Four Medal of Merit winners will be recognized for their significant contributions to scholastic journalism during the Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention this November in Nashville.
The 2025 Medal of Merit recipients are:
- Michelle Balmeo, MJE, West Albany (Oregon) High School
- Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE, Longmont (Colorado) High School
- Ryan Gunterman, MJE, Franklin (Indiana) College Pulliam School of Journalism
- Cynthia Reves, CJE, President William McKinley High School, Honolulu, Hawaii
Michelle Balmeo, MJE
Michelle Balmeo, MJE, advises at West Albany (Oregon) High School and previously advised in California.
Oregon adviser Glenn Krake, CJE, has worked with her on the board of the Oregon Journalism Education Association.
“She has held formal roles as president and as an at-large board member, but regardless of her title, Michelle has been a consistent powerhouse, pushing our organization forward,” Krake said. “Her leadership is about stewardship, sustainability and creating opportunity for others.”
Balmeo’s impact goes beyond her state. She leads the JEA Outreach Academy held at the national conventions, helped pioneer JEA’s Partner Project and served a term leading the JEA web curriculum team. Additionally, she is a contributing author of “Journalism: Publishing Across Media,” which is in its third edition as a textbook for advisers and student journalists.
“That’s what sets Michelle apart: she leads quietly through action with humility,” Krake said. “She is a selfless, strategic leader always looking to lift up others and find ways to promote organizational sustainability. In lifting up others, she encourages those around her to step in and take ownership. She has created a culture in Oregon on the OJEA Board where others feel empowered to lead.”
“I’ve watched Michelle lead in large and small ways: launching programs, mentoring individuals and organizing events,” Krake continued. “Her influence is felt in my classroom as my students flock to her presentations at our regional events, and I know her influence reaches to classrooms across Oregon and far beyond.”
Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE
Annie Gorenstein-Falkenberg, CJE, advises at Longmont (Colorado) High School.
Colorado Scholastic Media Association Executive Director Jed Palmer, CJE, said Gorenstein-Falkenberg has already made a careers-worth of contributions to the scholastic journalism community in her 15 years as an adviser. He worked closely with her in the seven years she spent as a board member for the CSMA, including serving as their president.
“Under her leadership, the organization was able to expand our support of our member schools and to increase our financial reserves,” Palmer said. “This allowed CSMA to support journalism programs throughout the state without interruption while facing the significant fiscal challenges brought on by COVID-19.”
As the new JEA state director for Colorado she is working with CSMA on their Dorothy Greer Scholarship and will continue to support advisers across the state.
Additionally, she has been a preconvention instructor for the past six years at JEA/NSPA national conventions, teaching full day sessions on editorial leadership. She also presents sessions on writing, revision and workflow management for the national convention and for the CSPA convention. She judges for contests both remotely and on site for conventions. She is also a judge for numerous state and national organizations in addition to doing critiques for several state student press associations.
“Annie is one of the best and most committed members of our advising community,” Palmer said. “I can attest to her excellence in all areas of her work and her incredible dedication to sharing with others to improve student journalism across the country.”
Ryan Gunterman, MJE
Ryan Gunterman, MJE, works at the Franklin College Pulliam School of Journalism serving as executive director of the Indiana High School Press Association, adviser to The Franklin newsmagazine and thefranklinnews.com, and program coordinator of the sports communication track. He is also the JEA state director for Indiana. Previously he spent 15 years teaching journalism and advising student media at schools in Indiana.
Retired Indiana adviser Kim Green has known Gunterman since 2001, when he was her lab assistant during his senior summer at Indiana University’s High School Journalism Institute.
“When I think of Ryan’s place in scholastic journalism, all his efforts and accomplishments stem from one word: PASSION,” Green said. “His passion for educating students, defending their rights and leading both the state and nation in finding creative ways to inspire them and their advisers is FIERCE!”
For example, he fiercely led efforts to enact New Voices legislation in Indiana in 2018 — lobbying, testifying, rallying, informing. Although unsuccessful, he raised awareness and continues to fight as the loudest voice in the state for student press rights and freedom through holding First Amendment contests, teaching at conferences and workshops, and visiting schools in support of student-determined content in scholastic media.
“Ryan Gunterman remains invested in student-determined content, journalistic excellence, and First Amendment rights for students and will continue to fight the good fight as only he knows how — with PASSION!” Green said. “For this, Ryan Gunterman is worthy of JEA’s Medal of Merit honor!”
Cynthia Reves, CJE
Cynthia Reves, CJE, advises at President William McKinley High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. She co-founded the Hawaii Scholastic Journalism Association in 2015 and is the JEA state director for Hawaii.
“Cynthia’s most notable and lasting impact on our community has been her zealous policy advocacy that mobilized key stakeholders, achieved the passage of key legislation, and galvanized students in the civic process,” Hawaii adviser Lindsey Combs said. “Cynthia’s efforts have created protections for student journalists statewide and have made the job of advisers like myself that much easier.”
After six years of her tireless advocacy and leadership, Reves and student advocates witnessed in person the passage of the Hawaii Student Journalism Protection Act. She then worked with the board of education and organized student journalist testimony to revise its student publications policy to align with the bill.
Reves also increased participation in Hawaii’s Journalist of the Year contest.
“She revised the contest rubric to better reflect the diversity of student journalism and to make the competition more inclusive and accessible across the state,” Combs said. “Cynthia also promoted the visibility and prestige of the award. She got the Hawaii Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association to sponsor cash prizes for the top three students, thus motivating more submissions. She also secured a speaking engagement and newspaper coverage for the award at the Hawaii High School Journalism Awards luncheon. Thanks to her, the HiJOY winner now has the opportunity to share their story and voice directly with fellow student journalists.”
Louisa Avery, MJE, JEA Awards Committee chair