Throughout the school year, the Communication, Arts, Film and Digital Media academy manages five journalism publications at Coral Gables Senior High School, this effort concludes with a year-end celebration. On April 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., CAF&DM held its annual banquet in order to honor the year-long hard work of the publication staffs. Gathered at the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, student journalists and their advisers celebrated with a catered brunch and an awards ceremony, spending the morning enjoying a program defined by formal recognition, a catered meal, photography and music.
As guests arrived, they gathered into the ballroom. Upon entering the room, students joined their fellow journalists at a series of decorated tables. At 9:45 a.m., Quill and Scroll President Sophia Sol and yearbook sponsor Ana Zuniga opened the event.
“The Hyatt is a great venue and it was perfect for this kind of event. The event room was decorated well and the outside patio area made for a great place to be able to take photos before the banquet started,” junior Andres Kardjian said.
Following an initial welcome and a thank you to those in attendance, Sol and Zuniga praised the staffs’ commitment to journalistic values and spoke regarding the deep commitment that each staff member maintains toward the program and the journalistic values they uphold. Pointing to the outstanding performances of the FSPA All-Florida and Best of the Best awards earned by the school’s publications, the speakers used the podium to express gratitude to the advisers and guests for their role in supporting the success of the journalism department. These awards represent excellence and are awarded to publications that demonstrate the highest quality of work, making it an award of great distinction.
“We were lucky enough to get an All-Florida award this year for Cavaleon. I feel like it’s such a great feeling to be able to get recognized for all the work you put in throughout the year and to be rewarded for the job you did,” senior Linus Boettcher said.
Advisers received certificates that marked their contributions to the growth of their respective programs. Afterward, the Quill and Scroll board received recognition for their leadership in managing the academy’s annual schedule of activities.
“I thought it was a well planned event and it was nice to see the people who deserved it get awards. It was so fun to be able to do awards within a banquet setting and with all your friends,” junior Gabrielle Solomon said.
As the ceremony continued, the editorial boards of Yearbook and CavsConnect received specific titles, followed by individual recognitions by Editors-in-Chiefs and advisers. Each award included a brief speech with photos taken by both student and professional photographers.
Once the initial round of honors concluded, Sol and Zuniga invited the attendees to a breakfast, before moving into the next portion of the festivities. Groups posed for staff photos on the hotel’s patio fountain before heading to the brunch buffet. Upon returning to their seats, Gables Live, Highlights and Catharsis announced their individual awards.
“The food was delicious and the event was emotional, but it was a bit sad to realize that this was one of the last moments I would spend with other members of Yearbook. For the most part, it was great to spend a morning with my friends and other members of publications,” senior Samantha Gonzalez said.
Near 12 p.m., Mrs. Zuniga and the Quill and Scroll board offered closing remarks, thanking the guests for their contributions to the academy. Mrs. Zuniga then presented the Top CAF&DM Award to Gables Live editor and senior Maykol Triana for his dedication to his staff and the broader academy. Students shared their goodbyes and departed the Hyatt with their awards and a sense of shared accomplishment at 1:00 p.m.
