Seventh Consecutive Texas HS Journalist of the Year

Parker Davis ’19, managing editor of The ReMarker student newspaper, has been named the 2019 Texas High School Journalist of the Year by the Texas Association of Journalism Educators (TAJE). On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, Leah Waters and Margie Raper, journalism teachers and representatives from the TAJE, stopped by St. Mark’s during Parker’s Advanced Journalism class to surprise him with the award.   

 

“We are always astounded to review these portfolios of work and to know they come from high school students,” said Leah Waters. “The work of students like Parker shows what the future of storytelling holds.” 

 

With help from the TAJE, Parker will now begin preparing to represent Texas at the national competition level. In April, he will participate in the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association’s annual convention, where all state winners’ portfolios will be evaluated by a national panel.

 

For the state-level competition, Parker compiled a comprehensive online profile covering 11 sections across his four years on The ReMarker staff, including writing, design, and his leadership roles at the paper.

 

“I’ve seen the work of other incredible students from across the state and to be selected as the student with the best portfolio is an incredible honor,” said Parker. “But the work I do on The ReMarker would not be possible without Mr. Westbrook and the dozens of other Marksmen on the staff who push me to try new things and do my best. I’m honored to represent them, The ReMarker, and Texas at a national level now.”

 

Parker Davis ’19 is the seventh consecutive Marksman to be named Texas High School Journalist of the Year, joining past winners Kobe Roseman ’18, Rish Basu ’17, Will Clark ’16, Matthew Conley ’15, Ryan O’Meara ’14, and Daniel Hersh ’13. The ReMarker is overseen by Ray Westbrook, Gene & Alice Oltrogge Master Teaching Chair.