NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
March 27, 2012 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
Walnut Yearbook Wins Gold
WALNUT, CA--Walnut High School’s 2011 Cayuse yearbook has received the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s (CSPA) highest honor, the Gold Crown.
Publications Advisor Rebecca Chai, and editors-in-chief Ann Lei and Stephany Yong traveled to New York City to participate in the annual conference. They received the Gold Crown award during the 2012 Awards Convocation on March 16.
The Board of Crown Judges evaluated publications based on writing/editing, design, content, concept, photography, art, and graphics.
This year, 22 yearbooks from across the United States received the top Gold Crown award.
“It's a huge honor for our staff to be recognized for something we love. This motivates us to continue producing quality work for Walnut students,” said senior Stephanie Yong.
“The theme "Open Here" for the 2011 yearbook captured the identity of the campus, open to new ideas, students and opportunities, yet always adhering to the tradition of community that you can only find here at Walnut,” she said.
CSPA is an international student press association uniting student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges and award programs. It is owned and operated by Columbia University in New York City.
“The trip to New York held special meaning because I received the award with two of the four Editors-in-Chief (EICs) who were in charge of the book last year,” Chai said.
As Publications Advisor, Chai works with the yearbook, print newspaper, and online news site.
Herff Jones representative Mimi Orth helped mentor yearbook students every other Friday. She critiqued the pages to help students improve upon their work, Chai said.
The Open Here book had two senior and two junior EICs.
It was very special that Stephany and Ann were able to personally receive the award for their book. Editors-in-Chief are usually seniors and away at college when their book goes into competition, Chai explained.
The Walnut students attended workshops at Columbia University on Wednesday and Thursday in the morning.
“Then in the afternoons and evenings we did our best to take in the city by attending a Knicks game, walking around Times Square and Wall Street, eating at the famous restaurants in New York, and going to the Met,” Chai said. On the last day, the group visited Rockefeller Center before attending the awards event at Columbia University.
Shown:
Walnut High seniors Ann Lei and Stephany Yong with advisor Rebecca Chai win the Gold Crown Award.
Ann Lei and Stephany Yong proudly show the award.
The “Open Here” yearbook won the highest CSPA award, the Gold Crown.
Walnut High students at Columbia University after the awards ceremony.
Walnut High students and advisor on campus for workshops at Columbia University.