The annual Southwest Suburban Conference (SWSC) Journalism Conference was held last week at Carl Sandburg High School, bringing together student journalists from across the region for a day of learning, collaboration, and competition. In addition to the awards ceremony, attendees heard presentations from an assignment editor as well as reporters representing TV, radio, and print news, each offering insights into the world of journalism.
Students from East, Central, and West earned recognition across multiple categories:
Central students also excelled, with Kai Hough earning 2nd Place in Entertainment, and Breeanna Williams taking home 1st Place in Editorial.
From East, Azariya Davis earned 1st Place in Features, while Emily Noesen took 3rd Place in Editorials. Jaida Abdelrahman was awarded 3rd Place in News and 2nd Place in Photography.
From West, Billy Kolacek placed 3rd in Photography for his “Soccer Playoffs” image, and Annabelle Fazekas earned 3rd Place in Features for her article, “A Freshman’s First Year.”
The conference celebrated not only student achievement but also the importance of storytelling, media literacy, and the future of the profession. Students left with both awards and inspiration as they continue developing their journalistic skills.