Yearbook Writing

yearbook Writing judging panel

• Kaitlin Edgerton, Adai Stevenson HS (head judge)

• Marnie Hade, Northwest HS

• Stephanie Orth, Lake Orion HS

• Carla Zygner, Manchester Jr./Sr. HS

• Tie-breaker judge: Jason Westra-Hall, Grand Ledge HS

yearbook writing Student Journalist Staff Candidates

• Kaslatas, Cara - Grosse Pointe North High School: Portfolio 

• McQueen, Jordan  - Huron High School: Portfolio 

• Natla, Reena - East Lansing High School: Portfolio 

• Oxley, Camille  - Lakeview High School : Portfolio 

• Rubel, Natalie - Henry Ford II High School: Portfolio 

Judging Procedures

5 ENTRIES, please choose no more than 2 honoree and up to 1 wild card

The number above is a general target for students from this area to be selected for the Student Journalist Staff (based on the number of entries received). Based on your evaluation of portfolios, each judging panel may recommend one additional student as a wild card (if you’ve got a really outstanding candidate who deserves to be included among your picks). All wild card candidates from among all of the areas of interest will be reviewed against each other.

Each panel may elect not to fill all of its allotted positions on the Staff based on the quality of the portfolios — creating a position for additional high achieving students from other areas. The full MIPA board (excluding advisers who have a conflict) will review wild-card selections and determine which, if any, are selected for the Student Journalist Staff.

To Get Started

You don't each have to read every portfolio - but each portfolio must be read by at least two judges on your panel. Coordinate with your chair and each other so you know which portfolios you are reading!

• Please, no ties. (Unless they’re bow ties. See what I did there?)

• Each portfolio should be evaluated by at least TWO judges and scored using the MIPA rubric.  Each judge will award points in each of the five rubric categories. A portfolio’s total score is determined by the total of the two judge’s scores.

• The top yearbook writing portfolio becomes the All-MIPA Yearbook Writing scholarship recipient. ALL JUDGES FOR A CATEGORY should look at the three highest scoring portfolios (or any portfolios coming within two total points of the top) and come to a consensus as to which portfolio should be the All-MIPA winner.

• If there is a close cut-off between the last in/first out for Student Journalist Staff winners, all judges in the category should look at all portfolios within one point of the cut line and come to a consensus.

• Directions for what students should include in their entry can be found here.

JUDGING/SCORING FORMS

Work with your judging panel colleagues to divide up the portfolios so that each is viewed by at least two judges. Each judge will record his or her own scores in the judging form, which includes the Student Journalist Staff rubric.

You will record your scores and comments in an online judging form. We suggest you type out any comments in your favorite word processing program (so that you can easily save and edit them) and copy and paste them into the form. We've provided a Word version of the judging form to guide you.

Upon completing a form, a copy will automatically be sent to your judging panel chair, who will compile scores. Your judging panel may choose to have a conference call, do a video chat or have additional email conversations to discuss selections.

Please do not share your feedback or information from other judges on your panel with students or other advisers.

The MIPA office will use a summary of your scores and comments to give feedback to those applicants who request it. We do not share raw judges’ comments with anyone outside the selection process.

Access the online judging form

Download the Word version of the judging form to prepare your scores comments.