Four individuals who have made significant contributions to scholastic journalism will be honored with the Medal of Merit this fall. They will be formally recognized during the Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
The 2024 Medal of Merit recipients are:
- Thomas Kaup, MJE, Auburn (Washington) High School
- Lori Oglesbee, retired, McKinney, Texas
- Allie Staub Roger, CJE, Westfield (Indiana) Middle School
- Lisa Roskens, Prosper (Texas) High School
Thomas Kaup, MJE, has advised both middle and high school journalism since 1995 in multiple schools and states, and currently at Auburn (Washington) High School since He also co-authored a textbook for middle school journalism. Kaup was recently elected president of Washington Journalism Education Association.
Kaup has earned numerous teaching and journalism awards, including WJEA’s highest honor — the Dorothy McPhillips Award — in 2018, for work promoting and helping pass New Voices legislation. Kaup was among the first advisers to earn JEA’s DEI certificate from the National High School Journalism Convention.
Director of Student Media at Whitney High School, Sarah Nichols, MJE, first became acquainted with Kaup through the JEA Listserv.
“Tom represents everything JEA leaders should be: humble servants, lifelong learners and fierce champions for their students, regardless of circumstances,” Nichols said. “He’s always learning, always offering a helping hand and always putting students first. As an association we’re lucky to have his positive energy and service among our ranks.”
Arlington (Washington) High School adviser, Anne Hayman, MJE, met Kaup on the local committee for the 2017 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
“Tom Kaup is aware of the limitations his students have on their experiences,” Hayman said. “He does everything he can to open doors for those students. He has some students who have enough going on at home that simply making it to school is a success. Kaup is the one who looks at those kids and genuinely says, ‘I’m glad to see you today.’”
Lori Oglesbee taught journalism for more than 30 years in Texas before retiring. Her publications won CSPA Crowns, NSPA Pacemakers, Interscholastic League Press Conference Gold Stars and Texas University Interscholastic League Championships. Oglesbee was Texas Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2005 and the JEA H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year in 2009. Other accomplishments include the Texas Association of Journalism Educators Trailblazer, NSPA Pioneer, and JEA Lifetime Achievement awards.
JEA California state director Mitch Ziegler, CJE, said he has enlisted Oglesbee as a judge for the state Journalist of the Year competition each year he has been in charge because her evaluations are so well done.
“Service to journalism, advisers and students are essential qualities of Lori,” Ziegler said. “Even in ‘retirement’ Lori continues to make significant contributions to scholastic journalism.”
As an education ambassador for Cady Studios she continues to train students in photography. She has also been quite active with ILPC, conducting workshops and writing critiques for member school publications. Additionally, she regularly presents sessions at the National High School Journalism Convention.
Retired JEA Executive Director, Linda. S. Puntney, MJE, said Oglesbee is a natural recipient for the Medal of Merit because she has served the organization as well as individuals in scholastic journalism.
“She shares her strength through her resilience and her genuine love of all things and people in scholastic journalism,” Putney said. “That big personality, her work and her passion have inspired aspiring student journalists and rejuvenated tired advisers.”
Allie Staub Roger, CJE, advises The Scrapbook yearbook at Westfield (Indiana) Middle School. Roger is a 2015 Rising Star and a 2018 Distinguished Yearbook Adviser and her publications have won multiple CSPA Crowns and NSPA Pacemakers.
Former JEA board member Sergio Luis Yanes, MJE, said that Roger’s contributions have shaped journalism education, as well as JEA, into what it is today.
“Allie is a powerful communicator who not only maintains high expectations for those who work with her, but also listens to all stakeholders as she strives to make each iteration better than the last,” Yanes said. “She is not afraid to ask questions and push against ‘this is how we’ve always done it.’”
Roger coordinated the National Journalism Quiz Bowl for five years. JEA National Contest Chair Nancy Smith, MJE, said Roger revised the entire Quiz Bowl process to make it more efficient.
“This made the seeding of finalists easier and faster,” Smith said. “It also allowed teams to register on site, leading to more participants.”
Additionally, Roger began facilitating the Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest in 2017.
“Allie spent a lot of time after the contest in the first few years evaluating the entries and the numbers and then making adjustments in descriptions and categories to better fit what was actually being submitted,” Smith said. “She did a lot of outreach, getting feedback from advisers and because of that work, the contest has grown each year and allows JEA’s youngest members the chance to compete and get quality feedback on their work.”
Lisa Roskens advises Eagle Nation Online at Prosper (Texas) High School, which has one CSPA Gold Crown and been a NSPA Pacemaker finalist. She serves JEA and the Texas Association of Journalism Educators as the JEA Texas state director. She has been honored as a TAJKE Trailblazer and an Edith Fox King recipient by the Interscholastic League Press Conference.
TAJE Executive Director Cindy Todd works with Roskens on the TAJE board. Roskens started as a TAJE Region 3 representative in January 2020 and when lockdown began, participated in Zooms and shared curriculum to help support teachers. When the state director position became available, Todd said the board turned to Roskens to fill the vacancy.
“Not only is she an excellent classroom teacher and publications adviser, she is a servant leader of the highest caliber,” Todd said. “Lisa Roskens is one of the most positive people I know. She makes me want to be better. She helps me to be better. She simply makes the world a better place — and I’m grateful she’s a part of my world.”
Rock Hill High School Student Media Adviser Margie Raper, MJE, said she is grateful for Roskens’ contributions to scholastic journalism.
“She is just so nice,” Raper said. “She is also smart, encouraging and dedicated. But my favorite side of Lisa Roskens is her tenacious side that has high standards for her students along with holding adults and leaders accountable. Lisa Roskens makes everyone around her stronger.”
Founded in 1924, JEA supports free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities, promoting professionalism, encouraging and rewarding student excellence and teacher achievement, and an atmosphere which encompasses diversity yet builds unity. It is headquartered at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
By Louisa Avery, MJE, awards chair