SNA Sophomore Wins National AllSides Journalism Contest

Big congrats to sophomore Mackenzie Wilkins who recently earned top recognition in the Allsides Student Journalism Contest, a national competition that challenged students to analyze a current event from all sides or perspectives: left-leaning, centrist, and right-leaning. Her winning submission was written about the North Dakota abortion ban, a topic she chose because of her personal interest in the subject and so that she could understand the full range of viewpoints. She explained why the topic stood out to her. “Abortion is a very controversial topic; it is interesting to really deep dive into both sides of the issue. Also, because I care about the topic, it is nice to write about what I am passionate about, especially when it comes to babies.”

To meet the contest’s requirements, Mackenzie had to do balanced research. She got her research from a number of media outlets including the BBC, Women’s Centers, The Guardian, and Life News, thus enabling her to compare different perspectives on the issue.

Even though Mackenzie’s work was great, when she turned it in, she didn’t expect to win. “When I first turned it in, I was a tiny bit confident, but I didn't actually consider the possibility of winning,” she said. The moment she opened the email notifying her that she had won, she couldn’t believe it and said, “To be honest, I thought I was being pranked or something. I did not think it was real, that maybe AllSides had emailed the wrong person. Once I showed a few people the email and they thought it seemed legit, I was excited.” 

As for what she plans to do with the prize money, she is still deciding. But one thing that she is certain about is her gratitude towards Mrs. Chiccino. “I want to give a big thank you to Mrs. Chiccino. I couldn't have done this without her!”

Her Journalism teacher, Mrs. Chiccino, shared her own perspective on this amazing achievement. She first learned about the Allsides contest when she was looking for ways to connect real world experiences with our school's PBL philosophy. When Mrs. Chiccino began to do some research on national writing contests, she received an email from Allsides about a writing contest where students had to write about a current topic that included news articles from the left, right, and center perspectives. Seeing one of her students win was especially meaningful. She stated, “I was thrilled when I learned that Mackenzie had won one of the three prizes offered by the contest. She had written a strong essay on the topic of abortion. She effectively showcased the different positions people hold on this topic using a variety of media sources. I am so proud of her and the essay she wrote. She is definitely deserving of this prize.”

In the end, Mackenzie’s accomplishment doesn’t just highlight her writing skills, but also her willingness to explore complex issues with empathy and an open mind. Congratulations Mackenzie!