The Cougar Claw, the student newspaper at Tomball High School, was named one of the nation’s best high school newspapers by the American Scholastic Press Association on Tuesday.

The newspaper earned First Place honors in the national rankings, one of 25 high school newspapers to earn the ranking. Only four Texas high schools were named to the list. 

For co-editors Melanie Madden and Kathy Bui, who have directed the newspaper to numerous state recognitions, this award is particularly special.

“At summer camp last year, they set a goal of winning on the national level, and they made it,” adviser Jerry Fordyce said. “I can’t be more proud of the work they have done this year.”

The newspaper was recognized earlier this year by the Texas Association of Journalism Educators in statewide competition as being among the state’s best newspapers in a variety of categories, including page design, personal columns and editorial cartoons.

The yearbook was also honored as having the best theme in the state for last year’s yearbook, a key category among yearbooks.

“This recognition shows the remarkable improvement that the students here have made, as journalists and as leaders,” Fordyce said. “They’re here after school and on weekends, competing in UIL and always striving to make the newspaper and yearbook better. I’m very happy their hard work is paying off.”

Also, photographers from THS earned honorable mention (4th place) in the state for sports photography in the Top Program Contest, sponsored by the Association of Texas Photography Instructors. It was the second consecutive year the school was recognized for sports photography.