Members of East Islip High School’s journalism class and school newspaper club attended Adelphi University’s Press Day and Quill Awards on Feb. 14. The students took advantage of this opportunity to learn about journalism from a panel discussion and various workshops led by esteemed Adelphi professors and professionals in the field, including social media influencers, documentarians, Newsday TV’s Macy Egeland and Emmy-winning video journalist and keynote speaker Waldo Cabrera.

The highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of the Quill Award winners. East Islip’s newspaper “The Broadcaster” took home two awards. Sophomore Brooke McCally earned an honorable mention for her opinion piece “Maybe Athletes Don’t Need Phys. Ed.,” and junior Emilia Cicale won third place for Best Overall Reporter.

“Adelphi put on such an interesting and worthwhile program for the students, and it was amazing to see them participating in conversations, asking questions and cheering each other on throughout the day,” teacher Michael Augello said. “I still would have been so proud of our group had we not won a single award, but bringing home two Quill Awards against such impressive schools and newspapers from Nassau, Suffolk and New York City is a true testament to the work the students have put in and what we can accomplish together.”