Sunday, May 29, 2005

The Daily News and American Newspaper Publishers Association are honoring four high school journalists for their contributions to their school publications during the 2004-2005 school year.

Scholastic Journalism Awards have been awarded to Kelly Ann Houchins, Edmonson County High School; Jamie Ogles, Allen County-Scottsville High School; Dawn Melikant, Logan County High School; and Justin Schilke, Bowling Green High School.

Houchins, the 18-year old daughter of Jeff and Shelia Houchins, is editor of the yearbook staff, president of her senior class, voted Best All Around, secretary of Future Educators of America, Future Business Leaders of America member and is a Beta Club member.

She is also a member of Youth Leadership of Edmonson County, Anti-Drug Coalition, Pep Club, on the prom committee, member of the National Honor Roll and a National Athletic member.

Houchins plans to attend Western Kentucky University in the fall and pursue a double major in elementary education and speech therapy.

Ogles, 17-year-old daughter of Teddy and Kathy Ogles, is a reporter for the school newspaper, The Voice, and will be serving as editor for the 2005-2006 school year.

She is also a member of FCA, Coed-Y historian, Beta Club, is president elect of the student council, public relations officer for FEA and plays softball.

Ogles also received third place columnist in the Kentucky Journalism Mark of Excellence Awards and has also won awards in English and humanities.

She plans to attend Mississippi State University or North Carolina State, where she hopes to receive a degree to teach English to high school students.

Melikant, the 18-year-old daughter of Diane Melikant, served as assistant editor for her yearbook, staff reporter for her newspaper, a member of Beta, PRIDE, FCA, FBLA, YES club and FCCLA.

She was also on the National Honor Roll, principals list and received several awards in arts and humanities, math, science and reading.

Melikant plans to attend Murray State University and major in wildlife biology, so she can work at the New York Zoo or San Diego Zoo in California.

Schilke, the 18-year-old the son of Joyce and Glenn Schilke, was on the National Honor Society in 11th and 12th grades, a member of the Beta Club for three years and served as vice president, member of the student government association for four years and served as circulation manager, news editor and was production editor of his schools newspaper, The Purple Gem, for three years.

He was also a member of the schools varsity soccer team for four years.

Schilke plans to attend the University of Chicago and study either history or political science.

The awards mark the 40th year of Daily News participation in the national recognition program, which NAA, a trade association for daily newspapers in the United State and Canada, originated 38 years ago.

Since its origin, newspapers ranging in circulation from 2,000 to 500,000 have adopted it.

The awards are part of a program by the nations newspapers to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding high school journalists and to encourage young people to consider careers in the print media.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700