The Westerner, Maine West's school paper, was awarded a first place in the thirty‑ninth annual Columbia Scholastic newspaper judging in New York this month. This is the first year that the Westerner has been entered in any contest.

Points are awarded on various phases of the newspaper such as news coverage, page makeup, editorials, pictures, and sports. A total of 927 point was given the Westerner from a possible 1,000.

Judging was on papers from the second semester of last year and the first semester of this year. Last year's editor was Andy Adolphson, who is now enrolled at

Wheaton college, and this year's editor is Judy Kassnel, who is planning a medical career.

The thousands of papers entered in the judging come from all over the country. Ratings range from a select "Medalist" award down to a fourth place. In the contest each paper is compared with the others in its own particular classification and is rated according to its relative standing with reference to the other entries in its class. Judging is done by professional newspaper people.