IHSA Journalism State Finals is an end of the year event that Journalism 2 students strive to qualify. This year, three of our own advanced to state, including Abasi Kelley (Sr.), Mike Maticka (Sr.), and Sydney Czyzon (Jr.). In the end, Joliet West placed in nine out of seventeen categories at the sectional event.

IHSA Sectionals were held at Joliet West for the first time on April 25th, from 9 a.m. to until nearly 2 in the afternoon. Overall students participating in state finals were pre-assigned a category, some more comfortable with it than most, and previous competitions including sectionals gave the students time to prepare.

Abasi Kelley had participated in the Broadcast News category during sectionals and state. The experience as he described had been very new and challenging, with a fast-paced environment that he thoroughly enjoyed.

Mike Maticka participated in the Infographics category during state finals, where he took second place in all of state, as well as competing in Infographics and Yearbook Section Layout during sectionals. The category at first made him uneasy, due to the fact that he had never officially been around infographics. He had learned the program immediately before the competition, and the platform in the actual competition was different than the one used here at Joliet West. However, he ended up doing exceptionally well. Maticka took 2nd place at state with his graphic design.

Sydney Czyzon had participated in the Section News and Editorial Writing during state finals, and earned a second place in the News Writing category during sectionals. Overall, her experience was one that was positive in which she enjoyed the healthy competition with everyone that had made it to state and it had given her insight on the reality of a career in the Journalism field.

State finals had a positive impact on all three of our JW state finalists, and all of three have been able to take away something beneficial. The biggest advice they had to give was to have the ability to adapt to any given scenario when working in the Journalism field.