NESPA Awards
The Searchlight received the following awards in both online and printed publication categories:
2022:
Class I Print/Online All-New England
News Story: Katie Gillis, Walpole Schools Reduce COVID-19 Restrictions
Feature Story: Maggie Mahoney, Zoe Jagelski Enters Year-long German Exchange
Feature Story: Katie Gillis & Cate Stanton, New Classwize Software Coddles High School Students
Sports Story: Cate Stanton, Girls and Boys Track Race at Boston University for the First Time
Sports Story: Maggie Mahoney, Walpole Cheerleaders Qualify for Nationals
2021:
Class I Print/Online All-New England
Feature Story: Greg Tsougas, #FreeBritney Movement Reveals the Dangers of Conservatorship in the Music Industry
2020:
Class I Print/Online All-New England
2019:
Class I Print/Online All-New England
Special Achievement Awards:
News Story: Samantha Simons, GSA, SFE and Feminism Club join together to discuss microagressions
News Story: Chloe Patel, Police Department prepares students with ALICE training
News Story: Charlottle Schoenthaler, Walpole works to create awareness on dating violence
Blogs: Catherine Hurwitz, Cooking with Katie
Sports Story: Sarah St. George, Lincoln Griffin Contributes to Northeastern Beanpot Championship
Sports Story: Charlotte Clarke, Danielle Dentremont and Kate McLellan, Cam Schlittler commits to Northeastern University for baseball
Personality Profile: Jess Ferguson, Richard Kim prepares his final Dance Company Show
Personality Profile: Caitlin Kahaly, Walpole community remembers Jeff Mattson
Slide Show with Photos: Emily Smith, Theatre Club Performs first Fall Musical: Cinderella
Homepage Design: Chloe Patel
2018:
Special Contest on Localizing: Tara Gordon, Callie Ross, Lindsey Sullivan, A Wake-up Call: Addressing Teenage Cellphone Addiction
Special Achievement Awards:
Review: Dana DeMartino, “The Greatest Showman” Disappoints Audience Members With Its Idealization of the First American Circus
Feature Story: Jess Ferguson, Callie Ross and Lindsey Sullivan, The Buzz About Vape: School Leaders and Students Weigh in on Increasing Use of Vaporizers
News Story: Emily Ball, Jackson receives Honor Award from Norfolk County Teacher’s Association
News Story: Emily Ball, Maria Hall named School Nutrition Director of the Year
News Story: Caitlin Kahaly, Walpole Seniors Receive M.A.S.S. Certificates of Excellence
News Story: Catherine Hurwitz, McCarthy Hosts Walpole’s First Multigenerational Music Concert
News Story: Jess Ferguson, Town Committee Condemns Hate Groups in Walpole
News Story: Tara Gordon, The 15th Annual Walpole High School Film Festival
Bylined Column: Emily Ball, Examining the effect of class labels on student performance
Personality Profile: Caitlin Kahaly, Javon Jackson Spreads Positivity with Words of Wisdom
Sports Story: Delaney Murphy, Alison Foley and Jake Hurley Continue their Lacrosse Careers at Assumption College
Artwork/Cartoon: Abby Hile, “First Job Advice”
Homepage Design: Dana DeMartino and Julia Kane
2017:
Class I Third Place The Rebellion
Artwork/ Cartoon: Danielle Borelli, How to Overcome Your Stress
Artwork/ Cartoon: Danielle Borelli, Stay Cute And Cozy This Winter Season
Editorial: Andrea Traietti, Michaela Donato and Danaya Soluonollah, Walpole High School Administration Should Reconsider the Decision to Cancel School Dances
Feature Page Design: Abby Hile and Kerstin Fontanez, Seven Wonders of Walpole
Feature Story: Emily Ball, Walpole High Works to Keep Students with Cystic Fibrosis Safe
Infographic: Ellie Hilty, “I Have Cheated”
Sports Story: Emily Martin and Delaney Murphy, “Girls XC wins Division III Meet”
2016:
Special Achievement Awards:
Sports Photo: Julia Adams, “Dominating Durfee: Rebsoc Wins 8-1 before Losing to Franklin” (photo 9/9)
Feature Page Design: Kaitlin Brown, “Memories in Ink” (page 8)
Sports Page Design: Ellie Hilty, “Concussed” (page 16)
Opinion Page Design: Ellie Hilty, “World News: Terrorism” (page 8)
Opinion Page Design: Ellie Hilty, “Heritage or Hate” (page 4)
Sports Story: Lucy Lynch, “Jenna Burchesky Competes at International Curling Championship”
Sports Story: Delaney Murphy, “Girls 4×800 Meter Relay Team Qualifies for Nationals and Sets New School Record”
2015:
First Place in the All New England Class I Print/ Online category.
Special Achievement Awards:
Sports Story: Ben Brownsword, “Summer King reaches millenial mark for Walpole”
Sports Story: Matt Brownsword, “Baseball knocked out of first round in playoff game”
2014: First Place in the All New England Class I Print/ Online category.
Special Achievement Awards:
Best Home Page Design: Rory Mulligan, Bryan Kelleher and Annie Gallivan
Editorial: Hannah McLaughlin, “Parents vs Programmers of GTA V: Who is Really to Blame?”
Review: Hannah McLaughlin, “Spike Jonze awes audiences”
Sport Story: Peter Hoegler, “Boys Soccer makes an improbable state championship run”
Sports Story: Matthew Brownsword “State Championship!”
Sports Story: Mackenzie Wilson, “Cross Country newcomer Allie Morris breaks school course record”
2013: First Place in the All New England Class II Newspapers category.
Sports Story: Pete Hoegler, “Boys Basketball Falls to Natick In OT Thriller”
Sports Story: Pete Hoegler, “Boys Basketball Stunned by Hingham’s Late Rally”
2012: Special Achievement Awards:
Sports Story: Russell Ollis, “Hanley Brothers Get It Done Against Norwood”
Sports Story: Bill Rockwood, “McCarthys Re-write Walpole Track Record Books”
Review: Bill Rockwood, “‘Workaholics’ Addicts Fans in Season Two”
Review: Hannah McLaughlin, “From Best Day Ever, “Life in a Day” Prevails as Best Movie in a Long Time”
Page Layout: Christina Freiberger, “Winter Ball”
2011: Second Place in the All New England Class II Online category.
Highest Achievement in the Class I Newspaper Category
Special Achievement Award:
Bylined Column: Caroline Cohn, “Flawed Teacher Layoff System Reduces a Education Quality”
2010: Highest Achievement Award in Class I Newspaper Category
Special Achievement Award:
Podcast: Juliana Donaher, Natalie DiMartino, Ara Narcession, “Confederate Flag Appropriate for Walpole High?”
2008: Highest Achievement Award in Class II Newspaper Category
Special Achievement Award:
Review: Jennie Cullinane, “Winehouse Finds Niche in Old-School Blues”
2006: Third Place in the All New England Class II Newspaper category
Special Achievement Awards:
Sports Story: Sarah Kiewlicz, “Girls Softball Faces and Defeats Tough Competition”
Review: Andrea Alberto, “Ben Folds Songs for Silverman”
Review: Brian Donnelly, “Hostel”
2005: First Place in the All New England Class II Newspapers category.
Special Achievement Award:
Sports Story: Dan Horgan, “Girls Basketball Incendiary Play Fuels a Red Hot Season of Wins”