Maine South Student Newspaper Earns National Recognition

The Maine South High School student newspaper, Southwords, is a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Award finalist based on the 2021-2022 critique of the newspaper's issues. This is the first time in the history of Southwords it has earned this level of achievement from Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Southwords is one of just 11 print newspaper finalists in the entire country. The publication is now in the running for a Gold or Silver Crown at the Awards Convocation in New York City in March.

In addition, Southwords earned a First Class rating with three Marks of Distinction (for Coverage & Content, Text and Presentation) from the National Scholastic Press Association. The "Just for Kicks" cover design by Class of 2022 editors Eden Wening, John Biagi, Lily Niziolek and Elizabeth Ryser earned fifth place in the nation for 2022 Design of the Year in the Newspaper Front Page category.

Finally, earlier this fall, Southwords was also one of three newspapers in the region to earn All-KEMPA honors from the Kettle Moraine Press Association.

"The Southwords students consistently model the Hawk PRIDE framework as they work diligently to produce a publication that our community can be proud of, and it is gratifying to see these efforts recognized nationally," says Southwords Advisor Alexander Stathakis.