For the third consecutive year, over break, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) awarded The Gator a Crown Finalist Award, recognizing work over the 2021-2022 academic year.

A Crown is among the highest honors for overall newsroom excellence in scholastic journalism.
“This honor speaks to the monumental success of our staff, especially our new writers who have blown us away with their dedication and talent,” Edan Zinn ’22, who has served as an Editor-in-Chief over the previous two years, said. “I am so proud of  everything we have accomplished, and in my last few months as an editor, I know The Gator will be in good hands next year.”

Adviser David Cutler hopes to take staffers to the award ceremony in New York from March 15-17, where the newsroom will find out if it won a gold or silver ranking.

“Either way, the newsroom is taking home some serious hardware,” Cutler said. “That the newsroom has successfully competed against some of the best high school newsrooms in the country speaks volumes about the program’s sustained excellence.”

Previously, The Gator earned a Gold and Silver Crown, respectively, from CSPA.

“I am so proud of the students, and I also to give a special shout-out to the new writers,” Cutler said. “The Gator couldn’t sustain this level of success without dedicated, new recruits.”