Every
year Smoke Signals enters their newspaper
issues into several different competitions.
This year we are very proud to bring home
third place in the Florida Times Union 2007
High School Journalism Award competition.
Schools from all around northeast Florida
entered their newspaper in hopes of winning
a few titles, and getting some good
critiques from the journalists at the Times
Union. For the past three years Parker has
entered their newspaper and placed in
various categories over the years. This
year, being our last, we were more than
satisfied to bring home third place overall
best newspaper. We also won a first place
title with our advertising designs and an
honorable mention with one of our editorials
that had been written by Alexis Gornail.
Along with the title of third place, we were
awarded a check for $150 and $30 in the form
of a gift card to Barnes and Nobel
bookstore. We placed behind Stanton; who won
first place, and Paxon, who won second
place. Terry Parker did beat Douglas
Anderson, Bishop Kenny, Bolles, Fletcher,
and many other schools who were also entered
into the competition. Finally Parker has
something to bring to the table in the realm
of "A" schools.
Carole Fader ,
Deputy managing editor The Florida Times
Union said, "You have to have a lot of time
to pore over this paper because there’s much
to digest. It’s organized but frenetic, yet
that dichotomy has appeal because there’s
something for everyone: news, information,
entertainment, jokes, reader participation
and opinions. Most stories are short and to
the point, and opinion pieces, although more
conversational in tone than typical
editorials, encompass a variety of topics -
including the needless escort service to
school bathrooms provided by security
guards. Copy editing needs some attention
and sources need to be specified for
non-staff written material, but overall this
paper was among the most provocative - and
most fun to read."
In June we are
now eligible to compete for State
recognition, competing with over 200
technical colleges and high schools in
Florida. Smoke Signals has won State, first
place in graphic design for the past three
years. Terry Parker is about to loose one of
it’s finest assets, our adviser, Ms. Kathryn
Abbruzzese. After this issue Smoke Signals
will only be a memory for the school to
recognize as something that was great. There
will no longer be a printed Smoke Signals,
but a new class is being formed to keep the
legacy going online.
