East Texas

Four Whitehouse High School seniors have been named to the 2008 UIL All-State Journalism Staff. Brittni Barnett, Caitlin Giddens, Meredith Mohr and Sarah Stewart, all members of the Paw Prints newspaper staff, received this award.

The All-State Journalism Staff was created to recognize journalism students who have gone above and beyond what was expected of them to improve their writing and reporting abilities, said Jeanne Action, UIL journalism director and Interscholastic League Press Conference director.

To become a member of the All-State Staff, students must accumulate points over the year based on their achievements at UIL journalism competition and other writing and publication-type contests, both statewide and nationwide. They then apply to UIL to become a member of the staff.

Any student who is involved in scholastic journalism in Texas is eligible for the staff.

"Journalism students dedicate many extra hours to their school by spending nights and weekends preparing the school publications for distribution as well as preparing for writing competitions," Acton said. "Through scholastic journalism, students learn not only writing skills, but critical thinking skills as well as communication skills."

"It is such an honor for my students to be recognized for all of their hard work and dedication," said Pam Miller, Whitehouse High School journalism adviser. "These are some of the most dedicate and talented students I have had the pleasure of teaching."