About the Scholarships
Sister Rita Jeanne Scholarships, named for JEA's long-time treasurer, recognize some of the top high school journalists in the country. The contest begins at the state level. Winners from state Journalist of the Year competitions are sent to the national level. Portfolios are judged at the spring national JEA/NSPA convention, and winners are announced at the convention's concluding awards ceremony. Scholarship funds — $5,000 for the top winner, and $2,000 each for runners-up — are released to the student after the winners are announced.
Applicant Qualifications
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Be a graduating high school senior
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Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
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Have participated in high school journalism for at least two years.
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Submit a portfolio.
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Be a state winner.
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A student of a JEA adviser.
Portfolio Checklist
The applicant must include the following in a portfolio:
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A self-analytical evaluation of your "journalistic life," using your most creative form.
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An action photo of you doing something journalistic — interviewing someone, taking a photograph, designing a page, doing a broadcast standup or talking to your staff. Winners' photos may be used in JEA publications.
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An official copy of your transcript.
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Three or four letters of recommendation from your adviser, other teachers who know your leadership and journalistic abilities, and practitioners with whom you have worked. A letter from the principal is desirable, but not absolutely necessary.
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Samples of your work carefully seleted to show your quality and diversity of reporting, writing, photography, design, broadcast, online media, etc.
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A self-addressed, padded, stamped envelope large enough to hold your portfolio, if you want it returned.
CLICK HERE to see the Journalist of the Year Portfolio Scoring Rubric
Portfolio Rubric
The Student Journalist of the Year rubric evaluates candidates candidates in four categories.
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Students should include examples of their work that illustrate ALL FOUR categories on the scoring rubric.
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Students should organize their portfolio into these four categories, labeling each category.
Deadlines
Preparing Your Portfolio
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Entry material should not exceed 46 one-sided or 23 two-sided pages with application materials not to exceed an additional 10 pages as follows:
- national application
- transcript (1-2 pages). This should be opened and presented as part of the portfolio.
- personal photo (1 page)
- self-analytical essay (1+ pages)
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Plastic sheet protectors are acceptable. All letters should be opened and included as part of the 46 pages.
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The pages should be inserted into a three-ring binder designed to hold 8-1/2-by-11-inch paper.
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Here are some questions to help you get started on the self-analytical evaluation: How do you feel about journalism? How did you get started in journalism? What have you contributed to journalism? What have you had to go through to achieve? What are your journalism plans for the future? The evaluation should be long enough for the judges to reach a decision as to your creative qualifications and short enough not to be redundant).
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Samples of work should be carefully selected. Provide judges with a good cross section of your best work rather than everything ever produced. Date, name of publication and relevance should be on the page with each sample.
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Include samples showing one or more of the following characteristics. They should be grouped according to what they represent, and these groupings should be labeled.
- Skilled and creative use of media content - writing, production, photography, etc.
- Inquiring mind and investigative persistence resulting in in-depth study or studies of issues important to the local high school audience, high school students in general, or society.
- Courageous and responsible handling of sensitive issues — local or societal — despite threat or imposure of censorship.
- Variety of journalistic experiences, each handled in a quality manner — newspaper, yearbook, broadcast, photography, Web design, other design work, community and other outside-of-school journalistic work, etc.
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At least one issue of your newspaper or magazine or photocopies of relevant spreads from your yearbook (not the entire book) should be enclosed so the judges can see the context of your work. One audio or video tape (CD, DVD, Mini DV) should accompany an entry that focuses on broadcast work. Time is limited to 15 minutes. The tape should be cued up to the work the judges should view or hear and should have the entrant's name on the tape case.
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Photocopies of letters, clippings and art are acceptable; however, original prints of photographs should accompany entries based on published pictures.
If you want your portfolio returned, please enclose a self-addressed, padded envelope large enough to hold the entry and bearing enough postage to cover the cost of mailing. JEA is not responsible for portfolios not accompanied by return envelopes nor for portfolios lost in transit whether by person or by mail.
CLICK HERE for final checklist.
CLICK HERE for a list of state directors
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- 2007 Amanda Allison, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kan.
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- 2002 Kathleen Pennock, West Henderson High School, Hendersonville, N.C.
- 2001 George Edward Srour, Ind.
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2000 Mildred M Yuan, Texas
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1999 Aaron Sharockman, Pa.
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1998 Corinne MacLaggan, Texas
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1997 Leif B Strickland, Texas
- 1996 Ebony Reed, Mich.
- 1995 Michelle Wendt, Idaho
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1994 Kristen Go, Calif.
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1993 Sina-Aurelia Pleasant, N.M.
- 1992 Courtney Perkes, Calif.
- 1991 Jason Espy, Ga.
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1990 Paralee V Colley, Ala.
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1989 Chad Kistner, Ohio/Dane Reese, Texas
- 1988 Naomi Annandale, Ohio
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1987 William J Bishop, Ga.
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1986 Steve Brusk, Ohio
- 1985 Flynn McRoberts, Idaho
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1984 Laurie McCorkindale, Calif.
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