A loud eruption of claps and cheers explodes around the Oval Theater as Indya  Kristensen walks towards the stage to receive her award for third place in the “on the spot” photography contest. As she walks back up the stairs to her seat she is greeted with congratulations from her peers and teachers. Her close friend, Jaclyn Hampson, 12^th grade, said, “She is really good at photography and I was proud of her when she was recognized as one of the best.”

On Friday, October 4^th, students from the Oracle (chaperoned by Mr. Pace and Mr. Stewart), and Mrs. Iovino’s Journalism and Newspaper classes headed up to USF for FSPA, the Florida Scholastic Press Association. FSPA is an organization that celebrates high school journalism, and helps students experience and understand broadcasting, literary magazine, newspaper, and yearbook.

After a brief introduction and speech from the guest speaker, Ernest Hooper, a Tampa Bay Times columnist, students from all over got ready to attend the first workshop. As they walked along the Marshall Center, a large four-story building complete with a cafeteria, they choose where they wanted to go for their first hour of the day. With so many interesting options to choose from students picked what most sparked their interest. Few students stayed behind at the Oval Theater to do on the spot contests in which they could later win an award for.

After two workshops, Mrs. Iovino, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Pace took several students as a group to look into USF’s T.V and radio stations. Camera’s flashed, and curiosity was sparked as students asked questions about how both stations worked. As they walked through the entire building, they stopped in each room to learn the behind the scenes of each station.

“I had a really great time there,” said Jaclyn. “It was so interesting to listen to these local professionals give us tips on how to make ourselves successful,” she continued.

After a long day at FSPA Osceola students load back up onto the school bus to return to the school.