For ten years now, Perry’s own newspaper has been setting the precedent for other school newspapers across Arizona, and last school year was no exception. The 2015-2016 staff of The Precedent school year took home second overall in General Excellence at the 2016 Arizona Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA) Awards Convention.

“By winning this state award, it validates all the hard work we’ve done over the years and over several issues and hours of stress, and everything has just come to fruition,” says Co-Editor-in-Chief Valerie Burgess. In addition to the general excellence award, last year’s staff had twenty eight individuals win awards in thirty three categories.

“It’s something that takes time. It takes effort and hours of working and being stressed out to get something that’s really good,” explains senior Sarah Campbell. Campbell, Features Editor at The Precedent, won seven awards; the most of anyone at state.  Precedent staffers regularly put in countless hours for research, interviews, and writing for every story, sacrificing personal time to cover a sporting event, play, or other performance.

“We just do our best to make sure it’s journalistically sound,” says sophomore English teacher and senior advisor for journalism and newspaper classes, Damien Tippett. “The awards are just a bonus after the fact.”

“Our newspaper, for years, has been one of the better programs,” says principal Dan Serrano, “Any time we go out and we win awards, whether state or national, it brings recognition to Perry.” Over the last ten years, Perry has become one of the best schools not only in the Chandler district, but in the state. That translates directly to success in football’s 10-1 record, the success of Putnam in state and nationals, and of course, The Precedent’s third year in a row of General Excellence at state.

“I don’t know how many high schools have this many kids in their newspaper class,” remarks Principal Serrano“Our programs are some of the best there are.” Just ask Joran Palacio.

Before fall break, senior Joran Palacio was nominated for a Student Production Award by the Rocky Mountain chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. On the eighth of October, Palacio’s dream of winning an Emmy came true.

The PS4 (Perry Sports 4) sportscaster’s four years of play-by-play sports coverage, in and out of school, has paid off.

“Ever since I’ve know him, I knew he had a talent in sports and he would somehow become involved in a sports career,” said senior and fellow PS4 member Parker Olszak “Through his announcing abilities, he’s been able to showcase his voice and knowledge to viewers across the school and state, and that’s pretty cool”

The Perry senior has finally won an Emmy. Or as Palacio himself puts it,“The kid from San Tan Valley is an Emmy award winner.”