CCHS publications take over FSPA States

BY ABBIE TUSCHMAN

For many CCHS Cowboys, there are certain defining weekends throughout their four years at CCHS. For the thrill-seekers, it’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios. For the aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s DECA Nationals. But for journalism and broadcast students, one weekend that stands out from the rest is that spent at the FSPA State Convention.

The CCHS publications CTV, The Round Up and The Lariat attended The Florida Scholastic Press Association (FSPA) 2018 State Convention from April 12-14 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. For several of the attending CCHS students, this was their first time at the annual FSPA State Convention. Despite any initial uncertainty, many new students found themselves delighted with the learning experiences and success that the publications found at the convention.

Despite any initial uncertainty, many new students found themselves delighted with the learning experiences and success that the publications found at the convention.

“As a sophomore and this being my first year in CTV, my first FSPA experience was amazing,” CTV member Christopher Will said. “From competing to just hanging out with all the publications, it was an incredible convention.”

On the first day of the convention, the publications participated in various on-the-spot contests. The wide range of competitions included group collaborations on yearbook or newspaper spreads, individual photography assignments and commercials by broadcast teams.

The wide range of competitions included group collaborations on yearbook or newspaper spreads, individual photography assignments and commercials by broadcast teams.

“I competed in the on-the-spot Team Yearbook competition which was pretty stressful at the beginning [because we were] trying to get everything figured out for our spread,” The Round Up Underclass Editor Kimber Counts said. “But once we [had] it figured out, it went very well. We submitted our spread about three minutes before deadline which was scary but, in the end, it was all worth it and we had a good time.”

The following day, students moved on to breakout sessions. These informational sessions are used to teach publications different techniques, share insider tips or show journalism and broadcast students how to transform their high school passion into a career.

The publications celebrated their time at FSPA that night with a banquet and the high school and middle school dances. After spending a couple days in Orlando together, students from the three CCHS publications came to better know and understand one another.

After spending a couple days in Orlando together, students from the three CCHS publications came to better know and understand one another.

“Before FSPA, I didn’t know much of the other students from the other [CCHS] publications,” CTV member and freshman Matheus Lima said. “But [during] FSPA, I was with the other publications and I noticed that we all have the same goal- making journalism the best, most accurate and most unbiased as possible.”

Awards won for On-the-Spot and Best of the Best:

CTV On-the-Spot First Place Broadcast Man on the Street Jacob Mayer, Melissa Luque, Jenna Knight, Brianna Franco

CTV On-the-Spot Third Place News Package Andrew Rothschild, Matthew Schwam

CTV On-the-Spot Third Place Team Broadcast

The Lariat Best of the Best Newspaper Opinion Page Genna Nordling

The Lariat Best of the Best Review Casey Chapter

The Lariat On-the-Spot First Place Alternative Coverage Module Genna Nordling

The Lariat On-the-Spot Honorable Mention News Photo Ryan Sullivan

The Round Up On-the-Spot Second Place Editorial Photography Atiya Pitaktrakul

The Round Up On-the-Spot Third Place News Photo Raquel Gonzalez

Photo by Ryan Sullivan