JEA Spring National Convention – Day 4

Posted on Apr 20, 2008 in Life, Volunteering | 1 comment

Sunday morning we all piled into the Mariott’s ballroom eager to hear the results of individual write-off competitions. Before we did, though, we were treated to an array of pre-annoucements announcements. They included a slideshow of student photography submitted to the competition (and there were some amazing shots); the student journalist of the year and the runners-up; and a video enticing us to attend the fall JEA convention in St. Louis.

Again, many the Washington schools grouped together (though this time much more loosely) to cheer one another on. We were so boisterous that the announcer (H.L. Hall, who’s been announcing individual award-winners since I was a student!) paused after each Washingtonian was announced. Given the rapidity with which H.L. reads these names (there were 714 winners from 1869 participants to get through) that’s pretty impressive. In my years attending and chaperoning these conventions, I’ve never seen such an impressive display of solidarity among the schools from any state. I counted 17 separate schools from Washington whose students took home awards in the write-offs.

Among them were many Hawkeye students, I’m proud to say. Vince has compiled a complete list in a press release that I’ll get and post soon. I was pleased to learn that a student from Wenatchee’s Apple Leaf, where my friend Jeff Nusser advises, whom I talked to about the Newspaper Layout competition, received an honorable mention. Good for her!

With checkout complete and bags secured in a hotel storeroom, the afternoon lay ahead of us. Vince, Tim, and Mark took a few students to watch the cumbersomely-named The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do battle with—and lose 4 to 2—to the Seattle Mariners. Not being a baseball fan, I took a contingent of seven students on two short bus rides to end up at The Block at Orange, a big outdoor mall. Sure, sure—another mall. But it was something to do and the food options were much better (finally got some sushi).

The trip home felt short, but that may have been due to the fact most of us were sleeping on the bus to LAX or on the plane home. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the kind gifts the Hawkeye students chipped in to get each of us chaperones: I was given an excellent sand hackey sack and some Disney playing cards; Vince a Godfather quote book; and Tim a Japanese cookbook. All gifts showed generosity and a knowledge of what we enjoy. So thank you everyone.

I’m looking forward to St. Louis in the Fall and Phoenix next year! I’m also looking forward to a convention that provides free wifi access, as this one didn’t and that makes posting a blog for parents much harder!

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