Wildcat Pause, the student-produced newspaper at Shoreham-Wading River High School, won 21 awards at the annual Long Island Press High School Journalism competition, held May 28 at Hofstra University.

The high school newspaper, published monthly under the direction of adviser Jean Branna, was recognized for its reporting, writing, layout, photography and artwork.

Wildcat Pause competed against 25 Long Island high school newspapers, earning both an honorable mention for Newspaper of the Year and third place for overall layout of its November 2013 issue.

Student staff members were individually recognized with awards as well. They are:

Joelle Benigo, Illustrator – Third Place: Original Illustration, “Christmas Cheer or Family Feud?”

Kyle Brown, Graphics Editor – Second Place: Graphic Art, “Prom Is the Bomb”

Jack Burke, Illustrator – Third Place: Cartoon – Political, “Media Programs Young Minds to Unrealistic Standards”

Kelly Granzen, Feature Editor – Second Place: Social Commentary – School, “Society’s Short Tolerance for Short Skirts”; Second Place: Single Page Layout (with Christina Wilson), “Media Programs Young Minds to Unrealistic Standards”; Third Place: General Feature, “Hourglass Figure Takes Time Out of Body”

Tom Kirby, News & Commentary Editor – First Place: Single Page Layout (with Giavanna Verdi), “Ice Cream Review”; Second Place: Food Commentary (with Giavanna Verdi), “Ice Cream Review”

Emily Kulesa (Class of 2013) – Aura Diaz Award for First-Person Narrative: “Movement for LGBT Rights Hits Home”

Jessica Miller, Editor-in-Chief – First Place: Editorial – National/International, “War on Terror Starts in Our Own Backyard”; Third Place: Opinion Piece – School, “Natural Helpers Doing More Harm Than Good”

Jane Murray, Editor-in-Chief – Second Place: National Opinion, “Embracing Change”

Carolyn Rogers, Photo Editor – First Place: First Amendment/Freedom of Speech Award, “School Involvement Law Creates Controversial Decisions”; Second Place: Religion/Multicultural, “Peaceful Religion Corrupted for Politics and War”; Second Place: Single Photo, “SWR Students Fail the Fight of Toxic Senioritis”

Matt Rottler, Sports Editor – First Place: Sports Feature, “Clasen Athletic Stars in All Three Seasons”; Third Place: Sports Feature, “Spring Sports Off to Cold Start”

Rachel Stearns, Arts & Entertainment Editor – First Place: National Opinion, “Crayons, Ovaltine and an AR-15?”

Giavanna Verdi, Managing Editor – First Place: Single Page Layout (with Tom Kirby), “Ice Cream Review”; Second Place: Food Commentary (with Tom Kirby), “Ice Cream Review”; Second Place: Feature Headline, “A Declassified Prom Survival Guide”

Christina Wilson, Staff Writer – Second Place: Single Page Layout (with Kelly Granzen), “Media Programs Young Minds to Unrealistic Standards”

Staff – Third Place: Layout Overall, November 2013, Issue 2; Honorable Mention: Newspaper of the Year