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

The 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

Martha Akers, Virginia
Sara-Beth Badalamente, CJE, Michigan
Leslie Dennis, South Carolina
Linda Drake, MJE, Kansas
Ranae Duncan, Nebraska
Del Ellerton, Georgia
Charla Harris, CJE, Texas
Thomas Kaup, MJE, Washington
Leslie Thompson, CJE, Colorado
Cindy Todd, Texas
Ann Visser, MJE, Iowa
Carmen Wendt, MJE, Arizona
Andrew Young, Arkansas
Mitch Ziegler, CJE, California
Brett Zinger, MJE, Massachusetts

Subcommittee chairs

Aspiring Young Journalist Award
Joe Humphrey, 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
Joe Humphrey, 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