Journalism students from the Marquee yearbook, The Muse and “DSOA Today” joined 5,510 other young journalists, advisers, exhibitors and schools from across the country at the annual National Scholastic Press Association convention on Nov. 14 in Boston, Mass.

They selected and attended daily seminars on numerous topics, from advanced Photoshop techniques and column writing and layout design, to video editing, journalism laws and ethics and trauma reporting.

“The classes I attended really showed me what I was doing wrong in my writing and my photos,” said communications sophomore Jack Regan. “They gave me information on how I could make the muse better overall.”

Some students, like communications junior Mackenzie White, even met Mary Beth Tinker, most commonly known as the plaintiff in the 1969 Tinker vs. De Moines Supreme Court case that ruled in favor of First Amendment rights for students. White got the chance to speak to Tinker about her own brawl with administrative censorship when it came to writing a controversial story about a transgender student’s experiences.

“[Tinker] was given a copy of my article and I explained to her the background of the story,” White said. “She loved that even though the story got pushed back, we still published it.”

Tinker was promoting her “Tinker Tour,” in which she travels around the country giving “real-life civics lessons to schools and communities” through her own personal experiences and those of others.

“It was incredible meeting someone so historically significant,” White said. “She even gave me a shout out in one of her seminars.”

White, however, was not the only one who walked away from NSPA with a smile on her face. The Muse received—for the fifth time—a Pacemaker Award, the highest national honor awarded to student publications. It also placed 5th in the “Best of Show” category, which had all Muse staffers and editors, like communications junior and layout editor Remi Lederman, jumping in joy.

“When they called us for fifth best in show it was like the world stopped,” Lederman said. “I ran down the isle towards the editors and I tripped over a bag and into [communications senior] Jennifer Yoon’s arms. I don’t think I have ever smiled harder; It was the most rewarding moment of my life.”

Communications junior Madeleine Fitzgerald’s eyes also lit up when she received an Honorable Mention for NSPA’s News Story of the Year.

“It was incredible knowing that I was selected from thousands of applicants and that I was able to represent The Muse to the best of my abilities,” Fitzgerald said. “It was an honor.”

Communications alumna (’13) Francesca Otero-Vargas and communications junior Ximena Hasbach-Covian were also nominated and received fifth place for Editorial/Opinion Story of the Year.

Among the journalistic victories were ten other students who also won individual awards for  their on-site competitions, otherwise known as national write-offs.

Honorable Mentions:

Charles Bonani (communications senior) – Sports Writing

Kyle Bell (communications senior) –Graphic Design: Infographics

Valeria Rivadeneira (communications senior) – Newswriting

Madeline Fitzgerald (communications junior) – Broadcast Newswriting

Remi Lederman (communications junior) – Newsmagazine: Layout

Excellent:

Marissa Ogburn (strings senior) – Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics

Aliett Buttelman  (communications senior) –Broadcast Commercial/PSA

Michael Santomaso (communications junior) – Broadcast Commercial/PSA

Mackenzie White (communications junior) – News Editing/Headline Writing

Superior:

Camille Sanches (communications senior) – Commentary Writing.