Students honored for journalism, photography

Anthony DeSantis and Mariah Butori took first and second in the Congressional Art Awards event.

Four students from Mountain Home High School earned state and national-level honors during a pair of competitions held earlier this month.

The accolades began as 14 students attended a national journalism competition in San Diego.

Mountain Home's team faced off against 1,200 students from across the United States in various newspaper, yearbook, photography and broadcasting categories. During the three-day conference, Kirsten Thompson took second place in yearbook writing while Chad Shrader finished third in the photography portfolio category.

Meanwhile, the high school's 2013 yearbook also received a silver medal from the National Scholastic Press Association, which honors top yearbooks and newspapers across the nation. The publications are judged on their content, writing and design and photography.

"Competitions are really tough at the national level, so their ability to win these awards shows their hard work and talent," said adviser Susan Martin.

While at the conference, the students also attended workshops in newspaper and yearbook writing, design and photography.

The student recognition continued as two of the school's photography students earned awards at the state congressional art awards event, held April 11 in Idaho Falls.

Freshman Anthony DeSantis took first place in the photography division with junior Mariah Butori finishing second overall. DeSantis earned the title for a photograph he titled, "Waiting." Butori was recognised for a photo she called "Wild Ride."

"These two did a great job with their photo entries," Martin said.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each Congressional district. Students submitted photos related to the state's theme, "The Great Outdoors."

Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative's office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries.

DeSantis and Butori were honored at a reception and presentation of awards at the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls. The entries remained on display at the museum for ten days.

"This competition gives me a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talents of my high school constituents and to acknowledge Idaho's gifted young artists," said Congressman Mike Simpson.