The 2015 Spring MIPA Conference marked another year of success for The Talon newspaper and its staff, earning an overall Spartan award, 38 individual awards, as well as having an All-MIPA Designer of the Year and Journalist of the Year.

Winning Spartans in 2010, 2011, 2012, (a Pacemaker national award in 2013) and 2014, The Talon hoped to continue the streak this year.

“I was really proud of everyone on the paper,” senior and Entertainment editor Jessica Leininger said. “I wasn’t on The Talon last year, so being on a winning team my first and last year on the paper was really satisfying.”

Senior staff member and editor-in-chief Danielle Kullmann was awarded All-MIPA for News Design and also Michigan’s Journalist of the Year.

“I don’t know a lot about journalism yet, but Danielle has been the person who has introduced me to the newspaper and has taught me almost everything I apply in the class,” freshman Joel Fickel said. “She’s very hardworking and dedicated to what she does; I believe that this award was meant for journalists like Danielle.”

This success from The Talon wasn’t met without obstacles. Earlier in the year, The Talon was placed under prior review.

“From November on, we have been combating prior review and trying to learn how to cooperate with administration, parents and the local media, all while trying to publish new issues,” Leininger said. “We did our best to handle our own stories and the people who wanted to influence them. Our success came from how we never stopped trying to write real stories with journalistic integrity.”

This conference wrapped up another successful journalistic year for The Talon.

“I feel I put a lot of effort into my hard work from this past year, and am proud of what I have done,” senior and sports editor Zane D’Souza said. “The staff as a whole has done so much, and is deserving of the Spartan award.”