Inklings, the student-run newspaper at Staples in Westport, has been recognized as one of the top high school newspapers in the country. The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, an international student press association at Columbia University, awarded Inklings with two Silver Crown Awards — one for the newspaper and one for the website.

The Silver Crown Awards, the second-highest award, were given out during the association's 87th annual convention Friday at Columbia. A total of 103 student publications received Silver Crowns. Inklings was the only high school newspaper in the state to receive either a Silver or Gold Crown.

Devin Skolnick, one of two executive editors at Inklings, said the paper had to formally submit a number of published articles to be considered for awards.

"In late May and early June of last year, Petey [Menz] and I, the two new executive editors, laid out all the issues from the year in the hallway. We asked all the members of the staff to place post-it notes on their favorite layout designs, articles, graphics and photos," Devin said in an email. "Together, Petey and I went through each page that had a post-it note and decided which pieces we thought were award worthy and which category each one could be submitted to. Each article, photo, etc. was then cut out and posted in a special format, assigned by CSPA, along with a cover page that stated which category the piece would be submitted for and who was responsible for it."

These are not the first awards Inklings has won. In fact, these are not the first Silver Crowns the paper has received. A list of all the awards Inklings has won over years can be found online.