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2011 NIE Star Search contest results

Middle- and high-school students from within The Free Lance-Star readership area were invited to step into the shoes of our staff and submit work for publication.

Contest categories mirror the assignments of newspaper professionals. Winning entries for each category were selected by representatives from the equivalent newsroom or advertising departments.

We received 597 submissions. Judges selected 26 winning entries for publication in The Free Lance-Star and additional honorable-mention winners to feature here. .

Personal column essays
  • Bryce Baxter: Page experience
  • Jennifer Bowers: Beach rip tide
  • Morgan Stemple: Principal's daughter
  • Katrina Zurasky: 5 Words Can't Describe Me
  • Alicia Beasley: A small taste
  • Holly Cole: A zip line in Haiti
  • Elena Fandrich: Roller coaster ride
  • Sara Fitzgerald: Don't wimp out
  • Catherine Flemming: Snow Day
  • Anna Hogan: Moving to Lithuania
  • Leah Jennings: Gender differences
  • Valerie Lampert: My greatest memory
  • Erin McGraw: Kindness
  • Eleanor Pare: Over the edge
  • Ashleigh Powell: Lost on 95
  • Alex Ross: Special Olympics
  • Michael Scott: Living in China
  • Julio Villogas: Moving from Peru

    Video

  • Ben Houlette, Edward E. Drew Middle School: NCAA bracket
  • Alisa Posey, Stafford Sr. High School: Renovation vs. New High School
  • Alexander Van Horn, Stafford Sr. High School: FLS

    Comics

  • View a gallery of ALL the comics
  • Briahna Lide, King George Middle School: Snail restaurant
  • Jennifer Louie, Chancellor High School, Life at the beach
  • Stephen Thompson, Homeschool: Candi Land Kid
  • Erica Camstra, Stafford Sr. High School: Leia-Trekky
  • Crystal Rodgers, Edward E. Drew Middle School: Video game
  • Kara Smith, Fredericksburg Christian High School: Prom dresses
  • Brandon Spence, Edward E. Drew Middle School: Aren't You a Goose?
  • Jenna Wine, King George Middle School: Princess and the frog

    Editorial cartoons

  • Andrew Jones
  • charlene Wall
  • Christopher Poole
  • Melissa Proudfoot
  • Nicolle Apter
  • Sammi Woods
  • Stephen Thompson
    		• COMMENTARY
  • Emily Higginbotham: Please, judge by the content of our character
  • Erich Froese: Altering the food we eat - Look at the dangers
  • Benjamin Morgan: To keep the peace, keep the troops in Iraq
  • Colin Urquhart: Steroids pull the trigger on healthy athletes
  • Austin Boitnott: Vestigial Legality
  • Ethan Desai: Airport Body Scanners
  • Elena Fandrich: Victims in the War against Literature
  • Eric Frohnapfel: Eligible Until Proven Guilty
  • Brandon Lock: A Lockout? The Worst has Come
  • Angelica Masiero: Is TV Sending Teens the Wrong Message?
  • Kelli Nicholson: Is Homosexuality a Choice?
  • Ashley Reed: Don’t Cut Budgets for Arts and Sports
  • Shannon Strong: Censoring the Internet is Wrong

    Ad Design

  • View a gallery of all the ads
  • Kenneth Esteves, Massaponax High School: The Vibe
  • Tim Hughes, Colonial Forge High School: Classic Rock 96.9
  • John Schubel, Chancellor High School: FLS
  • Dana Stafford, Edward E. Drew Middle School: The Vibe

    Blogs

  • John Kovalchik, Stafford Sr. High School: Koan independent youth publication
  • Preston Nelson, Keystone National High School: The Soundtrack of My Life

    Photos

  • View ALL the photos in a gallery
  • Shannon Cocho, Edward E. Drew Middle School
  • Muhamad Khalid, Stafford Sr. High School
  • Sarah Mattozzi, Homeschool
  • Rachel Calisto, Colonial Forge High School
  • Shannon Lowe, Colonial Forge High School
  • Mariela Torres, Stafford Sr. High School



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