Pennsylvania School Press Association's 2019 Student Journalism Competition Finals took place on Wednesday, March 27 at Penn State University's main campus.

Students who previously qualified at regional events participated in a press conference about operations at the Penn State Creamery with Professor and Food Service Department Head Dr. Robert Roberts and Creamery Director of Sales and Marketing Mr. James Brown. Students then competed in writing, design, photography, and video categories based on the themes of the conference. 

The afternoon featured a panel on progress towards New Voices legislation in Pennsylvania with Penn State Bellisario School of Communications Professor Cindy Simmons, Student Press Law Center Director of Engagement Diana Mitsu-Klos, Freedom Area High School journalism adviser Aaron Fitzpatrick, Conestoga High School adviser Cyndi Hyatt, and student journalists from the staffs of the FHS Press and the Conestoga Spoke— Claudia Huggins, Cole Skuse, Justin Huang, Avery Maslowsky, and Audrey Kim
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Congratulations to the following students for winning their categories at the 2019 Student Journalism Competitions. Results in the photography and video categories will be announced after the submission date.

1Y | Yearbook Caption Writing | Jeff Hudak | Northeastern HS
2Y | Yearbook Copywriting | Cole Skuse | Freedom Area HS
3Y | Yearbook Sports | Celia Chickerella | Kiski Area HS
4Y  | Yearbook Spread Design | Abby Tabachini | Northeastern HS
5N | News Story Writing | Claudia Huggins | Freedom Area HS
6N | News Feature Writing | Maddi Collins | Bellefonte Area HS
7N | Newspaper Sports Writing | Jake Wiener | Parkland HS
8E | Editorial Cartoon | Kaylee Ruiz | Emmaus HS
9E | Editorial Writing | Ronald Rohlsen | Emmaus HS
10L | Literary Magazine Poetry | Peyton Dempsey | North Allegheny HS
11L | Literary Magazine Artwork | Kierra Shreffler | Kiski Area HS
12B | Broadcast News Writing | Tory Abbott | Bellefonte Area HS
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13YP | Yearbook Photography | Regan Gross | Northeastern HS
14NP | News Photography | Isabelle Southard | McDowell HS
15V | Broadcast News Video | TBA
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PSPA is grateful to our hosts at Penn State University for the organizational and on-site support, especially to Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications Dean Marie Hardin, Assistant Dean Jamey Perry, Assistant Teaching Professor John Beale, and Manager of Recruitment Emily Clevenger. 

Runner-up Regan Gross has worked on Northeastern High School’s award-winning Daedalus yearbook for the last three years, and, according to judges, has been "a positive influence on [the] staff and impacted the book in countless, wonderful ways."

“The phrase I hear most often from Regan is ‘What else can I do, Miss Brown?’” adviser Beth Ann Brown wrote in her recommendation letter for Gross. “This statement epitomizes the work ethic and attitutude he has exhibited over the past three years.”

​The Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year award was named for Dr. Jane Blystone in 2011, and includes a $500 scholarship for the winner, as well as $100 awards for runners-up. State scholarship awards are sponsored by Pennsylvania School Press Association. 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.

​Please visit the JEA SJOY page for information about preparing a portfolio. Sample portfolios from last year's state winners are posted on JEA's site. Portfolios for the 2020 Student Journalist of the Year will be due in early spring 2020.

For more information about Pennsylvania School
Press Association, please contact organization president Paul Fantaski at pfantaski@gmail.com.