The Hilltopper yearbook staff at North Buncombe High School has once again proven they’re among the best in North Carolina, earning the prestigious Tar Heel Award for the fourth year in a row. Presented in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heel Award recognizes the top yearbooks across the state for excellence in design, storytelling, and photography.
This year’s Hilltopper team not only took home the top prize but also earned first place for People Selection Design. Student Joshua Rhinehart received second place for Theme Photography, and the staff as a whole won second place for Theme Copy. Students Mila Blakeney and Ava Toomey captured third place for their exceptional Caption Writing, while Carly Carpenter earned third place for Featured Photograph. In total, the staff brought home 16 individual awards.
“Our students continue to learn, grow, and excel as young journalists,” said Hilltopper’s adviser Jenny Zimmerman. “I just think it's important to see how impactful it is to have a dedicated journalism (yearbook/broadcast) class at our school. People in the journalism community know our school and it's because we work hard in class and participate in these events.”
The school’s Black Hawk Broadcast also had a standout year, earning several individual awards and taking home the Tar Heel Award for the third consecutive year—showcasing the strength of North Buncombe’s student journalism across both print and video platforms.
A special shoutout goes to A.C. Reynolds High School as well, whose Cedar Cliff Echoes yearbook staff earned an Honor Award—another strong showing for Buncombe County Schools in statewide media excellence.
