Debate team

St. Louis Park High School has a Lincoln-Douglas debate program in the National Forensics League. Senior Catherine Tarsney won the 2010 Tournament of Champions.

The Echo newspaper

The Echo is St. Louis Park High Schools’ entirely student-run newspaper.^[3] The publication is recognized nationally by a variety of organizations including the National Scholastic Press Association and Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Echo has been in the NSPA Hall of Fame since 1988.^[4] While attending St. Louis Park, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote for, but never edited, The Echo, including one article in which he interviewed then Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon.

In the spring of 2020, Echo was named an Online Pacemaker recipient by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), making their website in the top 16 in the country.^[5] Echo also received the Online Pacemaker in 2019^[6] and 2018 and was named a finalist in the small school category in 2017,^[7] 2016^[8] and a finalist 2015.^[9] In terms of the print newspaper, Echo was named a Newspaper Pacemaker finalist in 2019.^[10] Echo had previously received the Newspaper Pacemaker in 2018,^[11] 2017,^[12] 2015,^[13] 2014,^[14] 2013^[15] and 2011.^[16] In 2016^[17] and 2007^[18] Echo was named a finalist for the Newspaper Pacemaker.

In the High School Hybrid News category, Echo received a Silver Crown in 2020,^[19] 2019,^[20] 2018^[21] and 2017^[22] from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. In 2016^[23] and 2015^[24] Echo received a Gold Crown in the High School Hybrid News category. In 2014^[25] and 2013^[26] Echo received gold in the High School category, and in 2012^[27] Echo received a Silver Crown in the same category.

At the NSPA fall and spring conventions Echo has received various Best of Show awards over the years. In the spring of 2020^[28] Echo placed fifth in both the print tabloid with 16 or fewer pages and the small school website categories. In the fall of 2019^[29] Echo received tenth place in best of show for a tabloid with 16 or fewer pages and first place for the website in the small school category (less than 1,500 students). In the fall of 2018 ^[30] Echo placed first in both the print tabloid with 16 or fewer pages and the small school website categories. At the convention in the spring of 2018^[31] Echo placed third in the website competition and fifth in the print competition.

In the print tabloid with 16 or fewer pages category Echo placed fifth in the fall of 2017,^[32] first in the fall of 2015,^[33] seventh in the fall of 2014.^[34] In 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2004 Echo was in the print newspaper with 9-12 pages category. In the fall of 2011^[35] Echo placed third, in the fall of 2010^[36] Echo placed first, in fall of 2009^[37] Echo placed second and in the fall of 2004^[38] Echo placed in fourth. In 2003^[39] Echo placed second in the print paper with 1-8 pages category. In the small-school website Best of Show competition Echo placed sixth in the fall of 2017,^[32] seventh in the spring of 2017,^[40] first in the spring of 2016^[41] and first in the spring of 2015.^[42]

At the state level, Echo has received several Best of Shows at the fall convention. In 2020^[43] Echo received first place in the website category. In 2019^[44] Echo received first place for the website, second place for the print paper and fifth in the broadcast category. Echo received first in both the print newspaper and website categories in 2017.^[45] In 2016 Echo^[46] received first in the website category and fifth in the print category. In 2015^[47] Echo received second in the print category and fourth in the website category.