High School Contest Flashback

So We All Can Be Heard – Summer 2013

By Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, IWPA Historian

In the beginning it was known as the “Editorial Writing Contest for High School Girls.” Earliest mention of the contest appeared in the September, 1972 edition of the IWPA newsletter, PenPoints. Back in the day, young ladies were presented with a sterling silver charm and bracelet as a memento along with their certificate of merit.

Margaret Bengtson (left) congratulates Maureen McCormick

That year, Margaret Bengtson (left) Chairwoman of the contest for high school girls congratulated Maureen McCormick of Downers Grove High School on her first place win in the IWPA contest. Maureen captured third place honors and $50 in the national editorial contest.

Renamed in 1976, as the “High School Contest” the competition had only two categories: features and editorials, but was open to boys and girls for the first time. Terra Ziporyn and Stanley Frankel, both students at Evanston Township High School, won first place in the categories of the IWPA contest. Both went on to earn third place in their categories in the national competition receiving $50 each for their efforts. Today, first place national honors earn the winner $100.

The 2013 contest offered 20 categories and includes the Silver Pen Award given to the high school which has accumulated the highest number of points among student contest entrants in the High School Communications Contest.

First Place High School entries always go on to compete in the National Federation of Press Women’s national competition. It remains the only nationwide communications competition for high school students, the contest is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Dow Jones announces first-place winners and promotes the competition in its publication distributed to journalism advisers across the nation, giving students and their teachers/advisers local and nationwide recognition.

About the Author: Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas

Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas is the author of “Joliet,” Images of America Series with Arcadia Publishing, of “The Joliet Rivals Club – a centennial celebration,” and her newest book, “Leadership 1937-2003, The First Forty Presidents of the National Federation of Press Women”, a short-story author, and community volunteer. Her writing has won top awards from the National Federation of Press Women and the Illinois Woman’s Press Association. She is co-editor of the 2014 IWPA anniversary anthology.