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

Dr. Stacey Aronow, Souderton Area High School newspaper adviser, has been named the 2021-2022 Pennsylvania School Press Association state Journalism Teacher of the Year.

Aronow has been the adviser to the Souderton Arrowhead newspaper since 1998 and served on the Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA) board from 2007-2010. During that time, she also serve several years as PSPA secretary.

Her students publish a 36 page newspaper six times a year that serves not only the school community but the wider community through The Arrowhead Online. The Arrowhead has earned many awards from PSPA, Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) during her tenure. She has served as a conference speaker for PSPA, CSPA and NSPA over her time at Souderton.

Her colleague and nominator, Joanne Jiruska, shared that “The Arrowhead covers both school and community events, striving to provide a service that extends beyond the walls of our school. Under Stacey’s tutelage, The Arrowhead program has doubled in size in the last four years and currently boasts 85 students across all grade and ability levels.”
“The program is self-funded through student-generated advertising and is run like a business, providing students with a truly authentic experience. Every student has the opportunity to be published, and Stacey counsels each one on writing with integrity and ethics. Highly motivated students have the opportunity to interview for Editorial Board positions. The Arrowhead staff is an integral part of our school community, professionally covering events both joyous and tragic; whenever something noteworthy is happening, The Arrowhead is there,” said Jiuska.
Her principal, Samuel Varano, EdD, indicated that Aronow has been a district leader in and has made a lasting impact on many students, not just those on her staff. “Dr. Aronow’s influence goes far beyond the production of an award-winning newspaper.” Her influence extends to the wider school population. “Dr. Aronow was the teacher who had the greatest impact upon them in their school career,” said Varano.

Congratulations to all the winners!