Congratulations to the 23/24 December/January Monthly Contest Winners!

In the highly competitive KSPA December/January contest, Bishop Miege High School emerged as a dominant force, securing top positions in Academics Photography, Infographics, Yearbook Copy, and Yearbook Layout. Shawnee Mission East High School showcased a formidable performance, leading in Sports Photography, Sports Writing, and Video News. Mill Valley High School demonstrated its excellence by excelling in Feature Writing, Multimedia Storytelling, and securing positions in Photo Illustration, News Page Design, and Yearbook Layout. Notably, Blue Valley Northwest made its mark in Feature Writing and Infographics. These schools not only displayed their individual strengths but also contributed significantly to the overall diversity and quality of talent in the Kansas high school journalism scene.

Academics Photography

first place: Academics Photography: Madi Nelson: Bishop Miege High School

Hands in the air, sophomore Katherine Mcgee defends herself after getting the answer to a historical question wrong during scholar’s bowl practice. Scholar’s bowl is an academic team that competes with other schools in their knowledge of subjects such as math, science, arts, literature, and current events. “We have people who are super energetic,” Mcgee said. “Everyone brings life in their own way.”

second place: Academics Photography: Gia Tuso: Shawnee Mission East High School

Receiving the first place medal at the Eastern Regional Deca Competition in the automotive services category, junior Sam Day celebrates his win on stage. “You get 10 minutes with a prompt and paper to come up with a pitch for a judge,” Day said. “My prompt was to come up with a way to get women into automotive mechanic careers. My ideas were to use social media; Instagram, Tik Tok, that kind of thing to hire influencers. Use the idea that a mechanic is not a man’s job necessarily.”

third place: Academics Photography: Cooper Evans: Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S.

Laughing, sophomores Emery Ledbetter and Daniel Leahy rest during a break Jan. 17 in Room 37. Ledbetter enjoys playing the cello in orchestra with his friend, Leahy. “It is fun, we get to play lots of different music,” Ledbetter said.

Feature Writing

first place: Feature Writing: Alyssa Gagnon, Adria Heinauer : Blue Valley Northwest
second place: Feature Writing: Harper Latta, Nafsiya Hafiz: Blue Valley Northwest
third place: Feature Writing: Anna Zwahlen, Evan LeRoy, Barron Fox: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

Infographics

first place: Infographics: Annie McGuire: Bishop Miege High School

second place: Infographics: Avery Clement: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

third place: Infographics: Jackie Chang: Blue Valley High School

Multimedia Storytelling

first place: Multimedia Storytelling: Ava Bittner, Emma Clement, Madelyn Mulryan, Barron Fox: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

News Page Design

first place: News Page Design: Luna Hu: Lawrence Free State High School
second place: News Page Design: Erika Spencer, Noa Vacek: Shawnee Mission South High School
third place: News Page Design: Olivia Peters: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

News Writing

first place: News Writing: Emma Clement, Madelyn Mulryan: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)
second place: News Writing: Eric Vacek: Shawnee Mission South High School
third place: News Writing: Bryce Mallory: Olathe West High School

Opinion Writing

first place: Opinion Writing: Zoe Nixon: Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S.
second place: Opinion Writing: Jesus Lara Rivera: Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S.
third place: Opinion Writing: Emma Clement, Madelyn Mulryan: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

Photo Illustration

first place: Photo Illustration: Greta Grist: Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S.

Staffing issues and students poor treatment of restrooms at Northwest cause issues to arise

second place: Photo Illustration: Jacob Ziesenis: Eudora High School

third place: Photo Illustration: Quin Peters: Mill Valley High School (Habiger)

Two JagWire reporters take sides on the topic of cheating: should the definition of cheating change with the times or should students embrace learning without cheating?

Portrait

first place: Portrait: Abby Kennedy: Eudora High School

UNDER PRESSURE Senior Max Mitchell solves a math problem in his head, at the ready to buzz, while his teammates work through it on their notecards at League Scholar’s Bowl, Jan. 17, 2024. Mitchell has been part of the Cardinal Scholars Bowl team for three years, and has watched each member grow in their respective categories. “It’s a team I can be a part of with like-minded individuals who have the same interests as me,” he said.

second place: Portrait: Andrew Sharber: Blue Valley High School

SONGS FOR THE SOUL. The annual holiday show hosted by BV’s Tri-M Honor Society took place on Dec. 14. Junior Theshiona Fleming, pictured above, showcases her singing abilities while performing the classic carol “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” “When I’m performing I feel at peace,” Fleming said. “That is why I love being in Tri-M — I’m surrounded by people who share that same passion for the performing arts. Fleming, along with other members of the Tri-M Honor Society finished the night with a group performance of “Feliz Navidad” and “had a wonderful time giving the audience a show, while also raising money for the musical arts department.” said Fleming.

third place: Portrait: Kate Pedrotti: Bishop Miege High School

With his fist clenched, sophomore Conner Marshall throws a punch at a punching bag. During the Christmas Social on Dec. 12, the U.S. Army brought a punching bag to test student’s strength. “Everyone was doing it, so I thought it was interesting.” Marshall said.

Sports Photography

first place: Sports Photography: Maggie Wells: Shawnee Mission East High School

Sprinting towards the finish line after a 5k at the Baldwin Invitational cross country meet, sophomore Ben Glasier tries his best to beat his competitor who he had befriended over the course of the race. “We usually just congratulate each other after the race, but I just happened to talk to that guy a lot,” Glasier said. “We talked every couple of minutes because we kept going in front and behind each other, and we made a lot of moves together.”

second place: Sports Photography: Miranda Henry: Blue Valley High School

THE HAY IS IN THE BARN. Pinning his opponent from Turner High School at the Blue Valley Northwest Husky Invitational on Jan. 20, sophomore Colin Meuret puts up a fight to win his match. As an underclassman, Meuret is experiencing varsity-level competition, and “although it was really tough, I loved getting the opportunity to improve as a person and wrestler,” he said.

third place: Sports Photography: Mara Somogye: Blue Valley Southwest High School

During a bowling meet on Jan. 24, senior Molly Freeman waters her teammates take their turn. Freeman’s lane consisted of sophomore Molly Harding and freshman Megan Freeman, her fellow teammates.

Sports Writing

first place: Sports Writing: Maile Tormohlen: Shawnee Mission East High School
second place: Sports Writing: Sophia Jackson: Shawnee Mission Northwest H.S.
third place: Sports Writing: Daniel Sullivan: Bishop Miege High School

Student Life Photography

first place: Student Life Photography: Addi Bahr: Blue Valley Southwest High School

Trophy in hand, senior Dylan Dunn is surrounded by peers and teammates at an assembly celebrating him as the 41st Thomas A. Simone Award winner on Dec. 6. The Simone award is given to the best football player in the Kansas City Metro area each year. Dunn was also recognized as a selected member of the All Simone Team along with fellow players seniors Alex Parks and Tate Everard.

second place: Student Life Photography: Jacey Hampton: Blue Valley High School

On stage, freshman Isabelle Liekhus sings in the fall musical, Newsies. As a part of the ensemble she creates the setting for the story to unfold. Liekhus got the opportunity to play various supporting roles including a nun and a newsie. The cast performed a matinee to display their hard work to fellow students. “It was an unforgettable experience,” Liekhus said. “With it being my first real show I loved how rewarding it was seeing the final product.”

third place: Student Life Photography: Rachel King: Blue Valley Northwest

The Pup Pack Dance Clinic performed during halftime of the Blue Valley Northwest basketball game on Dec. 7th. Senior dance team captain Saylor Schultz said working with the kids is a fun experience. “I love performing with them and seeing how proud they are once they are done,” Schultz said.