The Falcon Press Online News student newspaper, comprised of Journalism I, II, and III students, recently earned a Gold Medalist distinction in the public high school publications category by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), an international student press hub and a department of Columbia University in New York City.

Falcon Press submitted their entry as an online publication last May for the first time in the school’s history.

According to cspa.columbia.edu, CSPA member schools that include high school, college, and university level entries, may be submitted annually for critique. Student newspapers, yearbooks, and magazines are then sent for evaluation by distinguished faculty members and the CSPA Board of Judges located throughout the United States and Canada.  Based on total numerical scores, these publications may earn enough points to become a CSPA gold, silver, or bronze medalist.

CSPA evaluates and scores student publications in three categories:  Essentials, Verbal, and Visual.While the All-Columbian Honors is the highest possible award, gold medalists receive a total score between 800 – 1,000 points.