Rising Star Award

Entry Criteria

Nominations may come from scholastic press associations, yearbook companies, fellow teachers, students and/or parents. The nomination should include an updated resumé of the nominee, copy of the publication or a copy of a broadcast program to show the quality of the medium the teacher advises. The nominator should also include a letter explaining how the nominee shows promise as an up-and-coming adviser. The nominator may also include no more than three additional letters of recommendation from others who support the nomination.

The nominee should meet the following criteria:

• Have one to five years’ journalism teaching and/or advising experience.
• Demonstrate a commitment to journalism education.
• Foster an awareness of the rights and responsibilities granted by the First Amendment.
• Seek additional professional development opportunities to improve skills as a journalism adviser/teacher.
• Encourage student editors to attend workshops, conferences and conventions.
• Show commitment to continually improve the medium or media advised.
• Empower student editors to make all editorial decisions in a responsible way without content being subject to prior review.

The nominee must answer the following questions. On a separate paper, number, type and double-space the questions first, then your answers. Give detailed answers to give the selection panel the fullest possible
background.

1. How many years have you been teaching journalism and/or advising?
2. Do you plan to advise next year?
3. What is the enrollment at your school?
4. What is your educational background or journalism training/certification?
5. What local, regional, state or national organizations are you a member of? What meetings have you attended of these organizations?
6. What articles or books on aspects of scholastic journalism have you published?
7. At which workshops or conventions or conferences have you served as an instructor?
8. How would you describe the journalism program you advise?
9. How would you describe your staff organization and the structure of your program?
10. How would you describe your role and your students’ role in making content decisions for the medium you advise?
11. What journalistic awards have you received?
12. What journalistic awards have your students received?
13. Where do you find your greatest enjoyment in advising and/or teaching?
14. What journalism courses or workshops have you taken since you began teaching?
15. What efforts have you made to create a diverse staff and to create diverse coverage?

Award Recognition

JEA will present each winner with a plaque at the spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. Members of the JEA Awards Committee or individuals designated by the awards committee chair will determine the winners.

Rising Star Award Application

Fill out and send the nomination form along with the following supporting material:

• Nominee's updated resumé.
• A copy of the publication or broadcast program.
• Letter by nominator.
• Answers to questions above.
• No more than three letters of recommendation (optional)

Deadline

Received by Oct. 15.

Mail To

Rising Star Award
JEA Headquarters
Kansas State University
103 Kedzie Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506

Recipients

2009

• Alyssa Armentrout, McKinney (Texas) High School
• Jason Block, Prospect High School, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
• Amanda Paola Casares, Coronado (Calif.) Middle School
• Kristy Dekat, CJE, Topeka (Kan.) West High School

2008

• Hillary Aerts, CJE, Omaha (Neb.) North HS
• Courtney Archer, Elkhorn (Neb.) HS
• Stephen J. Chiger, CJE, University Academy Charter HS, Jersey City, N.J.
• Kellie Doyle, Lakes Community HS, Lake Villa, Ill.
• Carrie F. Faust, CJE, Smoky Hill HS, Aurora, Colo.
• Scott P. Foster, Waverly (Neb.) HS
• Glenn Morehouse Olson, CJE, St. Francis (Minn.) HS
• Louis E. Plumley, Scott Johnson Middle School, McKinney, Texas
• Nathan Thompson, Montezuma-Cortez HS, Cortez, Colo.
• Lindsay Webster, Franklin Pierce HS, Tacoma, Wash.

2007

• Maureen Freeman, CJE, Montgomery Blair HS (Silver Spring, Md.)
• John J. Gonczy, Mount Carmel HS (Chicago, Ill.)
• Ryan Gunterman, CJE, Bloomington (Ind.) High School North
• Stacy Haynes-Moore, CJE, Jefferson HS (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
• Joseph Humphrey, Hillsborough HS (Tampa, Fla.)
• Jeffrey C. Moffitt, CJE, Olympia HS (Orlando, Fla.)
• Jeff Nusser, Emerald Ridge HS (South Hill, Wash.)
• Chad L. Rummel, CJE, Oakton HS (Vienna, Va.)
• Lisa Wingo, Glendale HS (Springfield, Mo.)

2006

• Ellen Austin, CJE, St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul, Minn.)
• Jill Chittum, Derby (Kan.) HS
• Timothy Morley, Inland Lakes HS (Indian River, Mich.)
• Nikki Schueller, CJE, North Farmington HS (Farmington Hills, Mich)
• Derek Smith, Peninsula HS, (Gig Harbor, Wash.)
• Sarah Verpooten, CJE, Lake Central HS (St. John, Ind.)
• Karen Elizabeth Barrett, CJE, Wheeling (Ill.) HS