NORFOLK, Neb. -- Some things go good together – peanut butter and jelly, Tom and Jerry, eggs and bacon and Northeast Community College and the state high school journalism contest.
OK, that last one might be a bit of a stretch, but high school students from across Nebraska have been coming to the Northeast Community College campus for 10 years to compete in the Nebraska School Activities Association journalism contest.
Traci Jeffrey, executive director of the Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau, said it takes about 30 volunteers to help make sure the two-day event runs smoothly.
Jeffrey, along with Stacie Wilken, the bureau’s marketing director, and Stephanie Bates, the activities development director, were helping to greet teachers and students as they entered the Lifelong Learning Center on Monday and Tuesday, April 21-22.
Up to 400 high school students attend the event annually, competing in dozens of events in Classes A, B and C. About 75 schools were represented this year.
Bates said they try to answer students’ questions about the campus, such as where Union 73 is located or places to eat. They also provided the students with maps of the campus.
All competitions and other events, including awards ceremonies, took place at the Lifelong Learning Center. Categories vary from editorial writing to advertising.
“This is the last official year on our contract,” Bates said. “They have not awarded beyond that, and to my knowledge it has not been opened up yet. When it does, we will talk to the college (about extending it).”
Jeffrey and other members of the bureau said Norfolk is fortunate to have Northeast and the Lifelong Learning Center to host the NSAA event. Once an event like this gets established, it is easier to find volunteers as the same ones often will come back.
Between events, the high school students liked to lay out on the floor of the Lifelong Learning Center and Union 73, play pool or other games at the union, or just hang out.
“We think this is an amazing event to show off Northeast Community College and its amazing campus,” Jeffrey said. “We hear great compliments about it, including from the students who come back from Union 73.”
Among the Northeast Nebraska schools that competed were Pierce, West Point-Beemer, Stanton and Crofton. Results can be obtained at Journalism – Nebraska School Activities Association (nsaahome.org)
NSAA Journalism Contest cutline
After holding events in the morning and early afternoon, three rooms are opened in the Lifelong Learning Center to host award ceremonies, like for these students in Class C. (Northeast Community College)
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