Walsworth Yearbooks is proud to celebrate our five 2025 Journalism Education Association Rising Star award winners and one 2025 JEA Medal of Merit winner who are advisers from Walsworth schools.
Every year the JEA recognizes advisers with up to five years of experience who show strong leadership and dedication to scholastic journalism. This year, JEA recognized a total of 12 Rising Stars.
The 2025 Rising Stars from Walsworth schools are:
- Taylor Bowers, CJE, Bentonville West High School, Centerton, Arkansas
- Chris Heady, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, Kansas
- Nicole Goodman, CJE, Waterloo West High School, Waterloo, Iowa
- Yary Lira, McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
- Marie McCulloch, Rocky Mountain High School, Meridian, Idaho
The 2025 Medal of Merit winner from a Walsworth school is:
- Michelle Balmeo, MJE, West Albany High School, Albany, Oregon
Meet the Rising Stars
- Taylor Bowers, CJE, who advises the yearbook at Bentonville West High School, probably did not realize the year she was in for when she stepped into the role in 2020. COVID-19 quickly changed many long-held perceptions and strategies for how to create yearbooks, but Taylor rose to the challenge and has continued to guide the program to greater heights while investing in her students.
“Taylor is a true leader and an inspiring mentor,” Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative Jenny Whightsil, CJE, said. “She consistently encourages her journalism students to dig deeper, think critically, and uncover the full story. Every time I step into her classroom, I see a group of engaged, motivated students who are clearly eager to learn and do their best because of Taylor’s steady guidance and high expectations. Since Taylor began advising The Claw, the publication has flourished, earning recognition at the state level and transforming into an award-winning yearbook.”
- Nicole Goodman, CJE, the Wahawk yearbook adviser at Waterloo West High School in Waterloo, Iowa, has prioritized students during her five years at the school, both in terms of developing her students to become stronger journalists and by getting the yearbook into the hands of more students. Her students have applied for JEA’s Partner Project, attended the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle and won a grant for the Washington Journalism and Media Conference.
“When Nicole made the switch to work with Walsworth, she told me her main goal was to turn her program around and get the yearbook in the hands of more students,” Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative Kaitlin Haynes said. “In one year, Nicole increased her copy count by over 200 books! I witnessed firsthand her dedication and determination to sell more books, and she got her students on board to do just that!
- Chris Heady, adviser of The Lair at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, continues the legacy of excellence and builds on the tradition of inspiring theme‑driven designs and thoughtful storytelling. He took over the nationally recognized program two years ago when Susan Massy retired, stepping seamlessly into the tight-knit group of advisers in the Shawnee Mission School District, having been a student at the neighboring Shawnee Mission East High School.
“Chris has done an amazing job at Shawnee Mission Northwest,” Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative John Kelley said. “He had big shoes to fill, and he did not back away from the challenge. He has continued the tradition of excellence at SMNW while putting his own stamp on the journalism program. This has happened because Chris cares deeply about his students and wants to see them succeed both as high school journalists as well as individuals.”
- Yary Lira is The Lion yearbook adviser at McKinney High School in McKinney, Texas. She also teaches photojournalism and journalism. But Lira’s teaching extends beyond the classroom to workshops and training events for other advisers and students at events like the Gloria Shields NSPA Media Workshop. While taking over such a prestigious program with decades of awards under its belt, Lira has managed to continue to produce outstanding yearbooks while keeping the experience enjoyable.
“Watching Yary at work with her students is so much fun,” Walsworth Sales Representative Jill Chittum, MJE, said. “Her passion for yearbooks and journalism inspires her kids every day, and the environment in her classroom is fun and energetic. Even on deadlines, her positivity is a leading force. I love working with her!”
- Marie McCulloch advises the Silvertip yearbook at Rocky Mountain High School in Meridian, Idaho. With an eye for design, attention to detail and heart for students, she’s built a successful program that produces a gorgeous publication.
“Marie is a rockstar adviser and inspiring leader who brings out the best in her students,” Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative Aubrey Nelson said. “Her belief in each and every one of them fuels their confidence and their desire to produce an incredible yearbook. She leads with heart, and the result is a yearbook program that’s both creatively exceptional and journalistically focused. She couldn’t be more deserving of this award!
Medal of Merit Recipient
- Michelle Balmeo, MJE, from West Albany High School, Albany, Oregon, is no stranger to yearbook. Having previously advised in California, she brought her energy and expertise not only to the yearbook room at West Albany, but also to the Oregon Journalism Association as a president and at-large board member. Her heart for journalism shines as a leader of the JEA Outreach Academy at national conventions, a pioneer of JEA’s Partner Project and curriculum developer for JEA’s web curriculum and contributing author of the “Journalism: Publishing Across Media” textbook.
“Michelle is an amazing journalism educator in every way,” Walsworth Yearbooks Special Consultant Jim Jordan said. “I’ve known her since she was in high school in the Sacramento area. Everywhere she has been, she has built an award-winning journalism program. First at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, and now in West Albany, Oregon. Congratulations, Michelle – you are the very best of our profession!”
Part of the Family
Walsworth is proud of the relationships we’ve built with schools and our ability to support the goals of any program. We take pride in the fact that we work with more award‑winning yearbooks than any other publisher. Being a fourth‑generation, family‑owned company, we value relationships and the important work yearbook advisers and their staff do to record the story of the year.
“What a thrill to see these six talented advisers be recognized for the outstanding programs they have built,” Jordan said. “The future of scholastic yearbooks is definitely in great hands. I can’t wait to celebrate them all in Nashville!”
The Full List
Walsworth would also like to congratulate the additional seven JEA Rising Stars and three Medal of Merit winners, all of whom represent the highest standards of journalistic excellence. You can read more about each of them in the Rising Stars announcement and Medal of Merit winners announcement on JEA’s website.
Rising Stars
- Stacy Dawson, CJE, Saint Francis High School, Mountain View, California
- Darcy Hassing, CJE, Lakeview High School, Battle Creek, Michigan
- Jodi Hwang, CJE, Los Altos High School, Los Altos, California
- Jeanette Lockwood, Desert Ridge Junior High School and Desert Ridge High School, Mesa, Arizona
- Ethan Pender, CJE, Darlington School, Rome, Georgia
- Jamie Reynolds, Melbourne High School, Melbourne, Florida
- Katheryn White, Gulfport High School, Gulfport, Mississippi
Medal of Merit
- Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE, Longmont High School, Longmont, Colorado
- Ryan Gunterman, MJE, Franklin College Pulliam School of Journalism, Franklin, Indiana
- Cynthia Reves, CJE, President William McKinley High School, Honolulu, Hawaii
Walsworth is proud to not only provide high-quality printing experiences, but also to support advisers in building strong, vibrant, student-centered yearbook programs.
