The Solon High School Courier staff had a successful outing at the 2018 Ohio Scholastic Media Association (OSMA) state conference at Kent State University on April 6, finishing in third place in the “Online Newspaper” category.

The Courier’s staff members also reaped the rewards of their individual efforts this year, with nine staff members bringing in 20 total individual awards. In order for a student to be nominated for an individual award out of 54 different categories, they had to submit a printed copy of their desired article or other media to OSMA in January. Eligible media ranged from news articles to physical newspaper layouts to yearbooks. These forms of media were then distributed to numerous judges, who then decided whether or not to commend the media. Types of media could be awarded a Superior, Excellent or Honorable Mention distinction. Courier staff members took home awards from all three ranks.

Superior:

• Madison McGirr, Online News Story
• Jake Novack, Sports Feature and Review
• Melissa Ellin, Infographic
• Marika Atwah, Art (non-editorial)

Excellent:

• Christina Cartwright, Personality Profile
• Julia Schwartz, Personality Profile and Online Opinion
• Maya Duplik, Online News Story, Narrative
• Jake Novack, Online Package
• Megan Lebowitz, News Feature
• Melissa Ellin, Online Opinion
• Lexi Sussman, Art (non-editorial)

Honorable Mention:

• Christina Cartwright, Newswriting, Sports Feature, Review
• Madison McGirr, News Feature, Online Interactive Quiz
• Maya Duplik, Online Sports Story (2)