One McHenry Community High School staff member and a team of student journalists were honored recently with Distinguished Service Awards from the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA).
Bilingual parent liaison Lorena Ortega-Trovillion and Warrior Student Media members received the awards at a May 12 INSPRA luncheon. The statewide award acknowledges individuals and teams who partner with the communications office and serve as ambassadors for public education.
Ortega-Trovillion, a staff member since 2005, serves as a bridge between the school and English Learner students and families. She is the liaison to the district’s Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) and works with English Learner students in school.
Warrior Student Media, made up of the McHenry Messenger student newspaper, Warrior Weekly student broadcast department and the Warrior yearbook staff, also serves as an important communication conduit between the school and students. In addition to producing publications and broadcast shows, student journalists have started live-streaming athletic competitions, pep rallies and other important events and regularly win awards for their work.
In addition, a team from Warrior Student Media made a historic trip with local veterans in the Honor Flight of Northern Illinois -- a project for which they earned several awards.