SC SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISTS OF THE YEAR
Wando High School student media has produced more South Carolina Scholastic Journalists of the Year--eight total--than any other high school in the 55-year history of giving the award. Five of those winners have come from Legend yearbook in the past seven years.
2017SOPHIE WINNICK No single student had more of an impact in changing the culture of Wando yearbook than Sophie Winnick. Along with an unwavering and infectious work ethic that made efficiency and diligence the norm among her staff members, Sophie brought multiple talents to her yearbook production. Her true specialty and favorite work, however, rested in photography.
Sophie acquired the rare position of leadership as a newbie staff member her sophomore year when she became sports editor. The next year, she overhauled Legend's photography department as photo editor, making award-winning candid photos the standard for the staff. Finally, as a senior, she led the staff as editor in chief to produce the 2017 yearbook, ultimately leading to her Scholastic Journalist of the Year title awarded by the S.C. Scholastic Press Association. Sophie remains Legend's most award-winning student of all-time with 23 individual awards, a record that will likely stand for years to come. Currently, Sophie is in New York City pursuing a law degree. 2021 |
2019
GREYSON WEBB
Greyson found her writing passion in middle school as a way to cope with the loss of her baby brother, and what became a method for healing propelled her to one of the most successful careers in Wando yearbook history. But along with her astounding writing ability, Greyson also found she possessed superb design and photography skills as well.
Greyson began as an academics writer her sophomore year on staff, and her strong talent and work ethic led her to take over as academics editor her junior year. Greyson became editor in chief for the 2019 yearbook, and along with her co-editor, created an innovative volume that focused on lighting effects to further theme, including a glow-in-the-dark cover. But it was her powerful writing and story-telling ability that led the S.C. Scholastic Press Association to name her the 2019 Scholastic Journalist of the Year. Greyson ranks at #15 all-time on Legend's list of individual award-winners. She is currently a senior at George Washington University majoring in journalism. 2022 |
OLIVIA POTTER |
MILLIE RICE |
Olivia entered the yearbook program with incredible writing talent. She exited the program as a powerful leader who had broadened her technical skills far beyond the writing craft.
Olivia began as a sophomore student life writer, and she quickly rose to the helm of that section her junior year. Olivia often was tasked with one of yearbook's hardest jobs--covering the tragic loss of a student and writing her memorial in the yearbook. Her astounding interview skills and empathetic nature allowed her to craft beautiful tributes to the students Wando lost. When she became co-editor in chief of the 2021 Legend, Olivia faced a never-before-seen challenge: leading a staff to create a yearbook during a global pandemic. Still, despite the challenges and setbacks, Olivia continued to guide the staff to produce award-winning work, including some of the yearbook's best showing at the annual SIPA conference. While many yearbook staffs struggled across the nation due to COVID-19 restrictions, Olivia and her co-editors still found a way to thrive. Olivia ranks #7 all-time on Legend's list of individual award winners. 2023NICOLE BREEN Nicole entered yearbook during challenging times; she was a freshmen in the adviser's journalism class when the world shut down due to COVID-19. She spent her first two years on a staff that struggled to regain its identity and camaraderie that it lost during the pandemic.
As editor in chief her senior year, Nicole set out to bring the family environment back to Legend. She focused on cultivating relationships with younger staff members, creating a fun yet focused environment, and going the extra mile to act as a motherly role model to her staff members. During Nicole's tenure, Legend regained the heart it had lost due to the pandemic. Nicole's personality, work ethic, and love for her fellow staff made her the quintessential editor in chief to repair the damage from the past couple of years. Nicole also guided the staff to produce the historic 50th anniversary edition with her co-editors. Together, they produced bold, original ideas--even welcoming back the original editor in chief from 1974 for a special anniversary spread--and helped lead the staff to a record awards performance at the Southern Interscholastic Press Association conference in 2023. Nicole is currently a freshman at Auburn University. |
Millie's extraordinary and fateful journey began when she was adopted from China by an American family at just the age of 1. Fate would guide her to the Wando yearbook program, where her astounding work ethic, natural leadership, and multi-talented abilities would make her a commanding leader for over 50 of her peers.
Millie started as a sports reporter due to her love for athletics, but she quickly started to adopt other jobs as needed and emerged as a dependable staff member willing to do whatever it took to lead the yearbook to success. She ascended to the job as sports editor her junior year, where she netted awards for writing and design. Millie's sacrifice, dedication, and talent would elevate her to one of the 2021-22 editor in chief jobs, where she set the standard for the staff on diligence and commitment to excellence with not only her own personal achievements, but with how she coached staff members with a hands-on approach. Millie ranks #3 all-time on Legend's list of individual award winners. She is currently a sophomore at Wofford College. |