Students Receive Awards

Four JPIIHS Students Receive Awards At This Year’s TLA Texas Media Awards Ceremony

04/16/2009

Plano, Texas, April 15, 2009 - On April 2, 2009, the Texas Library Association hosted Texas Media Awards ceremony in Houston, Texas. Out of nine possible categories, John Paul II High School students were presented with awards in four of the 9-12 division categories. The theme for the 2009 TLA contest was "Creating Communities of Ideals & Innovations."

This year's Texas Media Awards were sponsored by the Texas Media Awards Committee, the Media and Related Technologies Round Table of the Texas Library Association, and Texas Association of School Librarians. The Texas Media Awards promote excellence in amateur media production and its importance in life-long learning. The annual tradition of offering a statewide event open to school-aged Texas residents began in 1988. Several qualified, impartial volunteers judge entries on criteria for each individual contest division and the students with winning entries receive their awards at the annual TMA ceremony.

John Paul II High School was well represented and placed in four separate categories. Freshman Caitlin DiBene received 1st place in Black and White Photography for her entry, "School Spirit." Senior Laura Taylor received 2nd place with her Multimedia Presentation of "What It Means to Dance." Senior Stephanie Groce, placed 2nd in the category of Graphic Design with her work entitled, "Eugene Onegin." The fourth win for JPIIHS was received by senior Lauren Lukacsko in which she placed 3rd in Digital Photography with her entry, "Reflecting First."

JPIIHS Media Specialist, Linda Berger comments, "Everyone at John Paul II High School is so proud of our students who contributed and placed in this year's competition. Stephanie's work, "Eugene Onegin" deserves special recognition given that her piece was chosen by the TLA to be used to promote the summer reading program in libraries across Texas. It's exciting to think that every time our students go to a school or a public library that participates in the Texas Teens Read! Summer Reading Program, Stephanie's poster and bookmarks will be on display."

The student's winning artwork will be displayed on campus at John Paul II High School.