Paintbrush staff wins another Golden Pony
Greybull High School students continue to produce one of the best publications in the state.
For the second consecutive year, and eighth time in the past 11, the staff of The Paintbrush is basking in the glow of a Golden Pony. The award, celebrating 1A/2A top publication, was awarded Oct. 28 at the Wyoming Student Media Association (WSMA) state convention in Casper.
The staff that produced the winning yearbook included spring graduates Josselyn Jara and Kelsie McColloch as well as this year’s seniors Julie Lopez, Lucia Garcia, Grainger Russell, Fatima Chavez and Aleksey McColloch, along with juniors Dakoby Bentley and Camila Acuna.
“I truly believe the reason we won is because last year, a week after school was out — with no grades attached and very little coercion — every single staff member came in, the majority for multiple days, to wrap up the books, edit pages and get things ready for submission,” said Lynn Forcella, the yearbook advisor at GHS. “I believe that commitment is what makes the difference. Lots of people have the skills, but not everybody has that drive and work ethic.”
Thermopolis placed second in the competition, followed by Pine Bluffs in third.
Several GHS staff members also won 1A/2A individual awards.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Golden Pony, 1st Place, Grainger Russell; Silver Star, 2nd Place, Dakoby Bentley; Bronze Star, 3rd Place, Camila Acuna; Bronze Star - Lucia Garcia.
WRITING: Golden Pony, 1st Place, Camila Acuna; Silver Star, 2nd Place, Lucia Garcia; Bronze Star, 3rd Place, Dakoby Bentley; Bronze Star - Grainger Russell.
YEARBOOK LAYOUT: Golden Pony, 1st Place, Lucia Garcia; Silver Star, 2nd Place, Aleksey McColloch; Bronze Star, 3rd Place, Grainger Russell; Bronze Star - Julie Lopez; Bronze Star - Fatima Chavez; Bronze Start - Dakoby Bentley.
With the win secured, Forcella said she’s every bit as excited about her current yearbook staff.
“I had a great bunch to work with last year, and have an even larger great bunch to work with this year. In addition to returners Aleksey McColloch, Grainger Russell, Lucia Garcia, Julie Lopez, Fatima Chavez, Camila Acuna and Dakoby Bentley, ad sales rock star Issac Vigil rejoined our group.
“We also added some new students in McKenzie Potter and Cailee Degenstein and picked up some pretty stellar sophomores in Wyatt Whaley, Perla Rodriguez, Cord Edeler, Ellie Holloway.”
Forcella offered special thanks to “supporters, the community that buys our ads, the board and administration who back our program, and the teachers who put up with all of our interruptions.”