Statesman Photo by Don Treul Nine Brownsboro High School University Interscholastic League regional qualifyers included, front row, (l to r), Weston King, Haley Smith, Jarrett McDowell, Janelle Benton and Kendall Elbert; back row (l to r), Collin Hortman, Logan McCullough, Muhammad Bilal and Mikey Grace. Bringing home 16 newspaper awards and 25 yearbook awards, plus the first ever "Silver Star" yearbook, made the Brownsboro High School publication editors trip to the Interscholastic League Press Conference Convention at UT-Austin April 18-19 the most productive trip in the journalism deptartment history.

"Overall, we did amazing," senior newspaper editor-in-chief Haley Smith said. "Even though we received less Tops in Texas awards than last year, our publications received many prestigious awards. This was by far our most successful trip, especially in yearbook, and I am exceedingly proud of everyone."

Both the yearbook and newspaper won top honors by receiving awards of Distinguished Merit, ranking them with the top 10 percent of publications in the state.

"We were excited to get our state-wide rankings," BHS Adviser Patsy Lewis said. "This tells us that we are doing something right. That we are covering activities and events with interesting, relevant and strong writing, photography and design."

Statesman Photo by Don Treul The University Interscholastic League Press Conference winners from Brownsboro High School included (l to r), Collin Hortman, ad manager; Haley Smith, newspaper editor; Haily Hargrove, photo editor; Kendall Elbert, feature editor; and Morgan Jones, assistant newspaper editor. The 2008 Bear Tracks yearbook won the first ever Silver Star which makes it one of 10 yearbooks statewide to receive the award in all classifications 1A-5A.

"Yearbooks are critiqued and rated by nationally known judges, who in turn nominate the top books for Star Awards," Lewis said. "Then a panel of judges decides who gets a Star. They have high expectations for these books and are looking for superior design, photography, writing and coverage. That's what makes this award so special."

In addition to the overall awards, each publication's staffs received 41 individual awards, naming them the best of all the rest.

"Of the 25 yearbook awards, 11 different students won individual state honors," Lewis said. "It is remarkable that this many kids were recognized when we had such a small staff, 26 students."

The top winner in the yearbook category was editor Eric Orange who won 13 awards, along with Tops in Texas for his captions.

"Every year, we win something, but this year, we did exceptionally well," Orange said. "In the past, I had been nominated for Tops in Texas, but this year I was nominated five times and that was really cool. This was also the year that the yearbook was nominated for a Star Award. I was so excited, and even though I wasn't' expecting a lot, we ended up getting the Silver Star award."

Taylor Publishing Company Award

In addition to the ILPC state-wide awards, the 2008 Bear Tracks was also recognized by Taylor Publishing Company with an Award of Excellence and was featured in their annual Yearbook Yearbook publication.

"I am thrilled for my students to be featured in Taylor Publishing's Yearbook Yearbook," Lewis said. "We are in this book every year, but not to this extent. Our name might be in it or a photograph or one layout, but this time we have a full page devoted just to Brownsboro High School's Bear Tracks. That is phenomenal because this book has international coverage."

The Bear Tracks staff not only received a certificate, they received a full page of coverage in the book which showcases all of Taylor Publishing's best yearbooks from around the world.

"Editors Eric Orange and Kelsey Crawford worked really hard on the 2008 yearbook," Lewis said. "They attended three workshops, and they tweaked the book a little more each time. I'm not sure if our student body realizes how intricate and detailed the work was in the yearbook. Eric practically taught himself how to make some of the graphics. His designs were incredible, and evidently, Taylor Publishing recognizes his talents and hours of work."

Yearbooks featured in the company's book are selected by a panel of judges that look at design, photography and writing.

"It was an absolute honor to be featured in this past year's Yearbook Yearbook," asst. editor Kelsey Crawford said. "It was very exciting to see that Eric's unique design and talent was recognized. I'm very proud to say that I took part in making this phenomenal publication."

Each year, Taylor recognizes less than five percent of yearbook programs with this honor.

"This has been an excellent spring for the yearbook and newspaper," Lewis said. "These students work really hard and are here day and night, and some weekends and holidays. But, more importantly, there is no other class up here where everyone sees the finished project. English compositions and history projects are for the teacher's eyes only. Yearbooks and newspapers are out there for all to see. These editors not only devise a plan, they design the pages, write the stories and captions, and shoot all of their pictures for a 288 page book. What other classes up here do that?"

— Patsy Lewis contributed to this story.