2023 Achievement Award Winners Celebrated
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GSPA honored several Achievement Award winners during the Spring Award ceremony on March 27, 2023.
The Turnaround Award recognizes a staff that has significantly changed the quality of its product from the previous year. This year’s winner is The Spotlight newspaper at Druid Hills High School.
The return of The Spotlight after a two-year absence due to COVID was met with a long list of challenges. There were only nine students on staff tasked with the full production. This small but mighty staff provided compelling reporting and the reputation of the publication grew. The Spotlight has grown to a staff of 32 students with goals to expand future coverage.
According to the nomination letter, “The Spotlight is cultivating a culture centering around community and togetherness to best represent the stories within its unique school and diverse student body.”
Pierce Bauer adviser at druid hills high school (right) showcases both awards, Turnaround and first-year adviser, towards his table of the spotlight staff. PHOTO BY JACKSON SCHROEDER.
The First-Year Adviser Award recognizes a new adviser who has demonstrated success and a desire in strengthening the program. This year’s winner is Pierce Bauer at Druid Hills High School for his work on The Spotlight.
Bauer, a Druid Hills alumnus, graduated from Georgia State University with a master's in education and a bachelor's in literature. In 2020, he began his teaching career at Druid Hills High School and in 2021 he was tasked with becoming the adviser of The Spotlight newspaper.
According to his staff, “Mr. Bauer is an outstanding teacher with an evident drive for journalism, and a passion for teaching it. His fun-loving spirit and humorous personality have made him a favorite amongst many students.”
The Enterprising Award recognizes a student who achieves success in publishing significant, quality journalistic work outside of school in local, regional or national outlets. This year’s winner is Freddrell Green of Cedar Shoals High School.
GSPA director stephanie moreno (left) presents freddrell green of Cedar Shoals High School (right) WITH THE ENTERPRISING AWARD DURING AT THE UGA GEORGIA CENTER ON March 27 2023. PHOTO BY JACKSON SCHROEDER.
Green is a Broadcast Editor for BluePrints, where he developed a podcast called JagCast. He is also a co-host for Education Matters, a local weekly podcast in Athens founded by UGA alumnus Rick Dunn.
Among Green’s most memorable interviews for Education Matters include segments with voice actor Carey Means, US-Ukraine Foundation representative and retired UGA professor David Hazinski, rapper Zytavious Ford and Lemuel “Life” LaRoche.
Green said he seeks to make powerful change through the voice he has been given.
“I want to use my gifts and talents as a black journalist to transform communities that are underprivileged and oftentimes left out of meaningful coverage….I intend to use Education Matters, and any other future platform I position myself in, to contribute to the stream of information so that it may be conveyed in a way that confers equal opportunities, justice, and a guaranteed future for the world’s next generation of leaders.”
Adviser of the Year recognizes a journalism adviser who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting his or her staff. This year’s winner is Marc Ginsberg, adviser of The BluePrints at Cedar Shoals High School. Read more about Ginsberg here.