Sunny Hills High School Paper Tops Times Awards

High school newspapers in Fullerton and Santa Ana received top honors Wednesday in the 1996 Times Orange County’s Journalism Awards, presented to the top young writers, editors, photographers and artists.

Capturing first place and a $1,000 prize for the best publication with five or more pages was the Accolade at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton.

The Accolade has been the recipient of the award several times, the contest judges noted, adding that “this exemplary newspaper deserves recognition again this year.”

The judges said the Accolade “serves as a model for high school journalism and, in fact, points the way for professional journalists seeking to capture life as it really is for young people.”

The newspaper was commended for tackling controversial issues, such as a special project on the campus’ ethnic divisions that judges called “an exquisite piece of reporting and presentation.”

Accolade staff members captured the most awards in this year’s competition, winning four first-place prizes and two honorable mentions.

The Roadrunner at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana won for the best publication up to four pages and also received a $1,000 award.

Judges said the Roadrunner “makes a strong effort to cover campus life, from water-blasting petrified gum in the quad to personalities among students and staff. Despite its small size, the paper offers some journalistic jewels.”

The money prizes will be used for each school’s journalism programs.

The top individual winners, who each received $250, were:

* Rachi Shih of Sunny Hills High, in the news category, for a story about vandalism and high school rivalry.

* Tiffany Wattanaporn and Autumn Pray of Brea Olinda High School, in the feature writing category, for their portrait of a fellow student who is earning college credit in a special program at USC.

* Rachi Shih and Stephen Patel of Sunny Hills, in the editorial category, for their piece on school spirit.

* Josh Bernier of Fullerton High School, in the photography category, for a photograph of scuba divers in a pool preparing for an ocean dive.

* Janice Yoon of Sunny Hills, in the sports writing category, for a profile of a golfer making his PGA debut.

* Doug Hong of Brea Olinda High School, in the cartoon/illustration category, for a satire on Calvin Klein’s controversial use of minors in clothing advertisements.

* Diane Lin of Troy High School in Fullerton, in the arts and entertainment category, for a review of Disney music arranged in classical styles.