September 8, 2009 / News & Notes

JEA announces fall national award winners

Written by Marketing Staff

Kansas City, Mo. (Sept. 8, 2009) – The Journalism Education Association (JEA) announced the recipients of its annual individual awards. The winners will be honored at the upcoming Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Washington D.C.

John Hudnall, the former executive director of the Kansas Scholastic Press Association in Lawrence, Kan., won the Carl Towley Award, which is the JEA’s highest honor given each year to the organization’s member whose work has been of superior value to the JEA.

Dr. Richard Allen Leonard, the principal at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C., was chosen the Administrator of the Year, given each year to school administrators who have shown a dedication to scholastic journalism education.

Seven yearbook advisers were given Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Walsworth customer Gretchen Wehmhoff-Stoltze, the yearbook adviser at Chugiak High School in Chugiak, Alaska. Other Lifetime Achievement recipients include:

  • Herman Albers, Red Bud, Ill.
  • Laurie Erdmann, DeKalb, Ill.
  • Nick Ferentinos, Saratoga, Calif.
  • Terry Nelson, Muncie, Ind.
  • Steve O’Donoghue, Sacramento, Calif.
  • James Starnes, Herrin, Ill.

Four advisers will be honored with the JEA Medal of Merit, for those who have made significant contribution to scholastic journalism. They include:

  • Michele Dunaway, Francis Howell High School, St. Charles, Mo.
  • Tom Gayda, North Central High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
  • Charla Harris, Pleasant Grove High School, Texarkana, Texas
  • Janet Levin, John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Six individuals were chosen to receive the Friend of Scholastic Journalism award, given to any professional journalist, media outlet or individual who has made a significant contribution to scholastic journalism. The winners include:

  • Marion Best, editor, Moultrie County News-Progress, Sullivan, Ill.
  • John Cutsinger, senior creative accounts manager, Jostens, Ocoee, Fla.
  • Carol Knopes, director of education programs, Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, Washington D.C.
  • Sen. Leland Yee, San Francisco, Calif.
  • Bill Lord, vice president for news, WJLA-TV, Washington D.C.
  • Cheryl L. Smith, executive editor, The Dallas (Texas) Weekly

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Marketing Staff

Marketing Staff reports are posts compiled by the Walsworth Yearbooks Marketing Department, covering a wide range of yearbook topics.