Susan Massy Award: Kansas Student Journalist of the Year

Apply here for 2026 Kansas Student Journalist of the Year by Jan. 22, 2026. See our calendar for future dates contest dates.	About the Award The Susan Massy Award is given annually to the Kansas Student Journalist of the Year, the top individual prize for high school journalists in the state. Susan Massy taught for 44 years in Kansas schools, including 42 years at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. She taught students in yearbook, along with newspaper and online publications. As a longtime non-voting KSPA board member, Massy connected the state organization to the Journalism Education Association. In that role, she helped many winners of the state’s Student Journalist of the Year contest excel in the national contest. Kansas high school journalists have an opportunity to showcase their talents through this competition. Students who wish to enter the contest must submit an application form as well as a digital portfolio that will explain to the judges who they are as a student journalist. All application content and evaluation are based on the JEA Journalist of Year contest. The Kansas Student Journalist of the Year committee chooses winners in three classifications: 1A/2A, 3A/4A and 5A/6A. Each of those winners receives a check for $750. In addition, the overall winner receives an extra $500 (for a total of $1,250) and becomes the Kansas Student Journalist of the Year. Only one overall winner is named for each year. The winning portfolio from the state Journalist of the Year competition is sent to the national level for judging. The state winners are recognized at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention, and national winners are announced at the convention’s awards ceremonies. Scholarship funds at the national level are $4,000 for the top winner and $1,200 for each of the five finalists.
	APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS The application form requires each applicant to submit personal information, contact information, a transcript, letters of recommendation, resume and personal narrative. Because you are uploading documents and images to the form, please be patient when submitting as it takes up to 30 seconds for the files to upload. The form requires this information: LINK TO AN ONLINE PORTFOLIO: This online portfolio of your work may be hosted online as a website (for instance with Weebly, Wix or WordPress). *Printed and mailed portfolios are no longer accepted.* Portfolios should be submitted as a URL. See below for more details. AN ACTION SHOT: An image of you at work as a journalist (for instance, a candid image of you working at a publication night, on assignment reporting, etc). YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT: Official high school transcript or a counselor’s statement including journalism classes taken, grades and current GPA. Student should be a high school senior and should have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Please upload as a pdf (for instance, scan your transcript and save it as a pdf). LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Three letters from people people familiar with your work as a journalist. No letter should exceed two pages in length. Upload letters as pdfs. RESUME: Resumes should be submitted as pdfs. PERSONAL NARRATIVE ESSAY: To align with the national contest, we will use the same criteria. The applicant should reflect on their scholastic media experience and how it shaped both current success and future goals. The writing should also address challenges that the applicant faced along the way and how these were solved. The writing should exhibit the applicant’s strong and vibrant voice. While there is no word limit, most national winners’ essays are around 1,250-1,300 words.
	COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM Be prepared to fill out the application in a single sitting, as there isn’t an option to save your work and continue later. Compile your resume, transcript and letters of recommendation and personal narrative as PDFs to upload separately when prompted as part of the application process. Be prepared to copy the URL of your online portfolio with work samples when prompted.
	CREATE THE PORTFOLIO Work examples are part of a presentation where candidates can showcase their progress over time as a student journalist. Applicants can choose any platform on which they wish to present their work examples. The applicant’s personality should be evident in the entry. The student should choose a design/concept for the portfolio. Broadcast/video samples should be no longer than 15 minutes in length. Work examples in the online portfolio should be organized according to the following categories: Reporting and Writing Editing, Leadership and Team Building Web and Social Media Design Broadcast Journalism Photojournalism Law, Ethics and News Literacy Marketing and Audience Engagement Commitment to Diversity Applicants aren’t required to have samples from all of the categories. However, well-rounded applicants should showcase the diversity of their talents to the judging committee. The entry will also be judged on two additional criteria: Organization and Documentation Personal Narrative. The personal narrative does not need to be included in the online portfolio. Review the KSPA judging rubric at this link. It is based on the JEA rubric for the national contest. Please use this as a guide and a checklist when creating your entry. Each work example for the portfolio should be labeled with this information: The content category Evidence of use in publications for published work Any awards the work earned in contests An explanation/reasoning for each example. This should include the applicant’s explanation about the specific assignment. Include any difficulties encountered with the assignment and special circumstances affecting it. Explanation should be less than 100 words in length, easy to read and should explain why the entry is important and was chosen for the portfolio.
	NATIONAL INSPIRATION Need some inspiration or guidance? Take a look at the portfolios of past winners and runners-up from the JEA Student Journalist of the Year contest. 2025 Student Journalist of the Year: Alan Tai Portfolios of runners up and state winners. 2024 Student Journalist of the Year: Alice Scott Runner up: Nadia Knoblauch Runner up: Ben Shapiro Runner up: Claire Kirwan 2023 Student Journalist of the Year: Grace Hamilton Runner up: Haylee Stum Runner up: Julie Falkowski Runner up: Kasey Thompson
	STATE WINNERS This list contains incredible student journalists from across the state. Many winners have continued on to award-winning careers in media and journalism. Reviewing the links will show the quality and organization of student entries that won the contest in the past. 2025: Overall Winner: Zana Kennedy, Lawrence High School Coverage of 2025 winners 5A/6A: Zana Kennedy, Lawrence High School 3A/4A: Mary Elaina Gibson, Bishop Miege High School 1A/2A: Cheyenne Crow, Flint Hills Christian School 2024: Overall Winner: Maya Smith, Lawrence High School Coverage of the 2024 winners 5A/6A: Maya Smith, Lawrence High School 3A/4A: Daniel Sullivan, Bishop Miege High School 1A/2A: Anna Castillo, Wabaunsee High School 2023: Overall Winner: Alena Gillespie, Bishop Miege High School Coverage of the 2023 winners 5A/6A: Grace Logan, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School 3A/4A: Alena Gillespie, Bishop Miege High School 2022: Overall Winner: Cuyler Dunn, Lawrence High School Coverage of the 2022 winners 5A/6A: Cuyler Dunn, Lawrence High School 3A/4A: Savannah Athy-Sedbrook, Augusta High School 1A/2A: Emma Alderman, Wabaunsee High School 2021: Overall Winner: Riley Atkinson, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Winner) Coverage of the 2021 winners 5A/6A: Riley Atkinson, Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Alyssa Andoyo, Chanute High School 2020: Overall Winner: Ben Henschel, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Runner-up) Coverage of the 2020 winners 5A/6A: Ben Henschel, Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Sophie Osborn, Chanute High School 1A/2A: Abby Riffel, Sterling High School 2019: Overall Winner: Nicole-Marie Konopelko, Pittsburg High School (JEA National Runner-up) Coverage of the 2019 winners 5A/6A: Nicole-Marie Konopelko, Pittsburg High School 3A/4A: No entries 1A/2A: Grace Rowland, Sterling High School 2018: Overall Winner: Daisy Bolin, Shawnee Mission East High School Coverage of the 2018 winners 5A/6A: Daisy Bolin, Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Natalie Lindsey, Rock Creek Jr/Sr High School 1A/2A: Dylan Babcock, Lincoln Jr/Sr High School 2017: Overall Winner: Celia Hack, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Runner-Up) Coverage of the 2017 winners 5A/6A: Celia Hack, Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Anniston Weber, Hays High School 1A/2A: Amanda Schmalzried, Canton-Galva High School 2016: Overall Winner: Justin Curto, Mill Valley High School (JEA National Runner-Up) Coverage of 2016 winners 5A/6A: Justin Curto, Mill Valley High School 3A/4A: Veronica Norez, Sterling High School 1A/2A: Hanna Bott, Linn High School 2015: Overall Winner: Julia Poe, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Winner) Coverage of 2015 winners 5A/6A: Julia Poe, Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Kasady Smith, Sterling High School 1A/2A: Kylie Rahe, Linn High School 2014: Overall Winner: Annie Schugart, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (JEA National Runner-Up) 2013: Overall Winner: Chad Phillips, Andover High School Coverage of 2013 winners 3A/4A: Sophia Templin, De Soto High School 2012: Overall Winner: Sarah Darby, Mill Valley High School (JEA National Runner-Up) Coverage of 2012 winner 2011: Overall Winner: Tanner Maxwell of Goddard High School Coverage of the 2011 Winner Runners-up: Logan Heley of Shawnee Mission East High School Runner-up: Andrew Goble of Shawnee Mission East High School 3A/4A: Riley Mortensen of Bonner Springs High School 3A/4A runner up: Halee Thompson of Phillipsburg High School 2010: Overall Winner: Tim Shedor, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Runner-Up) Coverage of 2010 winners 2nd place: Nikki Wentling, McPherson High School 3rd place: Phoebe Unterman, Shawnee Mission East High School 2009: Stephen Nichols of Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Runner-up) 2nd place: Paige Cornwell 3rd place: Bernadette Myers 2008: Sarah Meier (JEA National Runner-up) 2nd place: Elizabeth Nachman 3rd place: William Jenks 2007: Overall Winner: Amanda Allison, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Winner) 2nd place: Hillary Mullin, Mill Valley High School 3rd place: Ben Weiss, Shawnee Mission Northwest 2006: Allison Quick 2nd place (tie): Joel Aschbrenner & Lauren Keith 2005: Overall Winner: Libby Nelson, Shawnee Mission East High School (JEA National Winner) 2nd place: Andrew Asteford 3rd place: Lacey Rickert 2004: Rebecca Cremer, Shawnee Mission Northwest 2nd place: Annie Hundley, Holton High 3rd place: Travis Siebert, Colby High 2003: Kaila Williams, Emporia High 2nd place: Mina Markham, Wichita Southeast High 3rd place: Tiffany Shogren, Satanta High 2002: Lauren Cox, Shawnee Mission Northwest 2nd place: Samantha Thompson, Shawnee Mission Northwest 3rd place: Rachel Krier, McPherson High 2000: Evan North, Shawnee Mission Northwest 2nd place: Jeanel Drake, Shawnee Mission North 3rd place: Erin Lane, Liberal High School & Kate Shirk, Shawnee Mission South 1999: Lauren Brandenburg, Shawnee Mission Northwest 2nd place: Christina Woods, Wichita East 3rd place: Sarah Warren, Shawnee Mission North 1998: Kelly Allis, Bishop Carroll 2nd place: Rebecca Blocksome, Hays High 3rd place: Brett Goering, Washburn Rural 1997: Samantha Liskow, Shawnee Mission West 2nd place:Travis Lenker, Skyline High 3rd place:Lori O’Toole, Maize High 1996: Hollister Hovey, Shawnee Mission East 2nd place: Kelly Furnas, Topeka West 3rd place: Amy Beets, Lawrence High 1994: Jodie Chester, Phillipsburg High 2nd place: Todd Stewart, Shawnee Mission North 3rd place: Brandy Shearer, Hays High 1993: Nicole Nelson, Manhattan High 2nd place: Heather Stephany, Ellinwood High 3rd place: Connie Engel, Hays High 1992: Kristina Fassett, Leavenworth High School 2nd place: Colleen McCain (Nelson), Salina South 3rd place: Seth King, Shawnee Mission East 1991: Denise Neil, Dodge City High School 2nd place: Traci Carol, Lawrence High School 3rd place: Blaine Roderique, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School 1986: John Milburn, Pittsburg High School Related story about Milburn
	ADVICE FROM WINNERS The 2022 and 2024 Kansas High School Journalists of the Year — Cuyler Dunn and Maya Smith — collaborated to put together this presentation filled with advice. The 2019 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year was Nicole-Marie Konopelko from Pittsburg High School. Konopelko was also named runner-up in the national contest by the Journalism Education Association. While working for KSPA as a student at the University of Kansas, Konopelko crafted this video to help students who planned to apply for the award in the 2021 contest.
	The 2015 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year was Julia Poe of Shawnee Mission East High School. Poe was also named the 2015 National Student Journalist of the Year by the Journalism Education Association. To explain her process of creating a winning portfolio for the state and national competitions, Poe agreed to be interviewed by former executive director Eric Thomas.