Senior Carter Speckmann won Naperville Central’s first IHSA state title in yearbook copy writing at the IHSA State Journalism Championship on April 25 at Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.
Speckmann placed first at sectionals for both copy writing and caption writing, which qualified for state in both events. There, he placed first in copy writing, but did not place in caption writing.
“[Speckmann] won an award for copy writing at the JEA convention when we went,” said Nicole Weiss, English teacher and yearbook adviser. “So I knew [he] was a really great candidate.”
Weiss encouraged Speckmann to compete after three years as a yearbook staff member and never competing, according to Speckmann. Speckmann also serves as the Flight Yearbook’s editor-in-chief.
“I was honored to be a part, since I won first place for sectionals,” Speckmann said. “I felt proud of myself, and I was excited for the opportunity to try and win.”
Copy writing is a form of writing that requires the writer to use facts and quotes to compile a story. They have to follow the topic of the story and the specific word count given.
“[Speckmann] was in English 2: Journalism [and] has been on staff since sophomore year, so the preparation of doing the yearbook for the past three years was the best preparation he had,” Weiss said.
Speckmann was unsure of what to expect before he competed.
“I just told myself to do my best, and once I submitted it’s not really in my hands, it’s whatever the judges think [is best],” Speckmann said. “Somebody had to go home with first place, and it might be me.”
Naperville Central’s most recent individual journalism state champion was in 2023, when Central Times’ editor-in-chief Nathan Yuan placed first in feature writing.
“They were introducing the school names, and they said Naperville, and I was so sure they were going to say North, but then they said Central,” Speckmann said. “I really didn’t believe it, but it was like a rush of excitement.”
Not many students are aware of journalists competing in an IHSA event, so when they win an award it gives people motivation to reach out and ask about those events, according to Weiss.
“When they see someone they know compete and can ask them about it, I think it’s great exposure and speaks really great things for the work that the kids do,” Weiss said.