Roundtop yearbook team finishes as runner-up at state

The Bobcat Roundtop Yearbook earned the Silver Star ranking and All-State Honors with a second place ranking in the 1A/2A division at the 2024 Wyoming Student Media Association (WSMA) Convention held at Casper College on October 28. The Bobcats won these honors with last year's book, which was published through Jostens with the theme: We Are All Stars.

It was the third consecutive All-State finish for Bobcat Journalism, advised by Lyle Wiley who was also the acting President of the WSMA Board. Over 160 students and 13 Wyoming schools attended the convention and more schools entered the competition. Casper College entitled this year's convention "Media in Motion" and packed engaging breakout learning sessions that focused on the dynamic and ever-moving nature of journalism. In his opening remarks to WSMA convention attendees, Wiley reflected on the importance of student journalism saying, "Now, more than ever, journalism matters. It matters in the reporting and representation of all human endeavor, and it matters for our country to sustain democracy." 

He added, "Journalism is always changing. It is always evolving. As technology moves forward and the world moves with it, we, as journalists, get the exciting opportunity to evolve with it." Wiley is proud of the continuing work of his Bobcat Yearbook staff. "Our journalism students fine-tune many skills and use them in harmony to put together an award-winning yearbook. They must take great photos, design unique pages, interview subjects, write stories, and do it all on a printing deadline," said Wiley. Sophomore Isabell Ketner's experience at the convention was positive. She said about the experience, "Learning more about photography and journalism was an amazing experience, and winning second was a huge accomplishment for our team. I'm so proud of our book and how we did."Individual Bobcats were honored with awards for their outstanding work in journalism. 

Seniors Maddison Andreen and Kaylee Bazzle received Bronze Stars for Yearbook Design. Sophomore Annalyn Sharp earned Bronze Stars for Yearbook Design and Journalism Writing. Junior Sharon Burgess also received a Bronze Star for Yearbook Design.Last year's Roundtop Yearbook is available for purchase at Hot Springs County High School now, and pre-orders for the upcoming book (theme: Watch Us Grow) can be completed online. Email Lyle Wiley at wiley@hotsprings1.org for more information.