{"id":17415,"date":"2026-04-24T14:43:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montoursville.k12.pa.us\/thearrowhead\/?p=17415"},"modified":"2026-04-24T14:46:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:46:29","slug":"arrowhead-staff-members-test-their-skills-at-the-26-pspa-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montoursville.k12.pa.us\/thearrowhead\/arrowhead-staff-members-test-their-skills-at-the-26-pspa-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Arrowhead staff members test their skills at the ’26 PSPA competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Students from Montoursville traveled to the Pennsylvania School Press Association state competition on March 16 held at Penn State University, where they put their journalism skills to the test, celebrated student success and made memories together along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many students, the event was more than a competition. It was a chance to experience journalism in a more realistic setting while growing closer as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Junior Catherine Hittle said the state competition felt more challenging than the first round because students had to rely more on their own judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I did okay. I definitely didn\u2019t do as good as I did at the first-level competition, because it\u2019s a lot easier to write a story when you\u2019re given the reporter\u2019s notes,\u201d said Hittle.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"PSPA
Resident life speaker Christian Audia answers a question asked by a student competitor during the conference. When asked what some of the pros and cons are of being a resident assistant, Audia said  that collaborating with my other RA’s ideas was a pro, following up with how it has really given him friendships that he’s gonna keep way after college.” Photo by Sophia Perez<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

At states, Hittle said, students had to listen to an entire press conference and decide for themselves what details mattered most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a lot more realistic,\u201d Hittle said. \u201cIf you\u2019re writing a journalism story, and you go to a press conference and you\u2019re writing a story about the press conference, that\u2019s what you\u2019re going to have to be assigned to write.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophomore Sophia Perez, who competed in photography, said it was her first time attending states and that she was surprised when she learned she had qualified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was honestly really shocked. I didn\u2019t expect it. I didn\u2019t think my photos were that good,\u201d said Perez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perez said she was excited to visit Penn State University, where she hopes to attend after high school, but she also felt nervous about photographing the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was kind of nervous going up and taking photos. Especially because it was my first time. I didn\u2019t know if I would be judged,\u201d said Perez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the day went on, however, Perez said that confidence began to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone was doing their own thing and I slowly started building that confidence to take photos,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophomore Ali Chapman, who competed in editorial cartoon, also said she was surprised to qualify for the state competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first found out about going to states, I honestly never expected to be able to go. I honestly thought I didn\u2019t do that good,\u201d said Chapman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapman said qualifying felt like an important step forward in both art and journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was really surprised. I was really excited that I got into states because I thought that was a step forward for me,\u201d Chapman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapman said she would definitely attend again, even though the day was long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really tiring, but it was really fun because honestly, it brought me closer together with more people from my journalism class,\u201d Chapman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For senior Ali Ravert, the day brought an unexpected honor when she placed at the top of her category, editorial writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI laughed, because I was not expecting it. I wrote about bathrooms, and I thought that my humor was too strong for my editorial,\u201d said Ravert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ravert said the actual competition wasn\u2019t stressful at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a long day, but I didn\u2019t expect to win, so I really didn\u2019t put that much pressure on myself,\u201d Ravert said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior Lillian McCulloch said one of the best parts of the trip was simply being with friends and enjoying the experience together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was really great. I had a good time hanging out with friends and laughing, and obviously, one of my best friends won, so that was pretty awesome,\u201d said McCulloch.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"PSPA
Senior Ali Ravert asks a question to Penn State University’s resident life speakers during a conference held around 10:30 a.m. The Arrowhead had five of its members competing in the 26′ PSPA state competition. Photo by Sophia Perez<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

McCulloch also said she enjoyed the social side of journalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI like interviewing people, and I like talking to people, so that was fun,\u201d McCulloch said. \u201cMeeting new people, seeing old friends, and just laughing and having a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Journalism adviser Mrs. Sandra Trick said the event continues to improve each year and that this year\u2019s location worked especially well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel like PSPA improves every year,\u201d Trick said. \u201cThis year, there was a change in location. Previously, it was at the HUB, on campus, and this year, it was at the Nittany Lion Inn. I feel as though the space really worked well for what we needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trick said one of the most rewarding parts of the trip is seeing students use the skills they have developed in class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always fun to see my students using the skills that I taught them, and it\u2019s even better to see them succeed,\u201d Trick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Trick\u2019s biggest highlights of the day was hearing Ravert\u2019s name announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was so over-the-top happy for her. Ali\u2019s a fantastic writer. And it was wonderful to see her get recognized for that talent,\u201d said Trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the competition itself, students said some of their favorite memories came from spending time together. Students mentioned walking around campus, visiting a toy store, stopping at Raising Cane\u2019s and laughing together throughout the day, even while dealing with rainy weather and news of a tornado warning back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the students who attended, PSPA states was about more than awards. It was a chance to build confidence, sharpen their skills and see what journalism looks like outside the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featured photo (at top): Arrowhead members pose for a photo by the Nittany lion statue before heading home. The Arrowhead started attending the PSPA competition during Arrowhead adviser Mrs. Trick\u2019s second year at Montoursville. Photo from Lillian McCulloch<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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