Congratulations to the PSPA State Champions from 2023!
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• 1Y - Yearbook Caption Writing - Olivia Shive - Northeastern HS
• 2Y - Yearbook Copy Writing - Makenzia Closson - Altoona Area HS
• 3Y - Yearbook Sport Writing - Quinn Colburn - State College Area HS
• 4Y - Yearbook Spread Design - Kaylee Ostrowski - Freedom Area HS
• 5N - Newspaper News Story Writing - Emma Noss - Avonworth HS
• 6N - Newspaper Feature Writing - Melissa Krainer - Altoona Area HS
• 7N - Newspaper Sports Writing - Howard Kim - Conestoga HS
• 8E - Editorial Cartoon - Raima Saha - Conestoga HS
• 9E - Editorial Cartoon - Maya Shah - Conestoga HS
• 10L Literary Magazine Poetry - Andrew Hudak - Slippery Rock Area HS
• 11L - Literary Magazine Artwork - Leah Gonzalez-Diaz - Strath Haven HS
• 12B - Broadcast Writing - Bridget Lawn - Lower Duaphin HS
• 13YP - Yearbook Photography - Ryan Schmidt - Kiski Area HS
• 14NP - Newspaper Photography - Katelyn Hunsberger - Montoursville Area HS
• 15BF - Broadcast Feature Package - Sophia Mazzocco - McDowell HS
• 15NP - Broadcast News Package - Evelynn Renner, Kyle Force, Kaitlyn Over - Northeastern HS

New Voices is a nonpartisan, grassroots, student-driven effort to create state-based student free press protections and to prevent retaliation against advisers who stand up for student free press rights. As of today, there are currently New Voices laws in 16 states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. New legislation is being introduced this year in a number of  additional states as well. New Voices has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the American Society of News Editors, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Student Press Law Center, the Journalism Education Association, National Council of Teachers of English, and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. 

For more information, or to get involved, reach out to PSPA President Aaron Fitzpatrick at afitzpatrick@freedomarea.org

Read all about this on Penn West University's website.

The Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA) is proud to announce the following students as state finalists in its 2022-2023 Student Journalism Contests. The winners will compete for a state championship on March 30, 2023 at Penn State University.

Yearbook Caption Writing:

• Amy Dean - Altoona Area HS
• Mikalah Smith - Freedom Area HS
• Kelina Smith - Kiski Area HS
• Peyton Martin - Kiski Area HS
• Julianna Rizzo - North East HS
• Olivia Shive - Northeastern York HS
• Ava Bornstein - Parkland HS
• Charlotte Horetsky - Strath Haven HS

Yearbook Copy Writing:

• Makenzie Closson - Altoona Area HS
• Hailey Kyle - Central York HS
• Janey Parks - Freedom Area HS
• Rachel Frye - Kiski Area HS
• Gia Coletta - North East HS
• Rayna Burke - Perkiomen Valley HS
• McKenna Valentine - Pine Grove Area HS
• Hannah Garlin - State College Area HS

Yearbook Sports Writing:

• Rylee Garman - Big Spring HS
• Cole Earling - Central York HS
• Skylar Scobbo Freedom Area HS
• Gianna Kraus - Kiski Area HS
• Syler Campbell - Lower Dauphin HS
• Chloe Nagle - North East HS
• Quinn Colburn - State College Area HS

Yearbook Spread Design:

• Rylie Keagy - Altoona Area HS
• Claire Tison - Central York HS
• Olivia Miller - ELCO HS
• Kaylee Ostrowski - Freedom Area HS
• Lyndsay Metts - Neshaminy HS
• Miranda Lucore - North East HS
• Dominic Turiczek - North East HS

Newspaper News Writing:

• Emma Noss - Avonworth HS
• Olivia Hess - Bellwood-Antis HS
• Ben Shapiro - Conestoga HS
• Ogonna Nnodimele - Emmaus HS
• Gianna Carozza - Franklin Regional HS
• Carly Stephens - Lower Dauphin HS
• Riley Nelson - Montoursville Area HS
• Brennen McWright - Saegertown HS
• Jillian Thomas - Strath Haven HS

Newspaper Feature Writing:

• Melissa Krainer - Altoona Area HS
• Devon Marsh - Central York HS
• Abigail Bagby - Conestoga HS
• Elizabeth Duerholz - Emmaus HS
• Huy Huynh - Emmaus HS
• Amber McGihon - Franklin Regional HS
• Leannah Messenger - Freedom Area HS
• Abby Zartman - Montoursville Area HS
• Emily Myers - Neshaminy HS
• Lindsay Binder - Neshaminy HS
• Jace Digiacomo - Saegertown HS

Newspaper Sports Writing:

• Mykenzi Doran - Altoona Area HS
• Chase Brosend - Central York HS
• Howard Kim - Conestoga HS
• Kyler Black - Eisenhower HS
• Lauren Riazzi - Emmaus HS
• Luke Snavely - Freedom Area HS
• Evan McConnaughhay - Montoursville Area HS
• Kaya Wagner - Pine Grove Area HS

Editorial Cartoon:

• Ashley Carini - Altoona Area HS
• Raima Saha - Conestoga HS
• Aren Framil - Conestoga HS
• Megan Evans - Freedom Area HS
• Rachel Sarge - Pine Grove Area HS
• Natalie Slee - Saegertown HS

Editorial Writing:

• Lillian Roberts - Altoona Area HS
• Audrey Bullock - Cambridge Springs HS
• Maya Shah - Conestoga HS
• Ayaan Shah - Emmaus HS
• Ana Shipman - Freedom Area HS
• Jaime Gallick - Lower Dauphin HS
• Emmaleigh Dorau - McDowell HS
• Lydia Earnest - Montoursville Area HS
• Aris Pastor - North Allegheny HS
• Rylan Zupko - Slippery Rock Area HS
• Eloise Dayrat - State College Area HS
• Elena Wright - State College Area HS

Literary Magazine Poetry:

• Zion Schenk - Avonworth HS
• Gracie Yerges - Dover Area HS
• Bek Lopez - Emmaus HS
• Paige Goodard - Fort LeBoeuf HS
• Kurt Tescha - Kiski Area HS
• Andrew Hudak - Slippery Rock Area HS
• Miranda Marks - State College Area HS
• Nuala McHugh - Strath Haven HS

Literary Magazine Art:

• Aleah Layton - Altoona Area HS
• Frankie Rokosz - Kiski Area HS
• Kaylee Reynolds - Saegertown HS
• Alaina Merchant - Saegertown HS
• Shannon Gordon - Southern Lehigh HS
• Leah Gonzalez-Diaz - Strath Haven HS

Broadcast Writing:

• Olivia McClymonds - Blackhawk HS
• Soumya Sathyanarayana - Conestoga HS
• Bridget Lawn - Lower Dauphin HS
• LaWrynn Edwards - Saegertown HS
• Allison McCardle - State College Area HS

Yearbook Photography:

• Danielle Bardelang - Altoona Area HS
• Lainey Tuszynski - Freedom Area HS
• Ryan Schmidt - Kiski Area HS
• Jake Mummert - McDowell HS
• Isabella Pike - North East HS
• Marissa Beck - Northeastern York HS
• Isabella Rodriguez - Parkland HS
• Vanessa Stauffer - Parkland HS
• Tiana Merchan - Perkiomen Valley HS

Newspaper Photography:

• Georga Zhang - Conestoga HS
• Carson Burgh - Franklin Regional HS
• Bridgette Richard - Freedom Area HS
• Katelyn Hunsberger - Mountoursville Area HS
• Kaitlyn Klinefelter - North Allegheny HS
• Courtney Gibbons - Parkland HS
• Luthea Sweeney - Saegertown HS
• Alexandra Antoniono - State College Area HS

Broadcast Feature Package:

• Emma Klimchock - Central York HS
• Megan McElhaney - Franklin Regional HS
• Madison Sanders - Freedom Area HS
• Sophia Mazzocco - McDowell HS
• Reilly Williams - Northeastern York HS
• Dalton Rumfield, Megan Matsko, and Emma Martinez - Palmerton Area HS
• Natalie Linnea - Pearson HS

Broadcast News Package:

• Natalia Honko and Natalia Agiulera - Franklin Regional HS
• Eric McMahon and Jacob Tilburg - McDowell HS
• Emily Rychel - McDowell HS
• Evelynn Renner, Kyle Force, and Kaitllyn Over - Northeastern York HS

PSPA Vice President, Jane Blystone, Ph.D., MJE, will receive the Carl Trowley Award, the Journalism Education Association's (JEA) highest honor, at the JEA fall convention in St. Louis.

From the official press release by Erinn Harris, JEA Awards Chair:
​An advocate for scholastic journalism, Blystone worked as a high school teacher for 34 years and in higher education for nine years, as a graduate program director. Currently, she is an English professor at Mercyhurst University and serves as an elected member of her local school board. A decorated educator, Blystone has dedicated her time and talents to the JEA certification committee, the Scholastic Press Rights committee, and currently serves as the Mentoring Program chair, where she has mentored and encouraged mentees from all over the world.

For the full press release, click HERE.

PENNSYLVANIA (special) – The Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA) is proud to announce the following students as state finalists in its 2021-2022 Student Journalism Contests: 

Yearbook Caption Writing:

• Mia Destefano – Altoona Area HS
• Alec Hartzell – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Emma Dela Cruz – Emmaus HS
• Mikalah Smith – Freedom Area HS
• Peyton Martin – Kiski Area HS
• Angela Tucker – Kiski Area HS
• Rylan Helmer – Lower Dauphin HS
• Khristian Banks – MMI Preparatory School
• Charlotte Horetsky – Strath Haven HS

Yearbook Copy Writing:

• Sydni Cravens – Central York HS
• Phoebe Troxel – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Ogonna Nnodimele – Emmaus HS
• Rachel Frye – Kiski Area HS
• Sophia Bills – State College HS
• Bailey Hansen – Strath Haven HS

Yearbook Sports Writing:

• Ryan Jones – Blackhawk HS
• Leah Davies – Central York HS
• Lucy Bickel – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Lauren Riazzi – Emmaus HS
• Gianna Kraus – Kiski Area HS
• Alex Hooks – Slippery Rock Area HS
• Rachel Foster – State College HS

Yearbook Spread Design:

• Kinsey Boyer – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Carsyn Boyer – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Kaylee Ostrowski – Freedom Area HS

• Elisabeth Zimmerman – Northeastern HS
• Josie Deeter – Saegertown HS
• Hannah Hart – State College HS

Newspaper News Writing:

• Jaidyn Palladini – Altoona Area HS
• Cece Carrero – Central York HS
• Shreya Vaidhyanathan – Conestoga HS
• Rylee Dang – Emmaus HS
• Elizabeth  Kestle  – Fort LeBoeuf HS
• Alexa Davis – Freedom Area HS
• Emma McMurray – Montoursville Area HS
• Alexis Behrens – Southern Lehigh HS

Newspaper Feature Writing:

• Danielle Bardelang – Altoona Area HS
• Jayden Burnside – Central York HS
• Katherine  Lee – Conestoga HS
• Sydnie Howard – Emmaus HS
• Trisha  Androla  – Fort LeBoeuf HS
• Sarah Levenson – Freedom Area HS
• Kayla LeBeau – Montoursville Area HS
• Brenna Smith – Montoursville Area HS

Newspaper Sports Writing:

• Connor George – Altoona Area HS
• Owen  Hill – Central York HS
• Reese Wang – Conestoga HS
• George  Zhang – Conestoga HS
• Liza Duerholz – Emmaus HS
• Luke Snavely – Freedom Area HS
• Ian Labatch – Montoursville Area HS
• Luke Rainey – Penns Manor Area Jr./Sr. HS
• Evin Barickman – Saegertown HS

Editorial Cartoon:

• Catrina  Raich – Avonworth HS
• Ari Bowman – Emmaus HS
• Megan Evans – Freedom Area HS
• Olivia Croney – Kiski Area HS
• Sydney Libby – Perkiomen Valley HS
• Paisley Mangold – Saegertown HS

Editorial Writing:

• Destiny  Montgomery – Altoona Area HS
• Matthew  Purcell – Avonworth HS
• Novalea Verno – Central York HS
• Sophia Pan – Conestoga HS
• Devon Rocke – Conestoga HS
• Emmaleigh Donau – McDowell HS
• Valerie Badger – Montoursville Area HS
• Evelyn Blower – Southern Lehigh HS

Literary Magazine Poetry:

• Laurel Purcell – Avonworth HS
• Megan Zimmerman – Big Spring HS
• Jenna Coller – Carlisle HS
• Bek Lopez – Emmaus HS
• Jordan Glunt – Kiski Area HS
• Morgan Clouser – Lower Dauphin HS
• JP – McDowell HS
• Jayden Bonham – MMI Preparatory School
• Elisa Edgar – State College HS
• Ava McKernan – Villa Maria Academy HS

Literary Magazine Art:

• Emma Beck – Kiski Area HS
• Jack Coleman – Kiski Area HS
• Ty  McDermott – MMI Preparatory School
• Morgan Nash – North Allegheny HS
• Natalie Slee – Saegertown HS
• Manon Immerzeel – Southern Lehigh HS
• Marissa Xu – State College HS
• Stella Righetti – Villa Maria Academy HS

Broadcast Writing:

• Umar Samdani – Conestoga HS
• Carter Huggins – Freedom Area HS
• Anna Buggy – Penns Manor Area Jr./Sr. HS
• Royal Miller – Saegertown HS

Yearbook Photography:

• Olivia Moser – Eastern Lebanon County HS
• Jessica Majors – Freedom Area HS
• Faith Boyle – Kiski Area HS
• Jayden Mattis – Kiski Area HS
• Casey Perry – Northeastern HS
• Camden Gjovik – Saegertown HS
• Adrita Talukder – State College HS
• Joyce Huang – Strath Haven HS
• Kai Lincke – Strath Haven HS

Newspaper Photography:

• Noel Shackelford – Blackhawk HS
• Ryleigh Underwood – Carlisle HS
• Jack Konieczny – Kiski Area HS
• Katelyn  Hunsberger – Montoursville Area HS
• Jessica Daninhirsch – North Allegheny HS
• Courtney  Conard – Perkiomen Valley. HS
• Mason  Kroh – Pine Grove Area HS
• Luthea Sweeney – Saegertown HS
• Amelia Dibert – Tussey Mountain HS

Broadcast News Package:

• Blaze Fogle & Ethan Grove – Central York HS
• Abby Carella – Conestoga HS
• Damein Williams – Franklin Learning Center
• Nicolas Catalde – McDowell HS
• Grant Barcheck – Uniontown Area HS

Broadcast Feature Package:

• Braeden Geibel & Madison Sanders – Freedom Area HS
• Kyla Kramer – McDowell HS
• Meghan Longo – McDowell HS
  
  

The Pennsylvania School Press Association originated in 1924 and stands as one of the oldest scholastic journalistic organizations in the country. The group presently is headquartered in Manchester, Pa., and welcomes all to apply for membership. For details, visit www.paschoolpress.org.

Hello, everyone.

PSPA is excited to bring you the 2021 Fall Regional Student Journalism Competitions!

The contests will be held virtually, with students competing according to geographic region. Winners in each competition category will advance to the state finals from their respective regions to compete against other regional winners from around the state. See the map below to determine your region for competition (based on the county in which your school is located).

The attached promotional flyer is complete with important dates, an adviser to-do list to prepare for the contests, important changes to our contests this year, and detailed competition categories.

I sent out an email to all advisors with rubrics and yearbook design paper as well.

Make sure that your videographers are looking through their creations and/or planning ahead for categories 15BN and 15BF. Also, make sure that your photographers are looking for their best five photos that fit the following categories: framing shot, emotion shot, unique angle shot, frozen action shot, and best-in-show shot. They will have to create captions/cutlines for each. All other categories will compete during the allotted three-day window, as explained on the flyer.

As of now, Finals will be held on the Penn State University main campus in State College on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. We'll continue to monitor the public health and travel situations and be in touch as the school year unfolds with updates surrounding Finals.

If you know of any schools with journalism programs in your region who have not yet connected with us, please feel free to share my email with them. We've waived membership dues again this year, making it a great, free opportunity for them to showcase their students' skills at the regional level for a chance to compete for a state championship, not to mention network with so many incredible advisers.

Thank you for all you do! If you have any questions in the meantime, or if PSPA can support you in any way, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Best,
Aaron