JEA announces winners of middle school media contest
April 28, 2015
The Journalism Education Association is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 JEA Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest.
There were 221 entries in the 14 yearbook, newspaper, broadcast and photography categories. Judging for entries took place between March 28 and April 10 by a committee of experienced judges from across the country.
Student entries from 22 schools in nine states and the United Kingdom were ranked with Superior, Excellent and Honorable Mention ratings. In total, 26 Superior, 75 Excellent and 82 Honorable Mention certificates were given. Superior winners each received a medal.
If you advise a junior high or middle school publication, watch for details about the 2016 contest in January.
For more information about this contest, please contact Nancy Y. Smith, JEA National Contest chair, or Laura Zhu, JEA Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest coordinator.
Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest
26 Superiors
75 Excellents
82 Honorable Mentions
221 Participants
183 Recognized
| Rating | Contest Category | School Name | Full Name | School State |
| Excellent | Front Page Layout Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Valeria Tezak | FL |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Rachel Pipkin | FL |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Ervin Williams | FL |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Angela Yan | FL |
| Excellent | Sports Writing | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Amanda Vanner | FL |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Isabella Kjaerullf | FL |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Carleigh Dickinson | FL |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Brandon Lee | FL |
| Excellent | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Rachel Pipkin | FL |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Aditya Jadvani | FL |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Abigail Parratto | FL |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Maddy Rubin | FL |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Carlos trivino | FL |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Haiden Hill | FL |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Sterling Shipp | FL |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Luke Stone | FL |
| Honorable Mention | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Kyle Ahern | FL |
| Honorable Mention | Theme Package | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Michael Bole | FL |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Cora Gilbert | FL |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Joel Soto | FL |
| Superior | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Adeeb Rashid | FL |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Michael Bole | FL |
| Superior | Yearbook Copy | Bak Middle School of the Arts | Abigail Parratto | FL |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Brownell Middle School | Kathleen Carroll | MI |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Brownell Middle School | Julie Heng | MI |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Cimarron Middle School | Peyton Hatcher | CO |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Clint Small Middle School | Adrienne Hunkin | TX |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Jenni McCarty | TX |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Mia Moore | TX |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Kylie Tippett | TX |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Anevay Ramirez | TX |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Brynach Hogan | TX |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Keely Briggs | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Clint Small Middle School | Small Middle School Student Media | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Clint Small Middle School | Josh Lopez | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Clint Small Middle School | Brandon Lopez | TX |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Sam Hughes | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Nyah Bernucho | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Claire Meyer | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Sam Hughes | TX |
| Superior | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Kylie Tippett | TX |
| Superior | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Clint Small Middle School | Sam Hughes | TX |
| Superior | Theme Package | Clint Small Middle School | Claire Meyer | TX |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Gorzycki Middle School | Simoon Saiyed, Becca Melnick, Kamryn Morales | TX |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Gorzycki Middle School | Anna Ippolito, Logan Mayberry, Kendall Oh | TX |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Gorzycki Middle School | Reagan Wallace, Samuel Hayek | TX |
| Excellent | Front Page Layout Design | Gorzycki Middle School | Halle Krogstad | TX |
| Excellent | Front Page Layout Design | Gorzycki Middle School | Kendall Oh | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Short Documentary/PSA | Gorzycki Middle School | Jessica Leonard, Faith Winkley, Michael Sugrue | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Gorzycki Middle School | Bella Lufschanowski | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Gorzycki Middle School | Sophie Bega | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Gorzycki Middle School | Natalie Aman | TX |
| Superior | Broadcast Package | Gorzycki Middle School | Madi Appleton, Kat McLennan and CG Hartman | TX |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Jenny Li | CA |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Alena Rubin | CA |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Nicole Kim | CA |
| Excellent | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Jenny Li | CA |
| Excellent | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Kaitlin Musante | CA |
| Excellent | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Sophie Haber | CA |
| Excellent | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Nicole Kim | CA |
| Excellent | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Emory Kim | CA |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Sophie Haber | CA |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Danielle Spitz | CA |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Anthony Weinraub | CA |
| Excellent | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Indu Pandey | CA |
| Excellent | Sports Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Elly Choi | CA |
| Excellent | Sports Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Maddy Daum | CA |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Princie Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Inside Page Layout Design | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Brittany Hong | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Inside Page Layout Design | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Danielle Spitz | CA |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Carolyn Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Isabelle Eshraghi | CA |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Stephanie Vartany | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Kaitlin Musante | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Claire Dennis | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Brittany Hong | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Alena Rubin | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Elly Choi | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Carolyn Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Princie Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Emory Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Claire Keller | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Elly Choi | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Kate Schrage | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Emory Kim | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Oliver Akhtarzad | CA |
| Superior | Opinion Writing | Harvard-Westlake Middle School | Jake Davidson | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Joseph Kerr Middle School | Malia Villegas | CA |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Savannah Riddles | TX |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Mira Maclaurin | TX |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Sylvia Reed | TX |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Abigail Daly | TX |
| Excellent | Yearbook Copy | Kealing Middle School | Kimmy Wilson | TX |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Mamie Seiler | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Abby Rindfuss | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Abby Rindfuss | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Abigail Daly | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Production staff, KMS Vespa | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Kealing Middle School | Lisa Moomaw | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Kealing Middle School | Claire Rudy | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Kealing Middle School | Fedor Aglyamov | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Kealing Middle School | Elena Venegoni | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy | Kealing Middle School | Lucia Melendez | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy | Kealing Middle School | Sarah Chieng | TX |
| Superior | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Kealing Middle School | Savannah Riddles | TX |
| Excellent | Theme Package | Maize South Middle School | Maize South Yearbook Staff Editors | KS |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Maize South Middle School | Cammie Davis | KS |
| Honorable Mention | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Maize South Middle School | Alisyn Harris | KS |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | Maize South Middle School | Jeffrey Parson | KS |
| Excellent | Yearbook Copy | Mesa Middle School | Cody Miller | CO |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Mexico Middle School | Taylor Bledsoe | MO |
| Honorable Mention | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Mexico Middle School | Payton Bledsoe | MO |
| Excellent | Theme Package | Powell Middle School | The Prowl Staff | CO |
| Superior | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Powell Middle School | The Prowl Staff | CO |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | Powell Middle School | The Prowl Staff | CO |
| Superior | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Richland R-1 School District | Emily Blunt | MO |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Chloe Farlow and Karsen Callicott | TX |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Vinay Gautam and Adrian Ramos | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Theme Package | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Specifics Staff | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Alix Garcia | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Addy-Parker Loveless and Dana Jacks | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Claudia Brown Olivia Keller | TX |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Seven Lakes Junior High School | Austin Hill | TX |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Sierra Middle School | Declan Palmer, Jacob Anders and Nathan Krouss | CO |
| Excellent | Inside Page Layout Design | Sierra Middle School | Tanur Pilcher | CO |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Sierra Middle School | Declan Palmer | CO |
| Excellent | Sports Reaction Photo and Caption | Sierra Middle School | Declan Palmer | CO |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Sierra Middle School | Athena Taylor | CO |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Sierra Middle School | Declan Palmer | CO |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Sierra Middle School | Kaitlyn Hering | CO |
| Superior | Front Page Layout Design | Sierra Middle School | Josh Welo | CO |
| Superior | Theme Package | Sierra Middle School | Declan Palmer | CO |
| Honorable Mention | News-Feature Writing | The Alexander Dawson School | Sofia Morris | NV |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | The American Middle School in London | Alex Gers | England |
| Excellent | Sports Action Photo and Caption | The American Middle School in London | Alex Gers | England |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | The American Middle School in London | Dylan Evans | England |
| Superior | Inside Page Layout Design | The American Middle School in London | Jonathan Philips | England |
| Superior | Inside Page Layout Design | The American Middle School in London | Alex Gers | England |
| Superior | News-Feature Writing | The American Middle School in London | Sophie Ashley | England |
| Superior | Opinion Writing | The American Middle School in London | Phaedra Letrou Papamarkakis | England |
| Excellent | Theme Package | The Mirman School | Ava Dobbs | CA |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Grace Zucker | CA |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Colin Picker | CA |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Yu-Kai Ni | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Jameson McMullen | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Gillian Quinto | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Benjamin Zaidel | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Tessa Gordon | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Ryan Norris | CA |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Chloe Freitas | CA |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | The Mirman School | Ava Dobbs | CA |
| Excellent | Broadcast Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | Paolo Garcia | CA |
| Excellent | Short Documentary/PSA | Toby Johnson Middle School | Brady Dodson | CA |
| Excellent | Short Documentary/PSA | Toby Johnson Middle School | Andres Garcia | CA |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Alyssa Villalpando | CA |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Mehnaz Grewal | CA |
| Excellent | Theme Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | Jamboree Yearbook Staff | CA |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Toby Johnson Middle School | Jamboree Yearbook Staff | CA |
| Excellent | Yearbook DPS Design | Toby Johnson Middle School | Jamboree Yearbook Staff | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | trisha Cao | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | Abi Maurno | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | Connor Samuelson | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Toby Johnson Middle School | Tiana Hall | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Short Documentary/PSA | Toby Johnson Middle School | Gianni Bradley | CA |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Melody Cung | CA |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Ashley Sterling | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Melody Cung | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Braden McCargar | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Sidney Fernandez | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Toby Johnson Middle School | Jamboree Yearbook Staff | CA |
| Honorable Mention | Yearbook DPS Design | Toby Johnson Middle School | Jamboree Yearbook Staff | CA |
| Superior | Short Documentary/PSA | Toby Johnson Middle School | Sergio Lara | CA |
| Superior | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Toby Johnson Middle School | Melody Cung | CA |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Benjamin Rascon-Gracia | IN |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Samantha Lewis | IN |
| Excellent | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Maggie McAndrews | IN |
| Excellent | Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Kathryn Mick | IN |
| Excellent | Theme Package | Westfield Middle School | Westfield Middle School Staff | IN |
| Honorable Mention | News/Academic Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Grace Bieghler | IN |
| Superior | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Kerry Effinger | IN |
| Superior | Sports Action Photo and Caption | Westfield Middle School | Michaela Krawczyk | IN |
| Superior | Yearbook DPS Design | Westfield Middle School | Grace Bieghler | IN |