Coppell Student Media (www.coppellstudentmedia.com) was awarded its first National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker on Saturday at the NSPA Awards Ceremony in Seattle, site of the 2017 JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention.

The NSPA Pacemaker, often considered the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism, has been awarded since 1927 and is the highest honor of achievement for high school journalism programs. 

Coppell Student Media, launched in 2008, is managed by The Sidekick newspaper and KCBY-TV staffs. The Sidekick is advised by Chase Wofford and KCBY by Irma Kennedy.

This marks the second NSPA Pacemaker for Coppell High School, as KCBY won the school's first award with a 2015 Broadcast Pacemaker. 

Coppell Student Media is one of eight national Pacemaker recipients in its category of schools with 1,500 enrollment and above. Wofford, Kennedy and Round-Up yearbook adviser Sallyanne Harris traveled to Seattle for the convention from April 6-9 with 13 Sidekick members and one Round-Up yearbook staff member.

Here is a complete list of 2017 Online Pacemaker winners: http://studentpress.org/nspa/awards/2017-online-pacemaker-winners/

The Online Pacemaker capped off an exciting week for the media programs. In addition to winning the Pacemaker, The Sidekick placed 6th in the "Best of Show" contest at the NSPA Awards Ceremony, with KCBY-TV placing 10th in its "Best of Show" contest at the convention as well.

At the 26th annual Dallas Morning News High School Day on April 5 at Union Station, The Sidekick placed third in the Best Newspaper contest and Coppell Student Media placed 4th in the Best Website contest. 

Attached are photos from the JEA/NSPA Convention in Seattle and Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day.

For more information, contact The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford at cwofford@coppellisd.com or 214.496.6239.