Emily Pyeatt Arnold, CJE, Awarded JEA Medal of Merit August 26, 2022
August 26, 2022 / News

Emily Pyeatt Arnold, CJE, Awarded JEA Medal of Merit

Written by Jenica Hallman, CJE

Five deserving journalism advisers received the JEA Medal of Merit on Friday in recognition of their exceptional leadership and service to JEA, scholastic journalism and teaching. Among them was Emily Pyeatt Arnold, CJE, from Aledo High School in Aledo, Texas, where she advises the Ledoian yearbook, the Cat’s Eye online news site, Bearcat TV and Catalyst literary arts magazine. Aledo High School’s Ledoian yearbook is printed by Walsworth. Pyeatt Arnold has also previously taught at Crowley High School and Haltom High School.

Pyeatt Arnold’s publications have won NSPA Pacemakers and CSPA Gold Crowns, she was a 2015 JEA Rising Star, and she is JEA Texas state director on the TAJE board. She also coordinates the Texas Journalist of the Year competition. Despite her many accolades, what she’s best known for is her kindness.

“Emily just exemplifies everything a Medal of Merit recipient should be – she supports her students, her colleagues and advisers she works with at summer workshops with such kindness and compassion,” Walsworth Yearbooks Sales representative Jill Chittum, MJE, said. “It’s not uncommon for me to hear ‘I just love her, she’s the best’ whenever her name comes up.”

Erica Brockmoller, CJE, the yearbook adviser at Lexington High School in Lexington, Nebraska, is one of those advisers she works with at summer workshops.

“Her knowledge and the publications her students produce are next level, but even more so, I am inspired by the way she treats people and serves others,” Brockmoller said. “Getting to watch Emily work with students at workshops in other states is inspiring because of the care she puts into her planning as well as the way she leads, guides and educates the students and advisers around her. She makes every interaction she has count. Emily inspires me to become more involved and lead with a servant heart.”

The other four individuals recognized are:

  • Justin Daigle, MJE, Brighton High School, Brighton, Colorado
  • Debra Klevens, CJE, Parkway High School, Ballwin, Missouri
  • Tamra McCarthy, CJE, James C. Enochs High School, Modesto, California
  • Heather Nagel, CJE, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tennessee.

You can read more about the award recipients on the JEA website. All five advisers will be recognized at the JEA/NSPA fall convention in St. Louis.

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Jenica Hallman, CJE

Jenica Hallman, CJE, is a Copywriter for Walsworth Yearbooks. Yearbooks got into her blood in high school, and she has been pursuing them ever since. She has worked in various capacities as a high school and college yearbook editor, an adviser, sales representative, plant customer service representative and now in marketing, her favorite role to date. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass media communications from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.