Awards
All awards and other achievements of The Smoke Signal can be found here.
2019-2020 School Year
GSSPA Awards
The Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) is New Jersey’s student journalism organization. The awards are judged over the summer based on the previous school year and announced the next fall.
Online Awards
First Place — Overall Online Excellence, The Smoke Signal
First Place — Distinguished Online Journalism, The Smoke Signal
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Multimedia Package — News
Honorable Mention — Madison Gallo, “Online gradebook temporarily closed during school hours”
Honorable Mention — Madison Gallo, “Hate crimes on the rise across United States”
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Multimedia Package — Features
Third Place — Katie Mullaney, “New Voices for New Jersey”
Honorable Mention — Katie Mullaney, “PV alum hosts Italian radio show”
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Multimedia Package — Sports
First Place — Jeremy Lesserson, “Eighth-seeded wrestler shines, eight wrestlers move onto Regions”
Second Place — Josh DeLuca & Noah Schwartz, “Let’s take a second look”
Third Place — Josh DeLuca, Noah Schwartz, Jeremy Lesserson & BJ McGrane, “Hillsdale resident leads FDU into March Madness”
Honorable Mention — Spencer Goldstein, “Indians led by four senior linemen”
Honorable Mention — Jeremy Lesserson, “Beyer, Chiellini move on to the state tournament”
Honorable Mention — Noah Schwartz & Josh DeLuca, “PV community celebrates legendary coach”
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Podcast
First Place — Jake Topolosky, “ValleyChat”
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Breaking News
First Place — Madison Gallo & Rachel Cohen, “Minor charged in hate and bias incident”
Third Place — Josh DeLuca, “Plaques containing hateful etchings removed”
Honorable Mention — Madison Gallo, Rachel Cohen & Josh DeLuca, “Superintendent confirms anti-Semitic graffiti”
Honorable Mention — Katie Mullaney, “Students discuss solutions to anti-Semitism”
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Breaking Sports
First Place — Josh DeLuca, “Indians to welcome New Canaan on short notice”
Honorable Mention — Josh DeLuca, “Indians ready for first instant replay game”
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Photo Gallery
First Place — Matt Austin & Victoria Donofrio, “May 2019 Valley Cup Highlights”
Second Place — Molly Heintze, John Castellanos & Evan Mathai, “Junior Prom Slideshow 2019”
Third Place — Matt Austin, “Pascack Valley holds first lip dub”
Honorable Mention — Matt Austin, Victoria Donofrio, Molly Heintze & Evan Mathai, “Senior Prom 2019”
Honorable Mention — Matt Austin & Victoria Donofrio, “PV fashion classes host annual fashion show”
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Print Awards (Division B)
First Place — Distinguished Print Journalism, The Smoke Signal
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News Writing
First Place — Madison Gallo
Second Place — Madison Gallo, Rachel Cohen
Third Place — Madison Gallo, Josh DeLuca, Rachel Cohen
Honorable Mention — Madison Gallo
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Feature Writing
Second Place — Kayla Barry
Third Place — Rachel Cohen
Honorable Mention — Rachel Cohen, Kayla Barry
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Sports Writing
First Place — Jeremy Lesserson
Third Place — Josh DeLuca, Jeremy Lesserson, Noah Schwartz
Honorable Mention — Jeremy Lesserson
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Opinion Writing
Second Place — Thomas DeWitt
Honorable Mention — Rachel Cohen
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Column Writing
First Place — Kayla Barry
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Artwork/Illustrations
Third Place — Estefania Chinchilla
Honorable Mention — Sam Ozawa-Morriello
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Photography
First Place — Evan Mathai
Second Place — Claire Barnhart
Third Place — David Harnett
Honorable Mention — Matt Austin
Honorable Mention — Matt Austin
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JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention
The Journalism Education Association (JEA) and its partner the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) hold two national conferences every year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Publications can enter students into write-off competitions that cover a multitude of categories.
(Excellence) Feature Writing — Katie Mullaney
(Excellence) Sports Writing — Spencer Goldstein
(Excellence) News Writing — BJ McGrane
(Honorable Mention) Commentary Writing — Rachel Cohen
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2018-2019 School Year
Best of SNO
The SNO Distinguished Sites recognition program awards news staffs over six categories. When each category is met, the site will be awarded a badge. If all six badges are won by a news staff the staff is named a SNO Distinguished Site for the calendar year.
The value of volunteering — Kayla Barry
Superintendent confirms anti-Semitic grafitti — Madison Gallo, Rachel Cohen, and Josh DeLuca
Let’s take a second look — Josh DeLuca and Noah Schwartz
The Road Unknown — Katie Mullaney
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2017-18 School Year (awarded fall of 2018)
GSSPA Awards
The Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) is New Jersey’s student journalism organization. The awards are judged over the summer based on the previous school year and announced the next fall.
Online Awards
*** No size classifications — all submissions are placed in the same pool***
Overall Excellence
First Place: The Smoke Signal, Pascack Valley
Distinguished Journalism (most awarded publication)
First Place: The Smoke Signal, Pascack Valley
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Multimedia Package- News
First Place: Tara Healy — Smoke Signal Film Festival highlighted by Zack Latteri documentary
Second Place: Ariela Alfonso, Zana Allajbeju, Curstine Guevarra, Meghan Lee, Evan Mathai — Haunted highlights from Halloween Talent Night
Honorable Mention: Katie Mullaney, Tara Healy — Kate Fagan: Keeping Madison’s Story Alive
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Multimedia Package- Features
First Place: Lauren Cohen — ‘I’ve had a great run’
Second Place: Rachel Cohen — Making her mark
Honorable Mention: Alysa Mehl — Left and found
Honorable Mention: Ally Botwinick — I marched to bear witness
Honorable Mention: Kayla Barry — Florida Shooting affects local community
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Multimedia Package- Sports
First Place: Josh DeLuca — Pascack Valley makes playoffs as No. 8 seed
Second Place: Jeremy Lesserson — Three Indians to wrestle for glory
Third Place: Trey Herenda — Rivals join forces in ‘Bars for Ben’
Honorable Mention: Noah Schwartz — Jasper Tribute Videos
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Podcast
Second Place: ValleyChat by Jake Topolosky — The Great Jack O’Lantern
Third Place: ValleyChat by Jake Topolosky — Baked by Rosemary
Honorable Mention: ValleyChat by Jake Topolosky — Super Bowl Special
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Breaking News Story
Honorable Mention: Madison Gallo, Lauren Cohen, Molly Heintze — Students face possible discipline for possessing inappropriate images
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Breaking Sports Story
Second Place: Rachel Cohen — Dance Team wins double national title in Florida competition
Honorable Mention: Noah Schwartz — Jasper reaches ‘grand’ milestone
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Photo Gallery
First Place: Alysa Mehl, Curstine Guevarra, and David Harnett — PV Participates in Walkout
Second Place: Curstine Guevarra — PV Theatre performs “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
Third Place: Gianna Battista, David Harnett, Molly Heintze, and Curstine Guevarra — The Big 1,000
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Print Awards (Division B)
Distinguished Journalism (most awarded publication)
First Place: The Smoke Signal, Pascack Valley
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News Writing
First Place: Kayla Barry — Florida shooting affects local community
Third Place: Katie Mullaney and Kayla Barry — District removes two teaching positions and phases out program
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Sports Writing
First Place: Madison Gallo and Trey Herenda — The start of the long gold line
Second Place: Noah Schwartz — PV athletic director set to retire
Third Place: Josh DeLuca — Pascack Valley set for first-ever out of state game
Honorable Mention: Josh DeLuca — Lifelong passion instills valuable lessons for Pascack swimmer
Honorable Mention: Josh DeLuca — Future is bright for Valley football
Honorable Mention: Josh DeLuca and Noah Schwartz — Buchanan to head Pascack Valley athletic department
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Feature Writing
Second Place: Sofia Hassan — And then there was Hope
Third Place: Madison Gallo — Jasper’s journey from soldier to teacher
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Photography
First Place: Victoria Donofrio — Ari Quevedo playing soccer
Second Place: Curstine Guevarra — Football player takes a drink (Picture #9 in this slideshow)
Honorable Mention: David Harnett — End zone celebration (Picture #10 in this slideshow)
Honorable Mention: Curstine Guevarra — Walkout (Picture #8 in this slideshow)
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Layout & Design
Honorable Mention: The Smoke Signal editorial staff — Jasper 1000th win print edition
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Opinion Writing
Second Place: Lauren Cohen — Will we ever feel safe?
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Editorial Writing
Honorable Mention: The Smoke Signal editorial board — DEAR administrators
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Review Writing
Third Place: Ellie Kim — ’Illuminae’ is a captivating and untraditional read
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Art & Illustration
First Place: Kyle Levanduski — Test Anxiety
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In-depth Reporting
First Place: Elise Shicker, Kayla Barry, Tara Healy, et. al. — Mental Health (print issue and coverage of Kate Fagan’s visit to PV)
Second Place: The Smoke Signal staff — Jasper’s 1,000th win
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2016-2017 School Year
Fall Garden State Scholastic Press Association Conference
The Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) is New Jersey’s student journalism organization. The awards are judged over the summer based on the previous school year and announced the next fall.
PRINT AWARDS — Division B
Distinguished Journalism Award
First place — The Smoke Signal Staff
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Photography
First place — Josh DeLuca, Subject: Jordan Issackedes, “Sectional title worth 51 year wait”
Second Place — Claire Barnhart, Subject: Tara Healy, “Hear and Now: PV needs a sign language class”
Honorable Mention — Curstine Guevarra, Subject: Matt Urea, “Indians look for fourth straight win”
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In-depth Reporting
Honorable Mention — Kyle Comito, Sarah Schmoyer, Jamie Ryu, Lauren Cohen, Nicole Zamlout, ”Teacher of the Year Portfolio” (6 stories about Argine Safari winning NJ Teacher of the Year)
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Sports Writing
First Place — Jake Aferiat, “Urrea’s big night fuels Cusumano’s first career win”
Second place — Jake Aferiat, “For PV sophomore, hockey is more than just a sport”
Third Place — Jake Aferiat, “Wrestling District Preview: District 1 Preview”
Honorable Mention — Jeremy Lesserson, “Four PV wrestlers advance to regions, doubling last year’s total”
Honorable Mention — Robyn Roznitsky, “Bringing healthy soccer to underprivileged areas”
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Newswriting
First Place — Sarah Schmoyer, “Pushing back against censorship: The New Voices movement inspires New Jersey bill to protect freedom of expression among student journalists”
Honorable Mention — Kyle Comito, “PV moves to semester grading for new year”
Honorable Mention — Olivia Jones, “PV security officers now armed with guns”
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Opinion
First place — Kyle Comito, “Handling a tragedy”
Third Place — Tara Healy, “Hear and Now: PV needs a sign language class”
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Editorials — unsigned
First Place — Smoke Signal Editorial Board, “Pascack Period’s disguise has worn thin”
Second Place — Smoke Signal Editorial Board, “Why the New Voices legislation must pass”
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Feature Writing
Second place — Rachel Powell, “Spirit of late students lives on through foundation”
Third Place — Kayla Barry, “A new addition to the lacrosse family”
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Online Awards (16)
Distinguished Journalism Award
First place — The Smoke Signal Staff
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Overall Excellence
First place — The Smoke Signal Staff
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Breaking News Story
First Place — Jamie Ryu
Honorable Mention — Jamie Ryu
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Breaking News Story
First Place — Jamie Ryu, “PV falls victim to phishing scheme”
Honorable Mention — Jamie Ryu, “PV takes shelter from man on the run”
Honorable Mention — Jamie Ryu, “Board of Education passes long-awaited recording policy”
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Breaking Sports Story
Second Place — Jake Aferiat, “PV junior tosses no-hitter, first of his career”
Honorable Mention — Jake Aferiat, “PV senior reaches 1,000 points”
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Broadcast Sports
Honorable Mention — Billy Lyons, Bobby Saul, Brian Sumereau, ”The Sidelines, Episode 5”
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Multimedia Feature Package
Honorable Mention — Sofia Hassan, ”From rap battles to viral superstardom”
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Multimedia News Package
Third Place — Sarah Schmoyer, CJ Guevarra, “Pushing Back Against Censorship”
Honorable Mention — Rebecca Silverman, Rachel Powell, CJ Guevarra, ”Pascack Period plays host to several speakers and events”
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Multimedia Sports Package
First Place — Jake Aferiat, “Wrestling District Preview: District 1”
Second Place — Jake Aferiat, Josh DeLuca, Noah Schwartz, “Sectional title worth 51 year wait”
Third Place — Jake Aferiat, Josh DeLuca, Noah Schwartz, Jimmy Dronzek, Emilio Quevedo, Kaitlyn Conti, Nicole Arden, Matt Ricciardi, Nico Prospero, “Fall Sports Previews”
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Podcasting
Second Place, Jake Topolosky, “ValleyChat: Learning about Robotics”
Honorable Mention, Jake Topolosky, “ValleyChat: Decoding the College Application Process”
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JEA/NSPA Conventions
The Journalism Education Association (JEA) and its partner the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) hold two national conferences every year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Publications can enter students into write-off competitions that cover a multitude of categories.
JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention
Excellent (Feature Writing) — Kayla Barry
Honorable Mention (Newswriting) — Madison Gallo
JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention
Honorable Mention (Feature Writing) — Lauren Cohen
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SNO Badges
The SNO Distinguished Sites recognition program awards news staffs over six categories. When each category is met, the site will be awarded a badge. If all six badges are won by a news staff the staff is named a SNO Distinguished Site for the calendar year.
Excellence in Writing
Site Excellence
Audience Engagement
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Best of SNO
Pushing back against censorship — Sarah Schmoyer
Bringing healthy soccer to underprivileged areas — Robyn Roznitsky
Why I don’t stand for the pledge — Jamie Ryu
Spirit of late student lives on through foundation — Rachel Powell
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2015-2016 School Year
Fall Garden State Scholastic Press Association Conference
The Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) is New Jersey’s student journalism organization. The awards are judged over the summer based on the previous school year and announced the next fall.
Overall
The Smoke Signal — Distinguished Journalism Program for New Jersey’s Division B
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Feature Writing
First Place — Robyn Roznitsky, ” ‘Her name is Juli’ “: PV students reconnect teacher and
Peruvian woman after 38 years”
Second Place — Jamie Ryu, “The journey from Karoline to Kax”
Honorable Mention — Evan Jones, “Hillsdale woman advocates for new amendments to Joan’s
Law”
Honorable Mention — Kayla Barry, “Ready, aim… shoot!: PV senior demonstrates passion for archery”
Honorable mention — Kayla Barry, “PV senior takes to the ice to showcase her talents”
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Editorial Writing
First Place — Vanessa Rutigliano, “Lack of authenticity in PV’s outside coverage: Student voices in the media do not reflect the entire student body”
Honorable Mention — Vanessa Rutigliano, “Tweets can echo”
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Opinion Writing
First Place — Chandni Shah, “Bring PV together by changing the mascot” (on Page 2)
Second Place — Kyle Comito, “PV should stay true to its Indian tradition” (on Page 2)
Honorable Mention — Kyle Comito, “New transgender policy misses the mark”
Honorable Mention — Brianna Ruback, “Summative assessments are no better than midterms”
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Photography
First Place — Patricia Ocelotl, “Melissa Purcell pole vaults”
Third Place — Bryanna Testino, “Students partake in yoga”
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In-depth Reporting
First Place — Kyle Comito, Jamie Ryu, Robert Saul, Shannon Culloo, Calvin Ralph, “Transgender
Policy Portfolio”
Second Place — Kyle Comito, Julia Fiskin, Jamie Ryu, Lauren Martinez, Sara Cadiz, Maddie Brookstone, “Virtual Day Portfolio”
Third Place — Chandni Shah, Kayla Barry, Jamie Ryu, Lauren Martinez, “PARCC Testing
Portfolio”
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Sports Writing
Third Place — Jake Aferiat, “An unlikely duo making noise for PV hockey”
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News Writing
Honorable Mention — Jamie Ryu, “New transgender policy passes at Board of Education meeting”
Honorable Mention — Kyle Comito, “Superintendent sets record straight on School nickname debate”
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NSPA Critique 2015-2016
The Journalism Education Association (JEA) and its partner the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) hold two national conferences every year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Publications can enter students into write-off competitions that cover a multitude of categories.
First Class Distinction
Marks of Distinction in:
Coverage/Content
Breaking News
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2016 SNO Distinguished Site (one out of 27 sites)
The SNO Distinguished Sites recognition program awards news staffs over six categories. When each category is met, the site will be awarded a badge. If all six badges are won by a news staff the staff is named an SNO Distinguished Site for the calendar year.
SNO Badges
Continuous Coverage Badge
Story Page Excellence Badge
Multi-Media Content Badge
Site Excellence Badge
Audience Engagement Badge
Best of SNO
The journey from Karoline to Kax – Jamie Ryu
Wednesday Morning Quarterback: Pimpinella, Penalties, and Placekicking – Evan Jones
Hillsdale woman advocates for new amendments to Joan’s Law – Evan Jones
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