Richland students shine at national journalism convention with top honors in photography

Four Richland journalism students had their work on display at the 2024 Journalism Education Association Convention.

The notoriety was well-received as junior Allie Corlew (portfolio), junior Bella Elledge (sports action photography), freshman Jaydn Qualls (first-year photography) and junior Jasmine Qualls (feature photography) all placed in their respective categories during the convention in November in Philadelphia.

“The Journalism Education Association and the Scholastic Press Association both host, together, they host a journalism convention in the spring and in the fall,” said Richland yearbook advisor and business teacher Kyle Carter. “We usually go to the one in the fall. It is usually closer.”

Corlew and Elledge returned to Missouri with two of the 13 “superior” ratings that were awarded.

All four students competed and placed in the national write-off contests in the photography division.

The awards were: Jaydn Qualls, honorable mention in first year photography; Corlew, superior in portfolio photography (a cumulative contest based on a student’s entire body of work); Elledge, superior in sports action photography; and Jasmine Qualls, excellent in feature photography.

More than 3,600 students entered the convention with hope of taking home credentials that will kickstart their careers — at 16 and 17 years of age, no less.

Nationwide, only 13 total superiors — the top prize — were presented for photography out of 3,693 students from 681 different schools, including all 50 states and eight countries.

The Richland High School journalism department attends every year.

“It is the best of the best,” Carter said. “Unlike FBLA or Beta or anything that has a district competition, a state competition, and then a national competition — this one is just national.”

There are approximately 40 categories in which the students can submit their work and compete.

“Everything from headline writing, cutline writing to pagination, to different types of photography. We always do the photo because that is what we do,” Carter said. “I have had three if not four others receive a ‘Superior’ in portfolio.”

Corlew entered and competed this year and Elledge will enter next year, as only one categorical entry per year is permitted, Carter said.

Being a school-sponsored activity, fundraising campaigns help offset a percentage of the overall cost.

Said Carter: “The last couple of years we have done a murder mystery dinner theater that has paid for us to go. We work concessions, a daddy-daughter dance, a mother-and-son dance here at the school. We do all different types of fundraising. Those also help pay for other contests. We do the Quill & Scroll National Yearbook Contest every year.”

Corlew

“Allie’s was portfolio, so it was everything that she had done throughout her career,” Carter said.

Corlew’s portfolio received the highest rating in the nation, even though she is only a junior.

“It’s surreal to me to be considered one of the best in the nation,” Corlew said. “I really didn’t expect to win. I am very proud of our entire staff for what we are accomplishing with our yearbook and that even though we are from a very small school, we can compete and win against much larger schools.”

Corlew is the editor-in-chief of “The Rebel,” Richland’s student-produced yearbook. She is a JEA member and 2017 national Rising Star award winner.

“Yeah, it was crazy,” Corlew said. “I have been with the yearbook for a really young time and have been taking photos since seventh grade. We decided to do (a) portfolio; thought it would be a pretty good option. I have a lot of different photos over the years.”

Corlew was not expecting what came next.

“I wasn’t expecting to win,” she said. “I was really excited and really proud of my staff, cause they all won, too. It was a good day for us.”

Elledge

Tying into the academically and professionally historic weekend was Elledge’s birthday, and the crew took a trip to the city that never sleeps — New York City.

Fitting for these young photojournalists.

“They slept pretty much the whole way there,” Carter said. “It just looks like any other big city, but when we took the curve at Battery Park, they could see Tower 1. They knew, ‘OK, yeah, this is something a little different.’”

Tower 1’s location and the Statue of Liberty were some of the visited sights.

“The first time they got a glimpse of the statue, it hit them,” Carter said.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, Elledge turned 17.

“We had a birthday party for her at (rooftop restaurant) Beast and Butterflies. I may have embarrassed her. I called for everyone in New York City to sing Happy Birthday,” Carter said.

Elledge said the birthday surprise was more than embarrassing yet memorable — something in which she will tell her grandkids.

“Yeah, pretty big embarrassment because he is a pretty big guy,” she said.

For Elledge, her victory comments on the Richland journalism program’s progression.

“I did sports action, and I was really glad that was the category. I really love sports,” Elledge said. “I grew up playing sports and my family watches football every Sunday. So, I like shooting it so people can see it from my eyes. It is important to me, so whenever I won, it was even more special because it is something I love to do. Shooting sports is my favorite.”