About the Award

The purpose of the Student Journalist Impact Award is to recognize a secondary school student (or a team of students who worked on the same entry) who, through the study and practice of journalism, has made a significant difference in his/her own life, the lives of others, the school he/she attends and/or the community in which he/she resides. (NOTE: This is not a scholarship competition. Do not send transcripts.)

The Student Journalism Impact Award was jointly conceived and is jointly administered and funded as a collaborative endeavor by the Journalism Education Association and the Kalos Kagathos Foundation. The award recognizes secondary school students who, through the practice of journalism, have made a significant difference in the lives of others.

Entry Criteria

• Teachers/advisers may nominate students or students may nominate themselves for this award. (More than one student per entry per school is permissible.)
• The entry must be that of a secondary school student(s) whose teacher/adviser is a JEA member at the time it was published, broadcast or created.
• The entry must be original student work and must have been published within two years preceding the deadline. Date of publication/production must be indicated.
• All entries in the competition shall become the property of JEA and will not be returned. By entering this competition, entrants give JEA permission to reproduce their work with appropriate attribution to the author(s).

Award Recognition

• The JEA Student Journalist Impact Award is a juried award. Entries are evaluated by a national panel of journalism educators.
• The award program will include one winner with a cash prize of $1,000. Honorable mentions may be given. The winner will be announced at the spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention’s concluding award ceremony.
• The parent(s)/guardian(s), teacher and principal of the recipient will be notified, as well as local media contacts.

Entry Should Include

1. Application form. CLICK HERE
2. The article, series of articles (as it/they appeared in print), mounted on 8-1/2-by-11-inch white paper, or a tape or DVD for mass communication media (radio, broadcast, video, etc.) that made the impact. Print articles larger than 8-1/2 by 11 should be reduced to fit on paper that size. Use one side of the sheet and leave at least one-fourth-inch margins.
3. A narrative of at least 250 words explaining why the piece or series was produced and how the entry impacted the individuals, others, the school and/or community. Include, if any, media coverage that the entry generated in the community.
4. Three letters attesting to the impact of the work from the adviser, a school administrator, professional journalist and/or member of the community (parent, student, resident). The impact of the work, not the author(s), should be the focus.

CLICK HERE

Deadline

The entry must be received by March 1.

Kalos Kagathos Foundation

The Kalos Kagathos Foundation, which traditionally underwrites projects in the areas of arts and athletics, approached JEA in 1993 about supporting student investigative reporting.

Established in 1953, the Kalos Kagathos Foundation is a non-profit, family foundation administered by Bruce S. Hopping that is accredited by the IRS and the California State Franchise Tax Board. It is the only foundation dedicated to fostering the 884-394 BC Greek educational philosophy — the integration of mind, body and spirit. “Physical Distinction, Nobility of Mind” is its credo.

"School newspapers, administered by enlightened advisers," Mr. Hopping said, "are critical to the healthy communication of information amongst teenagers. Investigative journalism is regarded by the foundation as an important part of a good school paper; but that quality of journalism is not well-favored by many school boards."

The first Student Journalist Impact Award was presented in April 1994 at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Portland, Ore.

Past Winners

2006
Columbus North HS, IN

2005
Saint Albans HS, Washington, DC

2004
Not awarded

2003
JoAnna Marx, Lodi HS, WI

2002
Francine Martinez and Joey Willhite, Amos Alonzo Stagg HS, CA

2001
Lenora Jones and Heidi Visser, Wenatachee HS, WA

2000
Marina Hennessy, Avon HS, IN

1999
Staffs of WBNC and Silver Chips, Montgomery Blair HS, MD

1998
Eric Drudis, Lynbrook HS, CA

1997
All Cultural Achievement Plan Team, Davenport Central HS, IA

1996
Staffs of Shawnee Mission North HS and Olathe North HS, KS,
for North special issue

1995
Staff of Featherduster, Westlake HS, TX

1994
Karen Abravanel, OR