Thirteen student journalists on The Talon staff won awards for their hard work this fall from the South Carolina Scholastic Press Association.

SCSPA is an organization that promotes journalism in Columbia, South Carolina.

One of the winners of a photography award and another for page design, editor-in-chief Carly Jacobson, says she likes to take photos in her spare time, and turn them into masterpieces.

“I had a grand idea on how I wanted to make the layout, like a national publication,” she explained.

She said that it was very exciting to do the layout on the front page of the newspaper again, having first done that as a first year journalism student.

“I was able to help design the front page that made me excited to do the entire layout. I also look up to my editors, and they always inspired me to work harder.” she replied.

Overall, the editors have put in an extraordinary effort to create a student newspaper with a large amount of work, but it does come with difficulties, however. For example, Jacobson also reported that she faced some challenges to take her most challenging photo of the “Play On” tech crew backstage.

“I got to go behind the scenes to get the picture of the tech crew on the actors. It was a lot of work.” she said.

All the winners earned 1st and 2nd places in each category.

South Carolina Scholastic Press Association

Excellence in Newspaper Awards

Visual Awards

Environmental portrait: 2nd place Carly Jacobson

News Feature Photo: 1st place Lilah Skovran

Centerspread Design: 1st place Sara Pipa

Front Page Design: 2nd place Carly Jacobson

Single Page Design: 1st place Rachel Studer

Editorial Cartoon: 1st place Lilah Skovran

Infographic: 1st place Rian Donahue

Writing Awards

Bylined editorial: 1st place Rian Donahue

Column: 2nd place Sara Pipa

News: 1st place Rachel Studer

Feature: 2nd place Trinity Gordon

Sports: 2nd place Justin Baxter

Staff Editorial:  1st place Rachel Studer