Besides publishing the annual senior edition of The Mentor in May, the staff of MHS Student Media earned some recognition at the State level. 

Manhattan qualified 21 entries to the Kansas Scholastic Press Association’s State competition, where senior McKayla Clarksnodgrass placed sixth in headline writing and sophomore Will Ivester placed sixth in Sports Writing.

In addition, for the eighth year in a row, the Mentor staff was named an All-Kansas level critique for newspaper excellence, while MHSMentor.com news website earned an Award of Commendation and Big Blue Weekly, the new newscast launched in spring 2022, earned its first Award of Merit. 

“I was so happy that all our hard work paid off,” Mentor Editor-in-Chief Daniel Biniecki, junior, said. “I really enjoyed creating The Mentor each month for staff and students to enjoy and the fact that it won a big award really sets a positive tone for next year.”

Although there is no national level, Biniecki hopes to have another great year next year.

“I hope that this award was the booster we needed,” he said. “I think that now, everyone knows how to write and design and I’m hoping that we’re able to teach those techniques to whoever wants to join next year so we’re able to win again.”