Journalism students and yearbook staff at Cactus Canyon Junior High School, 801 W. Southern Ave. in Apache Junction, recently received good news — the 2022 Oro yearbook has been named a finalist for a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Award.

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.

More good news followed a few days later.

Jason Davis, yearbook advisor and journalism teacher at CCJH, learned the school was a National Scholastic Press Association finalist for the Pacemaker award. The nation’s top scholastic yearbooks are recognized by the NSPA which announced 44 finalists in its annual Pacemaker competition.

“If you’re new to the world of student journalism, these are the Emmys and the Oscars for us,” said Davis. “The Pacemaker is considered the Pulitzer of student journalism. Very few schools make one of the lists, but only three junior highs in the whole country made both.”

Pacemaker finalists will be honored and will receive plaques during the opening ceremony of the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in San Francisco.

Pacemaker winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the convention’s awards ceremony.

Davis said that Oro will either receive a gold or silver Crown. Pacemaker winners will be announced in San Francisco in April. Representatives from the school are planning to be at the San Francisco convention where Davis said he and his students are hopeful their efforts will be recognized.

Cactus Canyon Junior High School emphasizes a well-rounded education where academics, sports and extracurricular activities allow students to grow scholastically, physically and emotionally. CCJH students can get a head start on funding their college education by signing up for Pinal Promise in junior high. The program offers a tuition-free education at Central Arizona College for those who fulfill the requirements and graduate from participating high schools in Pinal County such as Apache Junction High School.