Hicksville HS Authors Pen Success

HICKSVILLE, NY - From Hicksville School District: Congratulations to Hicksville High School students Lillian Aljada, Rawan Mohamed and Isabella Weber who are recipients of Quill Awards, sponsored by Adelphi University as part of its annual Press Day event held on Feb. 6. Isabella won first place in the Best Illustration/Cartoon category while Lillian and Rawan took third-place honors in the Best Art Review and Best Opinion Piece categories, respectively.

Isabella’s comic strip focused on the arrival of fall and the immediate holiday hoopla that takes over once the leaves begin to turn. Lillian’s work centered on her review of the indie movie “Eighth Grade,” and Rawan wrote about previous conditions at the girls’ locker room at the high school (prior to renovations that took place this past summer). All three are members of the Hicksville High School journalism club and write for the school paper, The Comet News, advised by teacher Corey Cohn.

The Quill Awards featured 15 categories overall, including Best Illustration, Best Photography and Most Outstanding Newspaper, in addition to the categories Isabella, Rowan and Lillian entered. The competition included more than 400 students and featured submissions from almost 20 schools across Long Island.

Adelphi’s Press Day also provided students with the opportunity to learn from seasoned newspaper and magazine editors, online and newspaper reporters, and freelance writers about the world of media. The event included breakout sessions and a panel featuring Keshia Clukey, education reporter for Newsday, among other professionals, educators and students in the journalism field.