Over spring break, a group of 40 representatives from THS Publications traveled to New York City to attend the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s 94th annual Spring Convention held at Columbia University. On the final day of the convention, most of the senior editors of both yearbook and newspaper attended the awards ceremony. Although they knew they had been named a Crown Award finalist, here they would find out if they won Gold or Silver recognition. After anxiously waiting for “Tiger Times” to be called, both yearbook and hybrid newspaper received Gold.

“We were so excited to get a Gold Crown, especially since we were up against really amazing yearbooks,” yearbook editor in chief Frances Schroeder said. “Being at Columbia and competing against so many other people made the award ceremony suspenseful because we had only gotten a Gold Crown once before. It meant a lot to see our book that we worked really hard to create be recognized by such a prestigious organization and win the highest award.”

The editors met the rest of the group and planned to surprise them with the news. Senior newspaper print editor in chief Colton Johnson, who is also in theater, planned a speech to trick the staff to believe they had merely won Silver.

“I was shocked when we got the Gold Crown Award after Colton’s initial depressed lead-in,” junior news editor Joseph Rodgers said. “He tricked me into thinking that we received a lower-status award, and so when I heard gold I was excited. Now all I want is for us to win the Pacemaker Award.”

“I was so ecstatic for our program to receive this award,” senior newspaper online editor in chief Langley Leverett said. “We work so hard to produce quality journalism, and I love being a part of publications because it has really helped shape my love of writing.”