Westminster Publications Receive Top Ratings

The National Scholastic Press Association has rated Westminster’s newspaper and yearbook “First Class with One Mark of Distinction.”

“We are typically at the top of schools locally. For the last two years we have been consistently getting first class, which is close to All-American (first class with four marks of distinction),” said Scott Vonder Bruegge, newspaper and yearbook advisor.

The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) is a nonprofit membership organization that offers a publication critique service to high school publications such as newspapers and yearbooks.

“I’m impressed with both staffs. They see the value in not wasting their time, and they want to do something worthwhile,” said Vonder Bruegge.

In addition to participating in NPSA, the yearbook is part of the Southern Illinios Scholastic Press Association competition each winter and has placed in the Golden Dozen, an award for the top 12 yearbooks in this region of the country. The newspaper participates in Sponsors of School Publications in the spring.

“A lot of schools never send anything to be critiqued, it’s purely voluntary,” said Vonder Bruegge.

Vonder Bruegge attributes the success to students’ motivation to excel and to have a good program. Last year’s newspaper editor-in-chief, Danielle Cicka, was pleased with the award the Wildcat Roar recieved.

“I was ecstatic about the award the newspaper staff received, especially considering it was the highest distinction the staff had ever received.  I knew the staff really stepped up their game, and it was wonderful to have that solidified and recognized with the distinction,” said Cicka.

Vonder Bruegge has always encouraged students to “Find your voice and say something significant.”

He would love to see both the paper and the yearbook become consistently rated All-American publications in the future. As for improvements, Vonder Bruegge believes that both the yearbook and the newspaper must work to develop the multimedia part of their programs.

“If everything happens right, we’ll have a broadcast journalism class next year,” said Vonder Bruegge.