Talyan, Marquette, Online Stories Package
- Samantha Perz, Marquette, Online/Print In-Depth Feature
- Layla Shockley, Marquette, Photography/Graphic Editorial Cartoon
- Messenger Staff, Overall Newspaper/Newsmagazine
- Messenger Staff, Online Overall
MIJA JDay - All Missouri (209 total from around the state)
- Abby Amin, Kenna Kohl, Anna Mowry and Vivian Murawski, Eureka, Yearbook Traditional Package--Sports
- James Beers, Marquette, Broadcast Sports Feature Story
- Stephan Bosnjak, Marquette, Broadcast Human Interest Feature (two different entries)
- Emily Chien and David Moss, Marquette, Online/Print Centerspread/Doubletruck Page Design
- Morgan Clark and Caleb Pickens (editors), Eureka, EHS Hub, Online Overall
- Maddy Cox, Lafayette, Social Media (onsite contest winner)
- Trevi Guest, Rockwood Summit, Yearbook Traditional Package--Student Life
- Kate Jesperson, Marquette, Photography/Graphics Photo Illustration and Sports--Action
- Lylah Kimberlin, Lafayette, Broadcast Human Interest Feature
- Theo Koury and Rishit Sohaney, Lafayette, Online/Print Sports Reporting
- Caleb Monzyk and David Moss, Marquette, Online/Print In-Depth Feature
- David Moss, Marquette, Online/Print News Writing
- Owen Plein, Marquette, Broadcast News Feature
- Maddie Roberts, Lafayette, Yearbook Traditional Package--Sports
MIJA JDay - Honor Roll (115 seniors from around the state)
- Abby Amin, Eureka
- James Beers, Marquette
- Audrey Clark, Eureka
- Morgan Clark, Eureka
- Katie Criswell, Eureka
- Heidi Daffron, Eureka
- Robbie Diener, Eureka
- Jackson Emerson, Eureka
- Luke Graves, Marquette
- Alexis Helms, Eureka
- Miranda Kiefer, Eureka
- Sam Lewis, Eureka
- Willow Powell, Rockwood Summit
- Adeline Stephens, Eureka
- Jackson Vardeman, Eureka
- Addie White, Rockwood Summit
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