The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
The Official Site of the Missouri Interscholastic Journalism Association

MIJA
Categories:

December Photo of the Month Winners Announced

January 10, 2024

DECEMBER WINNERS

First Place:  Josh Gornet, Fort Zumwalt High School

“Violinist Ayman Amerin, performs a solo, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in O’Fallon, Missouri.
Ayman performed the solo during Fort Zumwalt West High’s yearly winter orchestra concert using an electric violin recently purchased using bond money. (The Predator/Josh Gornet) “

Judge’s Comments: What a gorgeous shot! I love the angle from below and you utilized strong subject to avoid any distracting background. The lighting on his face is beautiful and exposure is perfect. I even like the artsy light flares for a dramatic touch.

Second Place:  Kyzer Strawbridge, Webster Groves 

Splash to dash! Junior Mathilda Wedemeyer hits the water at the girls’ swim meet against Parkway Central on Dec. 7. Even with a loss, the swim team always pushes itself and others to do the best they can. “Being the best version of myself when it comes to swim is always my goal. I want the hard worker I am at practice to pay off at the meets,” Wedemeyer said.

Judge’s Comments: I love this swim photo because we see her face! Great use of fast shutter speed and completely in focus. A little underexposed but definitely worth it for the clarity.

Third Place: Emma Franklin, Kickapoo High School

” With the colder season approaching quickly, it’s time to bust out the hot chocolate packets! Don’t be boring; zest up your hot cocoa with a unique flavor such as orange.
“”Putting orange zest in my hot chocolate is something I never thought I would enjoy, but I tried it one day and fell in love with it. The two flavors pair well together and blend smoothly,”” senior Alley Ackerman said.

Judge’s Comments: Food photography is hard to do well, but you aced it here. Beautiful lighting and the bokeh effect in the background really adds a special touch, but the focus is all on the perfectly styled orange hot chocolate.

Honorable Mentions

cooleycaleb_12339_21523988_CalebCooley_12_13_jazzbandconcert.Jpg - Cherie B
Caleb Cooley (Staley)
In the performing arts center Dec. 15, freshman Kenyi Yoyo, sophomore Christopher Hof, senior Ethan Ashworth and sophomore Wyatt Stark perform with the jazz band. It was their first concert of the school year. “I was feeling prepped and ready since we’ve been practicing for a couple months now,” Yoyo said.
View Story Comments
Print this Story
Tags:
More to Discover
More in Photo of the Month
Actor Addison Keith performs on stage, Saturday, Apr. 13, 2024, in O'Fallon, Missouri. Keith got to play her dream role, The Dragon in the West Highs performance of Shrek the Musical. "I wanted to be the dragon from the start, she's very fierce and I think she's just misunderstood," said Keith. (The Predator (Josh Gornet))
April Photo of the Month Winners Announced
On March 16, junior Waylon Templeton pitches to the Lexington Minutemen batter in the second game of a varsity baseball double header. “I felt good going into the second game," Templeton said, "and I trusted my defense.” Templeton led the Cardinals to a win, 15-5.
March Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Senior Noah Keen celebrates winning a state title in the 138-pound weight class. Keen was the only male Spartan wrestler to win a title at the Class 4 Missouri championships over the weekend of Feb. 23-24.
February Photo of the Month Winners Announced
During the seventh annual talent show, junior Divya Kollipara performs a classic dance originating from southern India known as Bharatanatyam."Dance means everything to me," Kollipara said. "I can put in all my emotions into it and create an amazing performance that people can enjoy." Kollipara said. At the end of the night, Kollipara was announced as the judges choice winner of the talent show. "I was not expecting to win, I felt very honored and grateful that I won."
January Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Singing to Flounder, senior Sam Ragone performs as Sebastian in the theatre department's musical production of The Little Mermaid with senior Kaitlyn Seim. A lot of character work went into studying Sebastian's crab walk, burning his legs after every show. "I'm pretty grateful that I got Sebastian, because not only did I get to sing some of the pretty iconic songs, but it was really fun to see how I could fit into the character as my own self," Ragone said.
November Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Tap It In Play. Natilie Biere (7) squares up for a bunt against the Brookfield Bulldogs in the home game on October 4th. Biere made contact with the ball, placing it down the first base line. While Biere was thrown out at first, she advanced base runner, Anastyn Carter (8), to second base.
October Photo of the Month Winners Announced
More in Photo of the Month Winners
"In a tearful embrace during the Falcon Brigade’s Senior Night Oct. 25, senior Leah Folkman hugs junior Salma Castillo. At halftime, seniors were recognized and stepped out of their shoes to make way for underclassmen. “It was definitely an emotional feeling,” Castillo said. “I have a lot of friends that are seniors this year, since I’m a junior this year, and watching them have them their last marching season and knowing mine was coming up, too, was a sad feeling, but also a joyous feeling because I’m glad I got to be there in that moment with them.”
October Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Continuing the tradition, senior Blaize Vaughn and sophomore Dawson Smith carry the flags as they tear through the banner with the rest of their varsity football team. "I am most excited to finally make a name for ourselves this season," Vaughn said. "It is no secret that we've struggled the last few years, but we are now a new team, a new brotherhood, and a new family." This game against Warsaw on Aug. 30 was the Cardinal's first of the season.
September Photo of the Month Winners Announced
On September 8th, 2023, The Springfield community mourned the loss of a beloved teacher at Kickapoo High School, Ms. Barron. She was cheer coach who was loved by many and was described by many people as a "bright light in everyone's life". At that Friday's football game, the cheer squad organized a balloon release in her honor. As expected, the stand were packed out with supporters. Our Cheer and Poms teams wore pink matching t-shirts that said "Momma B" on the back and "Be The Sunshine" on the front, which was a saying she constantly said to everyone in her life. Senior Joslyn Magers, a cheer team member who was very close to Ms. Barron, proudly shows off her shirt to the crowd.
September Photo of the Month Winners Announced
Students show their support for junior Ralph Yarl by participating in a “unity walk” April 18. Yarl was shot twice on April 13 when he accidentally went to the wrong house, attempting to pick up his siblings. “I’m really proud of our student body for coming out to support Ralph,” said senior Cayla Palmer, the president of Staley’s Black Student Union, the group who planned the walk. “At the end of the day, this whole unity walk is for Ralph, to support our fellow Falcon. We stand with him and support him.”
April Photo of the Month winners announced
After Beating Oak Park High School 56-49 in the Class 6 District 8 Championship March 6, the boys basketball team celebrates their fourth straight district championship. The team previously beat Oak Park 64-36 on Dec. 15, but the team knew Oak Park would be a harder matchup now. “We knew that was probably the toughest team we were going to play all year,” senior guard Jared Lee said. “When we won, it was just a crazy feeling that we got that done because a lot of people didn’t think we could.”
March Photo of the Month winners announced
Alexander Hutchcraft (11) wrestles during the state finals. During the match many technical violations were not called leaving coaches angry. “Wrestling really defines who I am today. It’s physically built me and mentally pushes you,” said Hutchcraft.
February Photo of the Month winners announced