Legacy’s 2009 yearbook, The Arena, received nomination for NSPA’s annual Pacemaker award. The winners will be announced at the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Portland on April 15-18. This is the 2009 book’s second national award.
“There’s always that category I never thought I would win. I never thought I could be there,” Journalism Adviser Leland Mallett said. “Considering two years ago we had eight kids on the staff and they didn’t know what a pica was [it feels] really good.”
Judges selected Legacy’s book from 425 entries and approximately 25 of the 52 finalists will receive the Pacemaker award. Senior Destinee Hardin attributes the nomination to the effort last year’s staff put into it.
“It took a lot of hard work, making sure that we had our quotes and making sure that we went to games,” Hardin said. “We were really consistent. There were a lot of good ideas and we just kept to the theme. I think we deserved it.”
Also being a recipient of CSPA’s Crown Award, Hardin feels The Arena has a better chance of securing the pacemaker.
“We were running behind a lot last year on our schedule and our deadlines and it’s really amazing that we pulled it out and we could get an award,” junior Carly Smith said. “It’s a big honor. That’s for sure.”
Rita • Feb 16, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Yearbook staff should feel extremely proud. Seems it’s equated to winning a Pulitzer!
“The National Pacemaker Awards …….. are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the ‘Pulitzer Prizes of student journalism.’ ” – Wikipedia