The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association confirmed what readers of the "Black and Gold" and "Flashback" already knew - that they are superior publications.
"Black and Gold," the Traverse City Central High School newspaper, and "Flashback," the Traverse City East Junior High yearbook, each won the coveted Spartan Award at the association's spring conference, held last month in East Lansing.
Spartan awards reward creativity and accomplishment using sound journalistic principles. Each publication is graded on overall coverage, writing and editing skills, design, photos and graphics as well as editorial content.
"Our story ideas have been more advanced, more nationalized, than many high school papers. Our coverage is in-depth and take a lot of research," said Mo Stych, editor of the "Black and Gold."
Staff advisor, Melissa Yeomans, gives her students' attitude as a major contributor to the success of the newspaper.
"The kids all work so well together, their relationship is very symbiotic," Yeomans said.
Briget Sheeran, staff advisor of "Flashback", could not have been prouder of the effort her staff put into their award winning book.
"Our Junior High yearbook beat out a lot of high school books, that made us feel great. It's really good recognition for the kids," Sheeran said. "Their writing stood out as really high caliber."
East Junior High's yearbook was not their only publication to earn accolades. "Trojan News," the schools newspaper earned a gold medal in the competition.
In addition, 88 individual awards were given out to students from Traverse City Central High School, West Senior High, East Junior High and West Junior High.