Three MMI students place at state journalism competition

Lindsey Walko, Joshua Narrow, and Charles Bower finished in the top three at the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA) Student Journalism Competition State Championship finals. The competition was held earlier this month in the Hetzel Union Building’s Freeman Auditorium on the Penn State University Main Campus in University Park.

Walko, the daughter of Lawrence Walko and Debbie Brenner-Walko of Drums, captured first place in the Copywriting competition. Narrow, the son of Howard and Marie Narrow of Hazleton, finished second in the Poetry division. Bower, the son of Tracy and Stephen Tichy of Drums, took third in Literary Magazine Artwork. MMI English instructor Jennifer Novotney was the faculty adviser for the competition.

All students watched a press conference featured Gregory Drane, director of marching bands and director of the Penn State University Blue Band, before the competition. For the copywriting competition, Walko’s task was to choose an angle and write an article based on the press conference. For the artwork competition, Bower was required to read a poem written by a professional poet and create a drawing that was relevant to the poem and that would accompany the poem in the literary magazine. For the poetry competition, Narrow had to write an original poem for a literary magazine using the theme and length given, title the poem, and clearly indicate lines through identification and the use of margins.

MMI Head of School Thomas G. Hood said, “I want to congratulate Lindsey, Joshua, and Charles for the fine performance they gave against some of the best and brightest students in the state. It’s an honor for our students to compete in an academic competition at the state level and display the value of an MMI education.”