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YOAKUM – The Yoakum High School Journalism Department's yearbook and newspaper publications each received Star awards from the University Interscholastic League at the Interscholastic League Press Conference's 81st State Journalism Convention last weekend at The University of Texas in Austin.

The newspaper was one of 29 statewide to receive a Silver Star. It places the newspaper in the top 5 percent of student newspapers statewide. The yearbook received a bronze star, which placed the yearbook in the top 10 percent of yearbooks statewide, according to a news release from the UIL.

Six staff members received Individual Achievement Awards for published work during this past school year. Students' submissions were in competition with 3A high schools from across the state. Recipients included: Stephanie Bradley, second in news writing, second in news feature, third in editorial writing, second in sports feature, second in personal column, third in sports spread, and honorable mention in theme copy; Kevin Rosales, honorable mention sports action story; Chelsey Brandes, honorable mention in in-depth news/feature, honorable mention in theme copy, and honorable mention in sports feature story; Lexy Novak, honorable mention in general interest yearbook spread; Matthew Kvinta, third in club/organizations spread; Mitchell Franz, first in photo story; first in personal column, second in in-depth news/feature, honorable mention in page one design, honorable mention in sports page design, honorable mention in double truck design, first and second in general news photo, first in feature photo, first and second in sports action photo, second and third in sports feature photo, third in portrait, honorable mention in captions, honorable mention in academic spread, second in yearbook sports action photo, third in student life photo, and honorable mention in club/organization photo. Franz also received two Tops in Texas awards in which individual entries are pitted against other first place winners from 1A-5A schools statewide. In addition, he was also named Newspaper Editor of the Year and received the Walsworth Publishing Company Scholarship as well as the UIL State Journalism/Randy Vonderheid Scholarship.

The students’ adviser, Paula Adamek, received UIL’s Edith Fox King Award, in recognition of distinguished contributions and outstanding devotion to scholastic journalism education in Texas.