Neshaminy editors win student press awards

Two editors at Neshaminy High School's student newspaper, which was in the national spotlight for months after it banned publication of the word Redskin, were among the recipients of a student journalism award from the Pennsylvania News Media Association, the paper announced Tuesday.

Junior Jackson Haines and senior Emily Scott combined to win three awards in the editorial category of the 2014 Student Keystone Press Awards Contest.

Haines, along with the editorial board, won first place for "Why We Won't Publish the R-Word," the unsigned editorial that received widespread attention for explaining the board's decision against using the name of the school mascot.

Scott was recognized for two pieces - a December op-ed, How the media stole Christmas, and one from November, The Importance of our First Amendment.

The editorial banning the word Redskin was covered by a number of national media outlets throughout the fall, as students had a back-and-forth battle with principal Rob McGee, who wanted the ban overturned.

In December, the students told McGee they would not allow the word in their newspaper, the Playwickian, despite his order to put it on hold. A law firm providing pro bono representation also sent a letter to McGee, describing any attempts to overturn the ban as unconstitutional.

Playwickian editor-in-chief Gillian McGoldrick, a junior, said Tuesday that the ban was still being enforced.

The awards for Haines and Scott are not the first accolades for Neshaminy student editors this fall. McGoldrick was named a recipient of the Widener University High School Leadership Award in December.

Faculty advisor Tara Huber said in a statement that the Kesytone Press Awards brought "an immense amount of pride" to the school.

"After all of their hard work this year, Jackson and Emily deserve to be recognized as the top student editorial writers in the state," she said.

Other area schools that were recognized include Conestoga High School and North Penn High School.