West Wind and Trojani Staffs attend NCSMI
Jun 23, 2023
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Social media manager and Anna Saunders posing at the awards luncheon at the Carolina Club on the last day of camp.
Photo by Ava
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The West Wind’s long list of awards and honorable mentions received during the luncheon.
Photo by Destiny Noblitt
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Broadcast director Aiden McKinney was recognized for his outstanding work in the broadcast division at camp.
Photo by Ava Babson
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Courtney Weston reciving the Tar Heel on behalf of The West Wind at the awards luncheon.
Photo by Ava Babson
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Sculpture photographed at Ackland Art Museum on Wednesday during breakout sessions.
Photo by D
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Artwork photographed at Ackland Art Museum on Wednesday during breakout sessions.
Photo by Destiny Noblitt
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Destiny Noblitt, Fleur Kelly, and Ashley Norfleet waving for photographer Ava Babson.
Photo by Ava Babson
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West Wind staffers Courtney Weston, Brooklyn Coble, Ashley Norfleet, and Jordan Thomas pose with another student journalist between sessions.
Photo by Ava Babson
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Social media manager Ava Babson and co-assisstant editor Ashley Northfleet posing during morning awards in Carroll hall.
Photo by Anna Saunders
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Broadcast director Aiden McKinney is caught in the zone during his sessions.
Photo by Ava Babson
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Editor Courtney Weston lost in her book during the rainy bus ride home.
Photo by Brooklyn Coble
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West Wind staff poses in front of the Bell Tower after the awards luncheon.
Photo by Anna Saunders
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Crystal Karwacki, Anna Saunders, Courtney Weston, and Noah Farris posing for a selfie at Starbucks in preparation for a long last day at camp.
Photo by Courtney Weston
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Trojani and West Wind staffs pose and glow at the LocoPops celebration on the second night of camp.
Photo by Anna Saunders
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Trojani editor-in-chief and adviser Crystal Karwacki smile on the long, rainy walk back to the dorms from the Carolina Club.
Photo by Crystal Karwacki
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The West Wind Staff and recent graduate Katie Madison pose with the Tar Heel Award in front of Kenan Stadium.
Photo by Crystal Karwacki
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Adviser Anna Saunders and editor-in-chief Courtney Weston pose with the Tar Heel award in front of Kenan Stadium.
Photo by Katie Madison
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Trojani staff poses before lunch on the final day of camp.
Photo by Crystal Karwacki
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Staffs prepare for the bus ride to Chapel Hill.
Photo by Crystal Karwacki
June 20th, the West Wind and Trojani staffs packed up our bus to head out to UNC Chapel Hill and dive into the experience that is NCSMI. The North Carolina Scholastic Media Institute gives high school journalism students and advisers from all over the state the opportunity to participate in instructional sessions led by university faculty, writers, designers, photographers, journalism advisers, and journalists.
We got to pack into our dorms, go to conferences, breakout sessions, and special bootcamps to focus on paying attention to details in reporting, writing, broadcast, design, editing, yearbook, and photography—all while enjoying the campus of UNC.
During NCSMI we had ups and downs (downs mostly being the weather), but we got the exciting news that we have not one but two presidents on the NCSMA boards: editor-in-chief, Courtney Weston will take on the role of president for the 2024 student officer board, and adviser, Anna Saunders, holds the title of president on the adviser board.
At the statewide awards ceremony, the West Wind Staff received an evaluation of All North Carolina and received the Tar Heel award for the Newsmagazine; an evaluation of Distinction for both online news and broadcast respectively; and various section awards. The Trojani yearbook staff received an evaluation of Honor for their book this year.
In the newspaper division, we won second place in Photography, first place in Graphics, second place in Design, first place in Features, third place in Sports, and an honorable mention in Social Media. In the Online News Division we won first place in Editorial, Photography and Sports; third place in Social Media; and an honorable mention in Design. In the Broadcast News division, the staff received an honorable mention in Audio, second place in Editing, and third place in Production.
We’re so proud to welcome home our Tar Heel—to us, it’s like coming home with a state championship. This year was definitely one for the books and while it may be my last year attending NCSMI, I’m so excited for all of my younger peers to get this experience next year and see where this path leads us.
