High school journalists across Nebraska have competed against each other in this year’s annual Journalism Education Association contest. Both the Fremont High School newspaper and yearbook staff have earned multiple awards in a variety of categories.
The Journalism Education Association, or JEA, is an organization founded in 1924 for students and teachers who have a passion for journalism. Every year JEA holds multiple contests, but there is an annual competition that many schools fiercely compete in.
Students will have their work entered into one of many categories and have their work reviewed by judges.
The JEA awards are awarded to students who excel in design, writing, photography and more. Awards are delivered in three categories: superior, excellent, and honorable mention.
FHS yearbook staff members Aubrey Pieper, Delaney Karr, Meah Homan and Whitney Walling all earned awards. FHS newspaper staff members Allison Ramirez, Heather Smith and Rowan Van Osdel and Shelby Tracy also earned awards for this year’s competition.
“I was really excited about getting the award results because it shows that the hard work is paying off,” Journalism teacher David Stevens said. “I’m very proud of my students.”
Newspaper member and graphic design editor Rowan Van Osdel earned two awards this year with excellents in both headline writing and design and entertainment writing.
“I’m really proud of the awards and the work that I put in,” said Van Osdel. “I guess when I look at the awards, I just think of how much work I put into them and I feel honored that I won them.”
Newspaper editor-in-chief Allison Ramirez also earned two awards in this year’s competition. Ramirez earned honorable mention for both feature writing and newspaper layout.
“I am very proud of both myself and the staff,” said Ramirez. “You know, it makes me feel very happy for them very grateful that all of us are given the opportunity and chance to participate and things like this. It really does create just something good for the students to get involved in. I’m just happy with their success and the success the program has had this year.”
These award results come just weeks before the Nebraska state journalism event, which the entire FHS journalism department is preparing heavily for. Both the yearbook and newspaper staff are working tirelessly to provide their best work in order to earn more awards for themselves and the school.
