COUNTYWIDE : Students, Papers Win Journalism Awards

Student newspapers in Fullerton, Villa Park and Garden Grove were among those honored in the 1994 Times Orange County’s High School Journalism Awards, presented to the county’s top young writers, editors, photographers and cartoonists.

Two high schools shared this year’s first-place, $1,000 prize for the best publication bigger than four pages: Orange’s Villa Park High School Oracle and Fullerton’s Troy High School newspaper, also called the Oracle. The money will be used for each school’s journalism program.

The Villa Park newspaper used “clean design and 16 pages to offer a comprehensive and well-planned package of campus and related news, such as school board actions,” the contest judges said.

Troy High’s newspaper was recognized for tackling tough subjects, including a cover story on anti-Semitism, that offered “insight and perspective,” the judges said.

Santiago High School in Garden Grove won for the best publication up to four pages long and received a $1,000 award.

Judges said the school’s New Cavalier newspaper combined “just the right blend of news, features, shorts and commentary” and “feels larger than its four pages.”

The other winners are:

* Mike Fillmore of Fullerton Union High School, who won a $250 prize for the top news story for writing about a student demonstration and rally.

* Lian Jue, also from Fullerton Union High School, who won a $250 prize for feature writing for her portrait of a student with cerebral palsy.

* Jasmine Shoukry of Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton, who won a $250 prize for best sports story for a story about wrestlers keeping healthy diets and maintaining their weight.

* Steve Tursi of San Clemente High School, who won a $250 prize for best feature photo for a shot of a water polo match.

* Laura Green of Corona del Mar High School, who won a $250 prize in the cartoon/illustration division for her graphic illustration of the agony experienced in child abuse.

* Joyce Matsumoto of Troy High School, who won $250 prize for an editorial on the effect of library budget cuts.