There are five UIL Journalism categories: Copy Editing, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing, Headline Writing and News Writing. In total, nine Lamar students participated in the five events. Six students walked away with awards. 

Lamar Scroll Editor-in-Chief Journey Bortzfield was excited to compete in the event for the first time. The senior, who also serves as yearbook editor considered it her duty as a leader to compete. 

“I asked Ms. Talton to sign me up for every event,” Bortzfield shares. “Even if I didn’t win – I wanted the experience and I wanted to encourage my fellow staffers to always look for opportunities to grow as writers.” 

Much to her delight, Bortzfield won 2nd place in Feature Writing and 5th place in both Copy Editing and News Writing.

Fellow yearbook staffer, senior Finn Lynch earned 5th place honors in Feature Writing. The feature writing category gives students 45 minutes to craft a high-school newspaper feature story, including vibrant verbiage and relevant quotes. 

Seniors Ben Powers and Sofia Omana were invited to join the UIL team as first year journalism students. Both jumped at the chance. Powers took on the challenge of Headline Writing, a competition which requires students

to read six news stories and write six fitting headlines during a short 30-minute exam period. Powers earned first place. Omana excitedly took on the editorial writing contest – a category that asks students to take a stance on a hot-topic issue. This writing submission must not be written as an opinion, but instead as a collective stance of an editorial board. Omana understood the assignment and she confidently earned a first-place medal in this competition. 

Junior Gracie Golden also took on Headline Writing for the first time and as a first-year journalism student. She walked away with the 5th place medal. 

Sophie Greer was the lone sophomore in the journalism competitions for Lamar. She participated in four of the five categories and won a medal in all four. Greer earned 2nd place in Copy Editing, a competition that affords students only 15 minutes to identify errors in three writing samples. She also earned 4th place in both Editorial and Headline Writing, as well as 6th place in News Writing. 

“I am so proud of these young people for taking on this challenge with me,” journalism teacher Ari Talton says. “Not only did they listen attentively during our study sessions, but they also gave up their Saturday to represent our organization and our school.” 

Contest honorable mentions are Isabella Andersson (9th), Angelmarie De La Rosa (12th) and Katherine Hernandez (11th). 

Winners of 1st and 2nd place medals will venture to Prosper’s Rock Hill High School in late April for the Regional UIL Competition. 

Throughout the month of February, Lamar students and staff came together to decorate the halls with historical Black figures, including artists, educators, inventors, philanthropists and more. Many teachers took time to ensure their classroom doors and walls were decorated with vibrant colors and positive messaging to highlight Black History Month. 

Each year, Lamar strives to improve the visibility of Black History Month recognitions. The effort is very much evident all over campus. Some staff members even step out into the hallway to give passersby more information about their displays. To see so many teachers so invested in this special month means a lot to students. 

“It is important to celebrate Black History Month so that we can celebrate and recognize the achievements of the men and women who had to overcome adversity, discrimination and systematic barriers in order to pave the way for future generations,” English teacher Serena De Leon says. “I chose to participate in the hallway display to help showcase these contributions. My students researched influential Black individuals and created posters highlighting their impact. Many were amazed by the achievements of the figures they studied. This project not only deepened their understanding but also gave them the opportunity to share their work with the school community, allowing others to learn and be inspired.”

In some classrooms – teachers have chosen to add Black History Month themed assignments to their lesson plans. This was done to encourage students to further explore the successful Black figures in history and in our present world. 

“I love Black History Month because it reminds me of all the great stories my great-grandmother used to share with me from her era,” student Olivia Whitlock says. “She would tell me about the people, our ancestry, and anything else I wanted to know about our background. So, when I walk through the hallways, and see some of the Black figures she would tell me about – it puts a smile on my face. Just knowing that all those people set goals and made them happen really makes me proud.”

Last week, the government went through with getting TikTok banned because of the app being a national security threat to the United States. The threat was supposedly derived from the Chinese government getting information about the US from the app’s database. Millions of Americans use the app constantly and technology firm ByteDance that made TikTok is based in Beijing – where the Chinese government has access to the company. 

On January 18, 2025 TikTok was temporarily shut down for 24 hours which sent the internet into a frenzy, due to the thought that TikTok was gone forever. TikTok was removed from the app store along with two other popular apps that are closely associated with TikTok. 

At the time, it appeared the government determined that removing the app was in the best interest of the privacy and safety of all American citizens. 

TikTok is one app that teenagers and many others engage in frequently because of how it entertains and informs them in their free time. The idea of losing the app doesn’t sit well with many students, and adults who have made careers on the platform. 

“I feel like TikTok getting banned is too much because TikTok is basically another level of education for us,” said Ni’keria Lowery. “That’s where we learn so much.” 

While TikTok returned to the phones of millions of American users the next day, a potential ban is still very much on the table. 

Not only does the app provide education and entertainment to its users, but it also affords many an additional source of income. The lingering effects of a permanent ban would impact so many people in this country.

Stephens serves as a role model to many Lamar students. He is well-loved because of his charismatic personality and his determined spirit.

When he learned of the honor last Friday afternoon, he was surrounded with love and support from the girl’s wrestling team.

“I’m very humbled,” Stephens says. “There were a lot of great candidates that were nominated for Teacher of the Year, so this is such a great honor for me to experience.”

Students and staff who have met Stephens will agree that he is an humble, caring and soft spoken man with great pride. This is Stephens’ second Teacher of the Year honor during his 18 years at Lamar. He last won during the 2014- 2015 school year. After nine years, he regained his title by keeping his head held high and doing what he does best – being himself.

“I think it was well deserved,” girl’s wrestling Captain Kaylynn Lairson shares. “He really deserves this highlight and spotlight. He’s extremely humble about this award and honestly, I wouldn’t give this title to anyone else and I can’t express how how happy I am for him.”

The girl wrestlers were with Stephens in his classroom to celebrate the honor on Friday. They cheered him on, screaming and hugging him out of pure joy. This is an experience that the athletes and Stephens will always remember.

“He supports you and your decisions everyday – no doubt about it,” freshman Maya Cobos says. He’s really smart and is a very gentle man with good intentions. If you need someone to talk to and just be there for you, you can always count on him to be there.” 

Stephens is a man of great morals and values. This shows in his teaching style, as he is very much the disciplinarian and the innovative teacher. He pushes his students to the max and encourages them to always get better. Stephens knows what his students are capable of and wants to see them become successful young ladies and men. He sees the support he receives from his students and colleagues and wants to give that same support right back to them. 

“To be able to celebrate my accomplishment with my team was a fantastic experience,” Stephens expresses. “I’m so excited I’m able to enjoy this with the team and with Coach Roberts. The atmosphere was a real joy and made me feel special.” 

It’s not uncommon to hear Stephens’ athletes share great stories about him. He is not only a true leader, but a real advocate for the team. 

“He has his own goals and expresses them to us,” Lairson adds. “He helps keep us in line, but we also have so much fun with him. We’ve even made a few jokes about him. We call him Baymax from Big Hero 6 because he’s just a joyful character. Our team loves and appreciates everything he’s done for us and I hope others can experience just how wonderful of a person he actually is.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLDd6Ile-U

” I had mixed feelings about the snow. At first  I was excited because I never had experienced that much snow, but as the days progressed I noticed how people were losing power and water and it made me anxious. ” said Junior Averie Garcia

Texans were so big on survival mode that they begin to use the snow as a water resource by melting it either on the stove or the microwave. To keep the toilet from freezing due to the pipes and to also cook meals.

“Although the weather has affected us in a way we’ve never experienced in years. Staying with family during this time period has made this hard time possible to get through. I was able to have fun in the snow with my dogs for the first time , it was exciting to see them enjoy it since it was their first time ever seeing snow. I also built a snow frog creature and made a snow angel . Not only that me and my mother recreated pictures from 10 years ago in our exact same house.” said Junior Elmesie Gonzalez

Through the crisis we all  as a community , a state helped neighbor by neighbor, friends , family and strangers who needed a helpinging hand . Whether they were in need of food , a place to shower to clean up , a place of warmth or a place to feel love and safe during this time period. And I’m proud to say that the citizens of Texas really came through for each other , it was beautiful to see and know  everyone who was affected were  well taken care of.

“What a week , but what a great week to have family and friends help you through the crisis. ” said Freshman Thomyla Simmons

English 4 teacher, Raylene Scott, was eager to take the vaccine. She was able to take her first shot early on in January, and finally took her second dose on February 2nd.

“I think the vaccine will protect me from getting a bad case of COVID, but I will still of course mask and keep a distance from those I do not know,” Scott said. “Lets just say that I will be comfortable enough to welcome more students in my classroom.”

Senior Razan Shakoor is committed to getting the vaccine when it becomes available to her, although she does not have any underlying health conditions that would pressure her to get it.

“I don’t think it’ll be strong enough to fully prevent people from getting COVID if they aren’t being safe,” Shakoor said.  “Due to that I will most likely continue to wear a mask and socially distance, not only to prevent myself from getting COVID, but to prevent spreading COVID to other people as well.”

“I’m not too  sure about the finals of this year, but I do feel somewhat confident,” freshman Thomyla Simmons said.

How do you know if you’re exempt from the finals , for those who are juniors and seniors ?  If you meet the following requirements:

• Has a grade average of 80 or above.

“I feel awfully wrong about the captivity in China, those innocent people should not be held nor mistreated for no reason at all,” junior Elanna Russell said. “Not only that I feel like it’s racist towards the Muslim religion so as their community.”

There has been 2 million Muslims detained without trial by China’s government over the past 3 years. It is now being called the largest mass incarceration of an ethnic group since the Holocaust. 

“I feel like they try to keep this is issue covered up so none can do anything about this awful situation,” Russell said. “I also feel like the Muslims’ voices are being silenced by the Chinese so they can’t do anything about it.”

Rahima, who’s done an interview with Front Line, describes herself and others as zombies, as like someone who has lost their mind. Chinese communist regime mass imprisonment and surveillance of Uyghurs and other Muslims. Rahima describes the captivity as being surrounded by bars and mesh wire, cameras everywhere and brutal treatment happening everyday!  

“This topic is wrong in so many ways,” junior Averie Garcia said. “People should not be forced into captivity because of their religion along with having to convert. I wish American news shined more light on this issue because everyone should be concerned. I need to be more educated about this topic.”

Rahima also goes a bit into the harsh treatments that go on everyday.

“They’ll have us sit on a hard chair for 24 hours,” Rahima said. “They’ll even have us use the bathroom while sitting. If you exceed two minutes in the toilet they will hit your head electric prod.” 

Muslims would be hunched over sewing machines in rows. They’ll also be detained and will spend month after month renouncing their religious convictions. 

“People don’t deserve to be mistreated or be held because of who they are and what they believe in,” freshman Thomyla Simmons said. “In my opinion, I believe we should all be equal and free.”

China wants the world to stay silent on Muslims camps. It’s succeeding for China. Last year, President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping over dinner and said “go ahead with building the camps,” which Trump thought was “exactly the right thing to do.”

The government now insists that the camps are necessary for preventing religious extremism and terrorism.  37 countries defend China’s “remarkable achievements” in the field of human rights “by protecting their country from terrorism separatism and religious extremism.” However, people who aren’t covered are sent to a detention facility for simply wearing veils or growing long beards.

China has stripped away the religious justifications to reveal what was once half hidden unadorned and unstoppable power. The Chinese Communist party is reverting to type, and reviving the totalitarian fear of the Mao era. To bring down numbers of the largely Muslim Uyghurs of Xinjiang, the China scholar, Adrian Zenz, reports that the Communists are forcing women to be sterilized or fitted with contraceptive devices.

China is now turning criticism of its disastrous record on incubating the Covid-19 virus and its atrocities against its Muslim minorities into crimes, and the people who should be shouting the loudest are bowing their heads in reverential silence. 

This story was featured with Tyianna Millsap