LHS Publications
Six LHS Publications students eat lunch at Shakespeare's Pizza in Columbia during J-Day 2025.
A new record was set in the publications program with three Best-of-Show awards at the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association Scholastic Journalism Day on March 26 at Mizzou.
LHS students from online news, broadcast and yearbook classes attended J-Day, where they had a day full of listening to the keynote speaker, Mizzou School of Journalism alum Eli Hoff, as well as going to multiple sessions where they learned valuable lessons they can take to make them better journalists.
There were more than 1,850 entries in this year’s overall and individual contests, with 46 schools and 1,207 students across the state attending J-Day this year. MIJA recognizes Best of Show, All-Missouri, Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention work. Along with an honor roll with multiple students representing LHS Publications, sharing the list with some of the best journalists from other schools in the state.
Lacie Coffman (12) was one of the three Best-of-Show winners from LHS Publications for her yearbook spread, “Life Under the Spotlight” on celebrities with this being her first Best-of-Show nomination.
“With this being my first year in the yearbook class, I’m very proud of myself,” Coffman said. “I came to class and they announced someone won, and I heard my name and I was just in shock, because that story was definitely a hard one to write.”
Vice President of MIJA and LHS Publications adviser Jonathan Hall also attended J-Day where he managed the on-site contests. Hall was very excited to hear that the program brought home many awards from the convention including some of the highest awards you can get at J-Day.
“I enjoy seeing a lot of my students get recognition for their work,” Hall said. “They put in a lot of time and hard work in what they do and all of our publications classes were well represented in the awards.”
BEST OF SHOW
Broadcast with Announcements Overall – Season 8 Episode 1 – Braden Altrup, Kaileb Rhen and Eagle’s Eye staff
Mini-Documentary – Coaches vs. Cancer – Braden Altrup
Yearbook Writing – Life Under the Spotlight – Lacie Coffman
Yearbook Mods – Five Days of Snow – Lacie Coffman
Talk Show – Things That Don’t Make Sense – Ella Nelson, Kylie Richardson
ALL-MISSOURI
Overall Newspaper/Newsmagazine – Meghan Lynch, Ella Quinney and Ledger staff
Live Sports Broadcast Team – Liberty vs. Zumwalt West boys basketball – Braden Altrup, Mason Molitor, Wesley Bartlow
Online Story Package – KMOV Channel 4 Brings Excitement to School – Amber Sethaler, Braden Altrup, Kelsey Altrup, Will Nolan, Caitlin McDonell
Editorial/Op-Ed – Today’s Global News – Loukya Vaka
Sports Play-by-Play – Liberty vs. Zumwalt West boys basketball – Wesley Bartlow, Mason Molitor
SUPERIOR
Overall 2024 Yearbook – Here in the Now – Sydney Davis, Lilly Fister, Ella Pinz and Talon staff
2025 Yearbook Theme Concept – No One Can Tell Your Story Like You – Lilly Brown and Talon Staff
Broadcast Sports News Story – Eagles Second-Half Rally Defeats North Point – MaryKate Stroud
Newswriting – Runner Inspired to ‘Go One More’ – Emma Nolan
Magazine Inside Page Design – The Great Political Divide – Meghan Lynch
EXCELLENT
Online Overall – LHStoday – Amber Sethaler, Phoenix Egeler and LHStoday staff
Broadcast News Story – Borello Orthodontics – Will Nolan, Parker Sethaler, Kay Cooper
Newsmagazine Cover Page Design – Issue 1 Volume 12 Cover – Faith Vaught
Review – ‘Joker: Folie ‘a Deux’ A Laughable Disaster – Faith Vaught
Overall Social Media Reporting – Instagram – Lilly Brown
Academic Photo – Fire Lab – Caitlin McDonnell
HONORABLE MENTION
Sports Feature story – “Commitment to the Future: National Signing Day” – Lilly Brown
Infographic – Hurricane Milton – Avery Bowen
Portrait – Band Director – Caitlin McDonnell
Sports Action – Football Stiff Arm – Caitlin McDonnell
Non-Traditional Package – Weekly Coverage Dec. 1-10 – Kylie Richardson, Amber Sethaler, Gabby Young, Lena Blankley
Sports Reporting – Jumping for Joyner: From High School Student to MLS Star” – Will Nolan
SENIOR HONOR ROLL
Braden Altrup, Avery Bowen, Lilly Brown, Vanessa Jackson