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WHHS continues run of yearbook honors

West Henderson High School’s 2015 Westwind yearbook, “This Is What We Do,” won the Pacemaker Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, which honored 42 yearbooks nationwide this month.

The Pacemaker Award makes “This Is What We Do” the second yearbook in the school’s history to win top honors from the National Scholastic Press Association, the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, the National High School Journalism Convention, the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

In June 2015, “This Is What We Do” earned the Tar Heel Award for top yearbooks in North Carolina from the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association, followed by Best of Show at the National High School Journalism Convention in November 2015. In March 2016, the yearbook received the Scroggins Trophy for best yearbook in the Southeast from the Southern Interscholastic Press Association, and the Gold Crown from Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The last West Henderson yearbook to sweep the table of national awards was the 2012 Westwind, “We Stand Proud.”

"In spite of all the standardized testing, today's students are capable of incredible creativity and excellence,” said Brenda Gorsuch, publications adviser at West Henderson since 1983. “The 2015 Westwind, edited by Maggie King and Haley Staton, shows off the amazing talents of more than 50 students who worked together to create the book.”

“The writing, design and photography are all outstanding. Overall, the book is evidence of the high level of learning taking place in our schools,” Gorsuch said. “The students sold and designed the advertisements, designed the cover, created the spreads, took the photos and wrote the copy and captions. It is truly a student publication that covered a year in the life of West Henderson students and their school."

King is currently a freshman at Appalachian State University, and Staton is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Co-editor of the 2016 Westwind, Izzy Denman, said, "Being a member of such an award-winning yearbook staff has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of. Knowing that I was able to take part in creating the 2015 Westwind gives me incredible pride. I am very grateful to have played a role in such an amazing publication."