The HiLite newspaper staff earned a Hoosier Star and the Pinnacle yearbook staff earned an Honorable Mention at the annual Indiana High School Press Association (IHSPA) convention, which concluded Oct. 22. Additionally, several students earned individual honors in the IHSPA’s annual Harvey competition.

This marks the second year in a row, and the sixth time since 2002, that the HiLite has earned a Hoosier Star, the IHSPA’s highest honor, comparable to a State Title in athletics. The award is based on the 2009-10 publication. Carmel competes in Division 3, the large-school division with schools of enrollments of over 2,000 students. The other Hoosier Star winner in Division 3 was Crown Point High School.

The Pinnacle was one of only six high schools in the state to be named a Hoosier Star finalist. This year’s award is based on the 2009 book.

Carmel students also fared well in the annual IHSPA Harvey Awards competition. The award, named after former Indiana adviser Rowena Harvey, recognizes the best individual talent in a variety of categories each year.

HiLite students earned awards in 11 of the 15 categories for which they were eligible, including seven first-place awards. The winners are as follows:

First Place (Harvey Award)
Editorial Writing – HiLite staff
Feature Writing – Victor Xu
Advertising – HiLite staff
Communications Graphics – Rebecca Xu
Page Design – Arjuna Capulong and Jinny Zhang
Community Leadership Award – Rosemary Boeglin and Michelle Hu
Feature Photo – Lizzy Grubbs

Second Place
Sports Photo – Arjuna Capulong
Photo Portfolio – Arjuna Capulong

Third Place
Sports Writing – Reuben Warshawsky
Spot News Photo – Michelle Hu
Maestro Package – HiLite staff

Pinnacle students earned awards in a variety of yearbook categories. They are as follows:

First Place (Harvey Award)
Sports Photo – Kati Feller
Feature Photo – Kati Feller

Second Place
Photo Portfolio – Kati Feller
Organizations Section – Pinnacle staff

Third Place
Student Life Section – Pinnacle staff
Album Section – Pinnacle staff
Sports Section – Pinnacle staff
Academics Section – Pinnacle staff

Finally, Pinnacle adviser Nicole Wilson, who was this year’s IHSPA board secretary and helped to organize the convention, was elected the new IHSPA board vice president for the 2010-11 school year. Jim Streisel advises the HiLite.