Journalism Awards for DHS Students

has some excellent writers and journalists. Just take a look at the school news and features magazine, Carpe Diem, or the student-run website 3Ten.

The students have received more outside recognition, as explained by the City Schools of Decatur.

Decatur High School's journalism staff has received top honors from two national journalism organizations.

The National Scholastic Press Association, based at the University of Minnesota, awarded the school magazine Carpe Diem the rating of "All-American" with marks of distinction in concept, content, writing and editing, and photography and graphics.

"Students emulate the professionals," wrote judge Lisa Sage. "I repeatedly found myself admiring the use of transitions in writing."

Quill and Scroll, a scholastic journalism organization based at the University of Iowa, honored the staff with the George H. Gallup Award. The critique highlighted the "strong representation of people and their lives. Outstanding concept of seeing a story and then presenting it."

In April, the staff was awarded the Newsmagazine General Excellence award.

Jon Reese has advised the staff for 20 years. "These critiques reward the students' dedication and reinforce the areas we need to work on improving," he said. "I'm lucky to work with amazing students who care so much about doing high quality work."