The Kansas Scholastic Press Association celebrated the state’s top middle school journalists with recognition in the annual Mary Patrick Aspiring Young Journalist Award during the State Journalism Celebration on May 2.

The overall winner, Andover Middle School’s Sophia Skibba, had previously been recognized at her school by the award’s namesake Mary Patrick and retired journalism adviser Sharon Martin. Also being honored at state was runner-up Mackenzie Buxton, from Mill Creek Middle School.

The Mary Patrick Aspiring Young Journalist Award encourages Kansas junior high and middle school students to continue with journalistic studies in high school and rewards their hard work while in a middle school program. Judges reviewed submissions that required students to share examples of their work, letters of recommendation, a resume and to write reflectively about their work. The overall winner receives a scholarship to a journalism workshop in the state of Kansas to be used sometime before graduating from high school.

Sophia Skibba

Skibba wrote about the importance of journalism and described finding a path to her personal drive to to benefit others in journalism.

“What is our existence for if not to help others?” Skibba wrote. “To bring joy and comfort to those around us and those who will come after, and that’s where journalism comes in. Every design, every word drawn or typed on every page serves a purpose, whether to inform, persuade, or entertain, and these words and designs hold immense power. The press can change the world; we are the ones informing the people about what is happening, and if we decide to change a word or two, we can persuade people to feel or think a certain way: think of how much good that can bring about, or, of course, bad.”

Skibba has worked on her school’s yearbook for two years, including as editor this year. She is active in activities that include cross country, Science Olympiad, Scholars Bowl and a mentoring program. 

Her teacher, Kylie Turner, described her as a mature leader.

“Because of her, this year has run flawlessly with a new adviser stepping in,” Turner said. “She leads our meetings and completes extra work outside of school hours. She has volunteered for advertising and devoted several extra hours to make sure this year was a success!”

Judges said they were impressed with her work samples, reflection, compassion and determination.

“She is diligent and altruistic,” one wrote. “She seems mature beyond her years.”

Mackenzie Buxton

Buxton’s application stood out to judges as “insightful.”

Buxton wrote about middle school journalism as helping students look beyond what’s obvious

“Journalism teaches students to look deeper,” Buxton wrote. “It reveals the preparation, the setbacks, the teamwork, and the effort that shapes those moments. When students learn to tell those stories, they begin to understand that a school is built of diverse individuals who often go unnoticed.”

In middle school journalism, Buxton described that students learned courage, professionalism, respect and responsibility.

“Middle school is a time when students are discovering who they are,” Buxton wrote. “Journalism programs give them a voice during that process. They teach students not only how to tell stories, but how to value them, including their own.”

Buxton’s activities include student council, volleyball, Book Club, church volunteering and Leading 101 in addition her work on the school’s yearbook.

“She has a knack for helping others find their voice and encourages them to trust their creativity with confidence,” said Cody Ziegler, her publications teacher. “Mackenzie has an extremely high standard for herself and those she works with.”