About Us
The Wildcat is one of the oldest continuously published scholastic publications in Orange County, with the first volume, a four-page broadsheet, debuting in 1930. In the ensuing nine decades, the Wildcat has evolved from a black and white broadsheet (1930-2006), to a partial-color tabloid (2007-2014), to a full-color glossy magazine (2014-2020), to its current form, breaolindawildcat.com.
The publication is maintained and produced by the student-journalists in Brea Olinda High School’s fourth period Journalism: News Media and Advanced Journalism: The Wildcat classes. Staff members, usually numbering between 15 and 25 and ranging from ninth to twelfth grade, work under the supervision of a credentialed faculty member. The content of the Wildcat reflects only the views of the Wildcat staff, and not BOHS or BOUSD administration and staff, and the Wildcat does not involve administrators in prior review.
The Wildcat is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA), and the Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA).
Mission Statement
The Wildcat strives to inform, educate, entertain, and empower its readers at Brea Olinda High School, the larger Brea community, and beyond, by providing accurate, relevant, and timely news while upholding the principles of free speech and a free press. BOHS and BOUSD administrators support the First Amendment rights of its student journalists. We strive to be a forum for diverse voices, ideas, and opinions, and to hold those in power accountable.
Awards
- 2023-2024
- National Scholastic Press Association 2024 Online Pacemaker Finalist
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) 1st Place Division 2 Online Best of Show
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Story Page Excellence
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Site Excellence
- Best of SNO / “BOTA, CSEA Members Protest For Salary Increase at Rally, Board Meeting” by Ellen Kim
- Best of SNO / “Record Rainfall Drenches Orange County, BOHS” by Lauren Ko
- Best of SNO / “Teal Punctuates Fits With Eye-Catching Kicks” by Lauren Ahn
- Best of SNO / “Generation (A)pathetic” by Sofia Rodriguez
- Best of SNO / “From Classrooms to Courtrooms: Montana Youth Win Battle For Greener Future” by Ellie Segura
- Best of SNO / “Too Close to Home” by Ellie Segura
- Best of SNO / “One Killed at Brea Apartment Complex; Suspect Apprehended” by Lauren Ko
- 2022-2023
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “Embracing the ‘B’ in HBCU” by Gaby Smith
- 2021-2022
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “Think Before You Post: Social Media Activity Impacts College Admissions” by Doyon Kim
- Best of SNO / “Teen Drivers Hit Hard by Soaring Gas Prices” by Karis Choi, Jasmine Youn
- Best of SNO / “517 Days Later: Students, Staff React to First Week Back” by Karis Choi, Jasmine Youn
- 2020-2021
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Comic Strip (Makayla Huerta / 1st Place)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Comic Strip (Makayla Huerta / 5th Place)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Editorial Cartoon (Makayla Huerta / 4th Place)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration (Makayla Huerta / Honorable Mention)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best News Story (Doyon Kim / Honorable Mention)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award News Writing (Doyon Kim / 1st Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Headline Writing (Doyon Kim / 3rd Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Computer Generated Art/Illustration (Makayla Huerta / 1st Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartooning (Makayla Huerta / 1st Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartooning (Makayla Huerta / Certificate of Merit)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Hand Drawn Illustration (Makayla Huerta / 2nd Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Hand Drawn Illustration (Makayla Huerta / 3rd Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartoon Portfolio of Work (Makayla Huerta / 1st Place)
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Spot News Photograph (Alexis Alexander / 3rd Place)
- Best of SNO / “The Klapp Family: Two Generations of Softball Success” by Cheyenne Arredondo
- Best of SNO / “Barrera (’09) Builds Bodies and Communities as Owner, CEO of Faster Fitness Gym” by Doyon Kim, Karis Choi
- Best of SNO / “The Lies of Diet Culture” by Jasmine Youn, Karis Choi
- Best of SNO / “A Dark Day on Capitol Hill” by Melissa Perez, Callie Yates
- Best of SNO / “BOUSD Board of Education Seat Determined by Roll of Dice” by Doyon Kim
- Best of SNO / “Blue Ridge Fire Forces Evacuations” by Doyon Kim and Jared Corona
- 2017-2018
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph (Matthew Moon / Honorable Mention)
- 2016-2017
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph (Matthew Moon / 4th Place)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration (Amy Yoon / Honorable Mention)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Cartoon (Deziree Cervantes / Honorable Mention)
- 2014-2015
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Page Design (Astyr Ko / Honorable Mention)
- 2013-2014
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Sports Writing (Noelle Gracia / Honorable Mention)
- 2012-2013
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Sports Photo (Trent Preston / Honorable Mention)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration (Megan Moberly / Honorable Mention)
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph (Selina Che / 5th Place)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) 1st Place Division I Print Best of Show
- 2011-2012
- Fullerton College Journalism Department 1st Place Best Overall Newspaper
- 2010-2011
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Page One Design (Deborah Kim / 2nd Place)
- Fullerton College Journalism Department 1st Place Best Overall Newspaper (1st Place)
- 2009-2010
- National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker/Best Website (Chelsea Yeh / Finalist)
- 1981-1982
- Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA) Write-Offs Feature Writing (Gaelen McAllister / 7th Place)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Offs Feature Writing (Gaelen McAllister / 2nd Place)
- 1957-1958
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best News Story (Priscilla Taylor / 2nd Place)
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best Sports Story (Ron Butterfield / Honorable Mention
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best All-Around Journalist (Gregg Hopkins / Honorable Mention)
Adviser
Alex Koers, a 1996 graduate of Whittier College, served as adviser of the Wildcat from 2004 to 2022, and 2023 to the present, and has been teaching high school English since 1998. He may be reached at [email protected].