Schools Page award winners announced

Frontiersman Staff

MAT-SU — Next week is the final installment in the 2010-11 Schools Page collaboration between Mat-Su Borough School District students and teachers and the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s Editorial staff.

Students, teachers and Frontiersman staff gathered at the newspaper’s offices Friday to mark the end of another successful year and to give awards for the best work.

Frontiersman staff and school district students gave faculty adviser Emily Forstner a small gift to thank her for her work coordinating the School Page for the district and newspaper.

“Without her efforts, none of us would be here today,” said Heather A. Resz, Frontiersman managing editor.

The Frontiersman also presented awards for the best Student View, Student Feature, Student Photo and Chalk Talk column.

Wasilla High School Assistant Principal Mark Okeson’s Chalk Talk from Sept. 28, 2010, was honored as the best column. In the piece, headlined “What we teach is as important as when we teach,” he outlined how and why the district should adjust its school day start times. The school district has since adopted similar changes to school day start times.

Houston High senior Kylie Boepple received the award for Best Student View for her March 29 column about meeting an Alaska woman who was a contestant on “The Biggest Loser.”

The top prize went to Wasilla High senior Rachel Clark for her Feb. 22 Student Feature and the portrait of Donell Polk, the school’s safety coordinator, she took to use with the story.

“Clark’s story was good enough we moved it off the Schools Page and onto the front page,” Resz said. “We were totally blown away by the quality of her storytelling.”

Students interested in writing for the Frontiersman over the summer or during next school year should contact Emily Fostner at Emily.Forstner@matsuk12.us, or Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com, or 352-2268.