Chaminade student paper wins statewide honor for fourth year

Rebecca Klar
The Chaminade student-produced paper was named the best in the state for the fourth consecutive year by the New York Press Association. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

Tarmac, the student newspaper of Chaminade High School, was named the best high school newspaper in New York state by the New York Press Association on Sunday.

This is the fourth consecutive year Tarmac has won the award.

“This award definitely means a great deal for our paper,” Colin Capece, co-editor-in-chief, said in a Chaminade news release. “There are so many other fantastic high school newspapers in New York, and it’s certainly gratifying and humbling to know that the NYPA chose Tarmac as the best. I believe the award is a testament to the efforts of this year’s staff, which worked so hard day in and day out to make this paper a success.”

The award was announced as part of the press association’s Better Newspaper Contest at the annual spring conference and trade show in Albany.

Contest entries are judged by third-party press groups from different states each year.

Tarmac’s submissions to the contest were reviewed alongside approximately 4,000 submissions from student and professional news organizations, according to the release.

Along with being named top high-school paper, Tarmac also won first-place honors for Best Website and Best Use of Social Media.

Individual students were also honored, including Owen Barthel, who received first-place recognition for feature story, Nicholas Plante, who won second place for news story, and Christopher Mercandante, who received honorable mention for sports story.

Plante, a co-editor-in-chief, said it was great to see the staff’s efforts recognized, but added that “it’s important to keep what we’ve accomplished in the right perspective.”

“We’re not just trying to make the ‘best’ newspaper; we are looking for the most accurate and enjoyable ways to communicate stories that the Chaminade community needs to hear,” Plante said.

Aiden Fitzgerald, a co-editor-in-chief, said the state title is incredible, but pales in comparison to the joy he’s had working on the paper with some of his best friends.

“I’m immensely grateful for the time I’ve had on the Tarmac,” Fitzgerald said. “And I’m glad it gets to end on such a high note.”

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