Cactus Canyon Jr. High,’s school yearbook, “Oro” hit the jackpot and brought home national recognition with a Gold Crown from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. CCJH was one of only two junior highs to win the coveted “Gold Crown” distinction.
Receiving a Gold Crown was a first for Yearbook Advisor, Jason Davis and his yearbook staff, however the school has won a “Silver Crown” for the past three years. The Crown Awards honor top student publications chosen from CSPA’s members. Crowns are selected for overall excellence in a head-to-head comparison. Student publishing in news, magazine, yearbook or digital (online) formats are all-eligible.
“Since the student journalism world can be confusing, this is pretty much like we just won an Oscar,” Davis wrote in an email. “If for some reason you'd like to hear the announcement from New York, click here and fast forward to about 19:38.”
The junior high has a history of turning out award-winning publications and journalists.
In 2022 Ragan Stoltz, the yearbook editor at CCJH, was named the Journalism Education Association’s 2022 Aspiring Young Journalist.