Virginia’s journalism programs were well represented at the National Scholastic Press Association / Journalism Education Association Convention in San Francisco, April 12-15.

2018 Journalism Education Association Journalist of the Year

During the past school year, hundreds of high school journalists throughout the country worked hours to complete their portfolios for state Journalist of the Year contests, and the 36 state winners who entered the national competition were recognized April 12 at the opening ceremony of the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco. The winner and six runners-up were recognized April 14 at the closing awards ceremony.

When the final results were announced, Christine Zhao of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, was named the 2018 National High School Journalist of the Year. Zhao will receive a $3,000 Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht Scholarship as part of her recognition from the Journalism Education Association. Zhao’s adviser is Erinn Harris.

2018 Online Pacemaker

Of the 22 online media staffs to receive the Pacemaker honor, two were from Virginia:

• HHS Media
  Harrisonburg High School
  Harrisonburg, Virginia
  Adviser: Valerie Kibler
  Editors: Garrett Cash, Olivia Comer
• TRNWired
  Prince George High School
  Prince George, Virginia
  Adviser: Chris Waugaman
  Editor: Kattie Iwanski

Best of Show

In the Best of Show competition, the following publications were recognized:

Newspaper Broadsheet

• Fourth Place: The A Blast, Annandale High School, Annandale, Virginia
  Alan Weintrout, Adviser
• Seventh Place: The Newsstreak, Harrisonburg High School, Harrisonburg, Virginia
  Valerie Kibler, Adviser

Yearbook (289-336 Pages)

• Fourth Place: The Clan, McLean High School, McLean, Virginia
  Meghan Percival, adviser

Yearbook (337 or more pages)

• Seventh Place Odyssey, Chantilly High School, Chantilly, Virginia
  Mary Kay Downes, Adviser

Write-off Competitions

In the write-off competitions, four McLean High School students brought home awards:

• Superior, Literary Magazine – Poetry: Anika Karmel
• Excellent, Newsriting: Maren Kranking
• Excellent, Editorial Cartooning: Dasha Makarishcheva
• Excellent, First-Year Photo: Anna Brykczynski