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Ridgerunner Magazine Wins American Scholastic Press Association National Competition
The West Plains High School folklore publication Ridgerunner was recently awarded "First Place with Special Merit" and "Best Theme" from the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual competition. The competition is national with over 3,500 schools competing annually. The publication was written and edited by the 2016-2017 juniors and seniors in Mrs. Dianna Locke’s Folklore Publications class.
The American Scholastic Press Association serves over 2,000 schools annually and is a nationally recognized and accredited publication contest. It is based in College Point, New York and features newspapers, magazines, and annuals from each of the fifty states.
2016-2017 staff included Chloe Autry, editor and writers: Ben Adcock, Kasey Bonham, McKenzie Brower, Kasey Doss, Trey Finch, Abbey Gann, Amir Giurgius, Cameron Hoffman, Larissa Holesapple, Zane Johnson, Kaprie Mitchell, Morgan Mulford, Kylie Pingleton, Kaylee Spradlin, and MaryKate Wagoner. The students were advised by Dianna Locke.
Current editors of the 2017-2018 school year are seniors Kasey Bonham (editor), Abbey Gann, Kameron Judd, Jacob Simpson, Logan Riddle, Josh Faulhaber, Lauren Hodges, David Valdiva, and Carolina Fleming. The fall edition will go on sale between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
The magazine was founded by Jim Decker and began in 1984. Decker, a former member of the high school’s English department, was the first to teach an Ozark Folklore class. Decker’s purpose in teaching the class and starting a new publication was to “keep the spirit of the Ozarks alive”.
The next advisor of Ridgerunner was WPHS English teacher Mrs. Janice Langston-Bowden, who retired in 2004. Dianna Locke, WPHS alumni and member of the 1997-1998 Ridgerunner staff has advised the publication since 2004.