Awards

Since 2009, the Wildcat has been the most-awarded scholastic publication in Orange County by the National Scholastic Press Association, placing 11 times in the top 10 nationally in a variety of categories including Sports Writing, Sports Photography, Cover Design, Center Spread Design, Illustration, and Cartooning. 

The Wildcat’s National Scholastic Press Association finalists since 2009-2010:

2020-2021 NSPA Best Comic Strip (Makayla Huerta / 1st Place)

2020-2021 NSPA Best Comic Strip (Makayla Huerta / 5th Place)

2020-2021 NSPA Best Editorial Cartoon (Makayla Huerta / 4th Place)

2020-2021 NSPA Best Illustration (Makayla Huerta / Honorable Mention)

2020-2021 NSPA Best News Story (Doyon Kim / Honorable Mention)

2017-2018 NSPA Best Infograph (Matthew Moon / Honorable Mention)

2016-2017 NSPA Best Infograph (Matthew Moon / 4th Place)

2016-2017 NSPA Best Illustration (Amy Yoon / Honorable Mention)

2016-2017 NSPA Best Cartoon (Deziree Cervantes / 10th Place)

2014-2015 NSPA Best Page Design (Astyr Ko / Honorable Mention)

2013-2014 NSPA Best Sports Writing (Noelle Gracia / Honorable Mention)

2012-2013 NSPA Best Sports Photo (Trent Preston / Honorable Mention) 

2012-2013 NSPA Best lllustration (Megan Moberly / Honorable Mention)

2012-2013 NSPA Best Infograph (Selina Che / 5th Place)

2010-2011 NSPA Best Page One (Deborah Kim / 2nd Place)

2009-2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker/Best Website (Chelsea Yeh / Finalist)

Since the Wildcat launched its website in the Fall of 2020, Wildcat writers and their writing have been recognized as the “Best of SNO” by School Newspapers Online (SNO). for their outstanding reporting.

The Wildcat’s “Best of  SNO” winners since 2020:

“Blue Ridge fire forces evacuations” (11/13/20) by Doyon Kim and Jared Corona

“BOUSD Board of Education Seat Determined by Roll of Dice” (12/18/20) by Doyon Kim

“A Dark Day on Capitol Hill” (1/8/21) by Melissa Perez and Callie Yates

“The Lies of Diet Culture” (1/14/21) by Jasmine Youn and Karis Choi 

“Barrera (’09) Builds Bodies and Communities as Owner and CEO of Faster Fitness Gym” (2/1/21) by Doyon Kim and Karis Choi

“The Klapp Family: Two Generations of Softball Success” (5/31/21) by Cheyenne Arredondo

“517 Days Later: Students, Staff React to First Week Back” (8/24/21) by Karis Choi and Jasmine Youn

“Teen Drivers Hit Hard by Soaring Gas Prices” (12/14/21) by Karis Choi and Jasmine Youn

“Think Before You Post: Social Media Activity Impacts College Admissions” (4/5/22) by Doyon Kim