The Jane Blystone PSPA Student Journalist of the Year Scholarship Award
The Pennsylvania Journalist of the Year (PJOY) competition standards and rubrics align with the Journalism Education Association's Student Journalist of the Year competition. The annual competition is open to senior student journalists and requires the completion of an online portfolio aligned with JEA's curriculum standards. The Pennsylvania scholarship winner moves on to the national JEA SJOY competition. Please visit the JEA SJOY page for information about preparing a portfolio. The state portfolio deadline is usually in late winter and will be announced annually on this page and in our news and social feeds.
Dr. Jane Blystone has been a vital member of PSPA since 1983. She has helped with all aspects of PSPA, including presiding over the association on five separate occasions. She’s also an active member of the Journalism Education Association Certification Commission and the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission. The Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year award was named for Dr. Blystone in 2011.
Dr. Jane Blystone has been a vital member of PSPA since 1983. She has helped with all aspects of PSPA, including presiding over the association on five separate occasions. She’s also an active member of the Journalism Education Association Certification Commission and the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Commission. The Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year award was named for Dr. Blystone in 2011.
Scholarship Recipients
Ben Shapiro, Conestoga High School, 2024, Portfolio
Evan Lu, Conestoga High School, 2023, Portfolio
Lucy Bickel, Eastern Lebanon County High School, 2022, Portfolio
Ananya Kulkarni, Conestoga High School, 2021, Portfolio
Claire Guo, Conestoga High School, 2020 (2020 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Avery Maskowlsky, Conestoga High School, 2019 (2019 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Ian Ong, Conestoga High School, 2018 (2018 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Tommy Pero, Malvern Preparatory School, 2017 (2017 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist)
Justice Bennett, Malvern Preparatory School, 2016 (2016 JEA National Student Journalism Impact Award) Portfolio
Suproteem Sakar, Conestoga High School, 2015
Erin O'Neill, Central York High School, 2014
Jenna Spoont, Conestoga High School, 2013 (JEA National Student Journalist of the Year)
Laura Weiss, Conestoga High School, 2012
Courtney Sabo, Bloomsburg High School, 2011 (2011 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist)
Seth Zweifler, Conestoga High School, 2010 (2009 SPLC Courage in Student Journalism Award)
Henry Rome, Conestoga High School, 2009 (2009 SPLC Courage in Student Journalism Award, National Student Journalist of the Year)
Ben Shapiro, Conestoga High School, 2024, Portfolio
Evan Lu, Conestoga High School, 2023, Portfolio
Lucy Bickel, Eastern Lebanon County High School, 2022, Portfolio
Ananya Kulkarni, Conestoga High School, 2021, Portfolio
Claire Guo, Conestoga High School, 2020 (2020 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Avery Maskowlsky, Conestoga High School, 2019 (2019 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Ian Ong, Conestoga High School, 2018 (2018 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist) Portfolio
Tommy Pero, Malvern Preparatory School, 2017 (2017 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist)
Justice Bennett, Malvern Preparatory School, 2016 (2016 JEA National Student Journalism Impact Award) Portfolio
Suproteem Sakar, Conestoga High School, 2015
Erin O'Neill, Central York High School, 2014
Jenna Spoont, Conestoga High School, 2013 (JEA National Student Journalist of the Year)
Laura Weiss, Conestoga High School, 2012
Courtney Sabo, Bloomsburg High School, 2011 (2011 JEA National Student Journalist of the Year Finalist)
Seth Zweifler, Conestoga High School, 2010 (2009 SPLC Courage in Student Journalism Award)
Henry Rome, Conestoga High School, 2009 (2009 SPLC Courage in Student Journalism Award, National Student Journalist of the Year)
PSPA Journalism Teacher of the Year
Does your journalism teacher/adviser go above and beyond the call of duty for journalism at your school? Nominate a journalism teacher/adviser for this award by submitting the applications by 11:59 p.m. on February 17.
PURPOSE: To recognize annually a Pennsylvania journalism teacher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in some aspect of journalism advising in a Pennsylvania public or private school. The state winner will be honored at the Spring Awards Ceremony. The award will be announced on the PSPA website.
NOMINATION PROCESS: Teachers must be nominated by another individual, such as but not limited to a student on publication staff, an administrator, a parent, or a colleague, by completing the nomination form below. PSPA will collect all supporting documents from the teacher once the adviser has been nominated.
CRITERIA: The teacher must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination, or the publication the teacher advises must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The nominator will complete this form to nominate a student publications adviser. Once PSPA receives the nomination, we will contact the nominee for more information.
AWARD PROCESS: The teacher will receive the award at the PSPA Student Journalism Competition State Finals in the spring. The winner will prepare at least one blog about journalism advising to be posted on the PSPA website, and the teacher will receive a $500 prize to be used for their school's journalism program.
PURPOSE: To recognize annually a Pennsylvania journalism teacher who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in some aspect of journalism advising in a Pennsylvania public or private school. The state winner will be honored at the Spring Awards Ceremony. The award will be announced on the PSPA website.
NOMINATION PROCESS: Teachers must be nominated by another individual, such as but not limited to a student on publication staff, an administrator, a parent, or a colleague, by completing the nomination form below. PSPA will collect all supporting documents from the teacher once the adviser has been nominated.
CRITERIA: The teacher must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination, or the publication the teacher advises must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The nominator will complete this form to nominate a student publications adviser. Once PSPA receives the nomination, we will contact the nominee for more information.
AWARD PROCESS: The teacher will receive the award at the PSPA Student Journalism Competition State Finals in the spring. The winner will prepare at least one blog about journalism advising to be posted on the PSPA website, and the teacher will receive a $500 prize to be used for their school's journalism program.
The Clyde F. Lytle Keystone All-State Awards
The Keystone All-State Award was named in 2012 for PSPA’s first president, Clyde F. Lytle, professor at The Keystone Normal School, now known as Kutztown University. One of the buildings on the Kutztown campus is named for Dr. Lytle. He became the first president of PSPA in December of 1925. In addition to his work in education, he is known for his collection of inspirational verse, Leaves of Gold, which remains in print today.
The path to these annual All-State Awards begins with a critique submission. In addition to receiving feedback from experts, your submitted publication(s) automatically become part of the statewide contest. All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent on to a new judge, and your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which GOLD AWARD publications will receive the coveted Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award. Learn more about critique scoring here.
The path to these annual All-State Awards begins with a critique submission. In addition to receiving feedback from experts, your submitted publication(s) automatically become part of the statewide contest. All publications earning an overall GOLD AWARD will be sent on to a new judge, and your publication will compete against other GOLD AWARD publications to determine which GOLD AWARD publications will receive the coveted Clyde F. Lytle All-State Keystone Award. Learn more about critique scoring here.
PSPA Administrator of the Year Award
Does your administrator go above and beyond to support to your publications program? Nominate an administrator for this award by submitting the applications by 11:59 p.m. on February 17.
PURPOSE: To recognize annually a Pennsylvania school administrator who strives
NOMINATION PROCESS: Administrators must be nominated by another individual, such as but not limited to a teacher/adviser, a student on publication staff, a parent, or a colleague, by completing this JotForm. No hard copies of any documents will be accepted. The administrator's school must be a PSPA member. The nominator will fill out this form and PSPA will contact the administrator for more information including a resume and three or more letters of recommendation.
CRITERIA: The administrator's school must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The nominator will complete this form and PSPA will contact the administrator to gather a resume and three letters of recommendation from the administrator.
AWARD PROCESS: The administrator will receive a plaque at the annual Spring Awards Celebration. The winner will prepare at least one blog about the value of journalism programs at his or her school to be posted on the PSPA website. The administrator will serve from March to March following the appointment.
PURPOSE: To recognize annually a Pennsylvania school administrator who strives
- to appoint certified or experienced teachers as advisers of school publications or media programs;
- to encourage new advisers to prepare to become qualified advisers by supporting their attendance at related professional organizations, workshops, or conferences
- to assign a journalism mentor for the teacher/adviser
to provide resources and finances to encourage high-quality scholastic journalism or media programs. Types of support might include academic credit for journalism classes, appropriate physical facilities, equipment and educational materials, release time for advisers and students to attend workshops and press conferences, funds for membership in scholastic journalism press associations, and fees for their services. - to support a free student press consistent with the spirit of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Pennsylvania School Code, Section 12.9.
- to provide additional compensation for publication or media advisers comparable to that of other staff members in major co-curricular activities,
- to publicly recognize and promote curriculum courses in journalism and mass media
- to provide recognition for informal instruction
to provide motivation and recognition for students in a co-curricular capacity. - to participate in professional local, state and national administrator organizations and remain accessible to students, staff, and adviser(s).
NOMINATION PROCESS: Administrators must be nominated by another individual, such as but not limited to a teacher/adviser, a student on publication staff, a parent, or a colleague, by completing this JotForm. No hard copies of any documents will be accepted. The administrator's school must be a PSPA member. The nominator will fill out this form and PSPA will contact the administrator for more information including a resume and three or more letters of recommendation.
CRITERIA: The administrator's school must be a member of PSPA at the time of the nomination.
APPLICATION PROCESS: The nominator will complete this form and PSPA will contact the administrator to gather a resume and three letters of recommendation from the administrator.
AWARD PROCESS: The administrator will receive a plaque at the annual Spring Awards Celebration. The winner will prepare at least one blog about the value of journalism programs at his or her school to be posted on the PSPA website. The administrator will serve from March to March following the appointment.
Friend of PA Student Journalism Award
Many Pennsylvanians in various careers support student journalists. Some support them financially and others support them by giving time to student journalism. Some share their expertise; and others help student journalists by completing an essential task. Such individuals have earned a PSPA Friend of PA Student Journalism Award.
2012: The following Jostens Yearbook professionals: Kelly Morgan, Jim Jackson, Larry Intihar, Bernie Shaughnessy, Fred Reeping, Scott Geesey, Karissa Tumbusch, Al Ramer, Chad Phillips, Bob Hollinger, Bill Straub, and Phil Klein.
Please note that the nomination form requires three letters recommendation, as well as contact information for the nominee and the nominator. Nominators should assemble these materials before beginning the application form.
Nominate a deserving recipient for this award by submitting the applications before midnight on December 16.
2012: The following Jostens Yearbook professionals: Kelly Morgan, Jim Jackson, Larry Intihar, Bernie Shaughnessy, Fred Reeping, Scott Geesey, Karissa Tumbusch, Al Ramer, Chad Phillips, Bob Hollinger, Bill Straub, and Phil Klein.
Please note that the nomination form requires three letters recommendation, as well as contact information for the nominee and the nominator. Nominators should assemble these materials before beginning the application form.
Nominate a deserving recipient for this award by submitting the applications before midnight on December 16.
The Keystone Award
PSPA has given out this award for many years to recognize one's special dedication to Pennsylvania student journalism. People who have received this award include:
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If you have questions about any of the awards above, please email us at [email protected].
