12 Top High School Journalists Honored

Twelve Orange County high school students were recognized Thursday for excellence in journalism at the second annual High School Journalism Awards Dinner sponsored by the Orange County Edition of the Los Angeles Times.

“The Times is proud to recognize the talent of these students,” said Narda Zacchino, editor of the Orange County Edition. “We have a commitment to encourage young journalists.”

Winners were chosen from entries published from September, 1986, to April, 1987.

Sunny Hills High School’s newspaper, the Accolade, was awarded first place in the Best Issue category. The Fullerton school received $1,000 for its journalism program. A Panasonic typewriter was awarded to co-editor Alice Davis.

An honorable mention certificate was given to Elena Camaras, editor of Corona del Mar High’s Trident.

First place winners for best editorial, news, sports and feature stories also received Panasonic typewriters.

Douglas Erdman of San Clemente High was the first-place winner in the best news story category for his story about a bomb scare. The honorable mention in that category was awarded to Janet Otsuki of Sunny Hills High for her story on the state’s new pass-to-play rule for school athletes.

Nora Winkel of University High in Irvine won first place for her on-the-street reporting in a feature story headlined “Night Time Is the Right Time.” Honorable mention was given to Diana Prayongratana for “Rat Packers,” published in Sunny Hills’ the Accolade.

Marc Stein of El Toro High in El Toro earned first place for an unusual first-person account of a high school sports team in the best sports story category. Philip Clark received an honorable mention for a story published in University High’s paper.

Amy Chen, co-editor of the Sunny Hills High paper, won first place for her editorial on an extra period initiated at her school.

Adam Ortlieb of Garden Grove High was given an honorable mention for his editorial on a local football team.

Karen Wang, winner of the best feature photo category, received a Nikon camera and lens for her photo of a skateboarder in the University High paper. Honorable mention was given to Joshua Dunn of Capistrano Valley High School.