JEA Awards and Contests committees and judges

The JEA Awards Committee meets at each JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention to plan and coordinate all of JEA’s award programs.

The JEA Contests Committee oversees the National Student Media Contests and National Journalism Quiz Bowl at each national convention. They also oversee the Junior High/Middle School Media Contest.

Each year, the Journalism Education Association enlists the service of hundreds of volunteers to serve as judges for various awards, contests and competitions. These educators and professionals represent the highest tier of expertise in their respective fields, and their service makes JEA programming possible.

Awards Committee

Awards Committee chair

Louisa Avery, MJE
The American School in London
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Awards coordinator

Amber James
Events and Programs Manager
Journalism Education Association
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Committee members

Andrew Young, CJE, Arkansas
Bretton Zinger, MJE, Massachusetts
Charla Harris, Arkansas
Christina Porcelli, Florida
Cindy Todd, Texas
Cody Harrell, CJE, Michigan
Deborah Porterfield, CJE, New York
Linda Drake, MJE, Kansas
Jean Ordonez, Ohio
Joe Humphrey, MJE, Florida
Justine Garman, Nebraska
Leslie Dennis, South Carolina
Leslie Thompson, CJE, Colorado
Mitch Ziegler, CJE, California
Nancy Hastings, MJE, Indiana
Ranae Duncan, Nebraska
Sara-Beth Badalamente, CJE, Michigan
Sergio Luis Yanes, MJE, Spain
Thomas J Kaup, MJE, Washington
William Nelson, California
Candace Perkins Bowen, MJE, Ohio
Lori Keekley, MJE, Minnesota
RJ Morgan, MJE, Mississippi

Subcommittee chairs

Aspiring Young Journalist Award
Jessica Hunziker, MJE
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First Amendment Press Freedom Award
Andrea Negri, MJE
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Future Teacher Scholarships
Candace Perkins Bowen, MJE
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Journalist of the Year
Jessica Hunziker, MJE
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Student Journalist Impact Award
Lori Keekley, MJE
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Contests Committee

Contests Committee chair and NSMC writing and design contests coordinator

Nancy Y. Smith, MJE
Eureka, Missouri
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SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest coordinator

Amber James
Events and Programs Manager
Journalism Education Association
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NSMC photography contests coordinator

Bradley Wilson, MJE
Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, Texas
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NSMC broadcast coordinator

A.J. Chambers, MJE
Richland Northeast High School
Columbia, South Carolina
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National Journalism Quiz Bowl and Junior High/Middle School Media Contest coordinator

Mary Prichard, CJE
North Kansas City High School, Missouri
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Board of Judges