Alton High School Journalism and Yearbook Students Take Home Major Prizes

ALTON - Alton High School student journalists and artists have a lot to be proud of.

On Feb. 25, 2026, the staff of “The Tatler” and “Redbird Word,” the school’s yearbook and newspaper, were recognized by the Southern Illinois Scholastic Press Association. Students mailed in copies of their work and competed in on-site journalism competitions, and several students took home impressive prizes for their work.

“We were so excited,” said “Tatler” advisor Bridget Heck. “The next thing we do after this is the IHSA Regional Journalism Competition, and me and Mrs. [April] Gray, we said we think we can get the regional championship this year.”

Gray, who advises “Redbird Word,” and Heck work together to teach journalism and art skills to their students. On Feb. 25, they took 30 students to Southern Illinois University Carbondale for the conference, where students “demonstrated exceptional professionalism, creativity, and dedication to journalistic and artistic excellence.”

“The Tatler” staff were Southern Illinois School Press Association: Golden Dozen recipients, Look Book 2025 recipients for Best Original Cover, and first place winners for Yearbook Theme Development.

Sophie Hull received first place for Best Headline while Kyridas Orr received first place for Best Sports Photo. Chloe Pecoraro’s work was named the Best Editorial Cartoon and McKenna Fox was first place for her Academic Spread. McKenna Dondanville received second for her Sports Spread and Baylee Dunse was recognized for Sports Copy. Lydia Fite took second for Best Original Art while Lucy Rose was third in the Best Headline competition.

Rose also won first place in the on-site competition for Editorial Cartooning, while Iris Moore-Stevens won first place for Yearbook Sports Copy Block.

“Redbird Word” staff were the Blue Banner Print and Blue Banner Website winners.

Leigha Cole received first place for Best Editorial and Centerspread Layout with Juliette Meza. Heaven Everage was first place for Best News Story, while Garrett Stafford took first for Best News Sports. Cole received second place for Editorial, Front Page Layout, and Overall Newspaper Layout. Lyda Copeland won second for her Humor Column, while Lily Waltz received second for her News Story and Alternative Storytelling.

Raye Holmes received second in the Review category, and Stafford took second for Digital Video Story while Stella Cowan received second for Website News. Kolten Klore received third in Alternative Storytelling, while Stafford also took a third place finish in Digital Video Story and Victoria Strowmatt enjoyed third place for Website Sports.

In the on-site competition, Cole received first place for Editorial Writing and Cowan took first in Newswriting. Stafford received second for his Infographic and Waltz was third place winner for Feature Writing.

“The Tatler” and “Redbird Word” opportunities at Alton High School give students journalistic and artistic experiences they can take into the real world. Heck believes these publications and awards look fantastic on any resume, and the students are able to grow their skills.

“It gives them such an authentic experience,” Heck said. “They're the voice for the student body for the school. They’re exercising their First Amendment right. Within the creative arts or journalism field, they’re allowed to reflect upon their own individuality…With our journalism program, we celebrate creativity and individuality while also looking for the parameters of the contest or the guidelines for journalism.”

As the students prepare for the IHSA Regional Journalism Competition, they will continue their work on “The Tatler” and “Redbird Word” to inform and entertain their classmates. Heck hopes the students are proud of their work, just as she and Gray are proud of them.

“It’s really cool that we have these programs,” she added.

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