The Southerner received the National Scholastic Press Association’s top rating of All-American, garnering 475 of a total 500 points.  The paper received marks of distinction in all areas, which include Coverage and Content, Text, Visuals and Presentation.

“Wow! You have an amazing publication that your student body should be proud of. Not only are you adept at writing and visuals, but you also make sure to cover a wide variety of topics. You are always on top of current events, making sure your paper is relevant and current for your students,” NSPA said in its judge’s summary comments.