By Lily Florian
Driftwood
Lakeshore HS
Homecoming Queen is often thought of as just a popularity contest. So, many students are afraid to keep their names on the ballot after being nominated for the title. However, 2019 Homecoming Queen Tori Carter (12) believes otherwise. “Everybody thinks it’s a certain type of person who has to be Homecoming Queen and I wanted to let them know that it can be anybody in the world, you just have to work for it,” Carter reflected. She did just that. Carter’s fellow Junior Homecoming Representative, Gerrit Marshall (12), noted, “I was so happy when she won because she put so much effort into it.” Carter is the first Homecoming Queen in years to have actually campaigned for their spot, since it is not generally allowed by school rules. However, after Noah Lyon (12) campaigned, an exception was made. “I’m a go-getter. If I set my mind to something, I’m going to do it and I’m going to do it full out,” declared Carter. “You know in the movies, you see everybody campaigning and it’s a big competition. I love competition,” Carter explained. “I made shirts that said ‘Vote for Tori End of Story’ with a picture of me. I had cookies that said ‘Vote for Tori,’ I had posters and bracelets.” For some, it may have seemed unusual. For others who know Carter, it made sense. Aniya Harris (12), a friend of Carter’s, commented, “I was not surprised [that Tori campaigned]. She does everything she can with all her power and it made me really proud of her.”
1st Place
Division 3, Yearbook Verbal
Y-01. Feature Writing – Student Life
Feature writing and reporting on school and community from the student life section of the book. An individual story may not be submitted in more than one writing category. Submit a PDF of the page(s) showing the entry. CLEARLY INDICATE WHICH STORY YOU WISH JUDGED in the Additional Information field if there are multiple stories on the page.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Clear, relevant, engaging angle
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar