Wantagh High School writers win big

Wantagh High School writers took home tons of gold this fall. 

Contributors to the Wantagh Warrior newspaper and the school’s literary magazine, Escapades, were honored at the annual Empire State School Press Association contest. The winners were announced at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications on Oct. 28. 

Under the direction of Peter Kravitz, Warrior staff members received 13 journalism awards. Escapades received 19 awards in artwork/illustration, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, cover design and photography categories. Violet Turner, the literary magazine’s advisor, also captured the Advisor of the Year Award. 

According to Wantagh School District officials, the literary magazine received a Gold/All-New York Award for the overall quality of the publication. Under the direction of editors Lauren Muldowney, Laura Panagis and Kerri Shea, the following students were recognized individually: 

Artwork/Illustration: Brooke Motis – honorable mention, “Carnival;” Rachel Obergh –  gold, cover

Fiction: Lindsay Whiteman – silver, “Youth”

Non-Fiction: Sean Smith – silver, “Muse;” Lauren Panagis – honorable mention, “Solitary Moment”

Photography: Nikki Gaynor – bronze, “Reflection;” Christina Imbro – silver, “Airplanes;” Julia Liljehult – bronze, “Time;” Kerrin Murphy – honorable mention, “Cracked;” Rachel Obergh – gold, “Tracks and “Wilderness;” Osama Teepu – silver, “What’s Left of Us” and “Birds,” as well as an honorable mention for “The Cloud;” Siobhan Warburton – honorable mention, “Sweet Dreams”

Poetry: Karina Fernandez – honorable mention, “Afresh;” Christina Loukeas – honorable mention, “Duende;” Nicki Marciana – bronze, “A to Z” 

For the second time in 24 years, the Warrior was awarded three individual golds. Sarah Sneddon, a member of the Wantagh High class od 2016, won in the news story category; senior Karen Kawacki took home a Gold Award for a portfolio in review writing; and junior Jacqueline Schroder was honored for her sports news work.

“Last year’s staff was one of the best I’d had in 24 years of advising the school newspaper,” Kravitz said. “This year’s group might even be better.”

In addition to Gold Award winners, the following students were honored: 

Nolan Foley – sports column, honorable mention

Annie Goode – portrait photo and review writing, honorable mention

Nyatasha Jackowicz – news story and sports news, honorable mention

Karen Kawacki – news story, bronze

Tanner McCaskie – review writing, bronze

Grace Anne McKenna – sports column, honorable mention

Sean Smith – news story, silver

Grace Tague – news story, bronze