Three first place awards highlighted the day for Ben Davis student media at the 2015 Indiana High School Press Association annual convention Friday morning at Franklin College.

Junior Ryan Eggers won first place in the state in sports writing for his coverage of the Ben Davis state football championship game last year. In addition, the Spotlight staff took home first place in civic journalism and maestro reporting.

The civic journalism award was for a special section the staff produced on the rising crime rate in Indianapolis. The staff hosted a group of civic leaders to discuss teenage crime in our community. The maestro package reporting award was for a series of articles the staff produced on the secondary redesign that was introduced to Wayne Township last school year.

The Spotlight and Keyhole staffs combined to bring home 13 awards from this year’s convention. In addition, Eggers was elected to serve on the student governing board of the IHSPA for the coming year. Senior Emily Rasmussen just completed her term on the board.

The Spotlight staff also earned a second place in the state award for overall online news presence.

The complete list of Ben Davis award winners is:

Lacey McLaughlin — third place in spot news photography

Carlin Underwood — honorable mention in feature photography

Spotlight staff — first place in civic journalism

Lacey McLaughlin — third place in advertising design

Keyhole staff — honorable mention in student life spread design

Keyhole staff — honorable mention in academic spread design

Breanna Cooper — second place in editorial writing

Shelby Jenson — second place in yearbook sports photography

Shelby Jenson — second place in newspaper photographer portfolio

Spotlight staff — first place in maestro package

Breanna Cooper and Taylor Grace — second place in overall online newspaper presence

Emily Rasmussen – honorable mention in news writing

Ryan Eggers — first place in sports writing