In late April, 26 staff members from Knight Life traveled to Lansing, MI for the annual MIPA awards where there were over 5,000 entries. MIPA, which stands for the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, is run through Michigan State University and was founded in 1921 to train, promote, and recognize excellence in journalism among middle and high schoolers. To explain this easily, MIPA awards are to journalism and yearbook students as the state championship is to a high school football team. Thousands of students across the state of Michigan sent in their work to be judged and placed, including 68 submissions from Loy Norrix. There are many different categories judged such as ad layout, front page layout, diversity coverage, etc.
First place in special projects was awarded to Knight Life for the project SS:JAM which was an entire issue dedicated to military servicemen and women.
Congratulations to the following winners:
- Maxwell Evans: 2nd Place, News Story
- Reed Zapf: Honorable Mention, Sports Column
- Louis Mitchell: Honorable Mention, Sports Column
“I felt like my hard work really paid off,” said Mitchell.
- Constance Williams, 3rd Place, Comic Strip
- Maxwell Evans: 3rd Place, Sports News
- Asia Davis: 3rd Place, Environmental Health and Service Coverage
- Sarah Stevens: Honorable Mention, Ad Layout
“It was nice to see my layout appreciated,” said Stevens.
- Jacob Mays: 2nd Place, Photo Story
On top of so many winners, the print edition of Knight Life took home a silver award and the web edition took home bronze.
“I think that the amount of work we put in doesn’t reflect the medal and the placing that we got.” said Rachel Wheat.
