The John V. Field Award recognizes a person who is not currently a student media adviser for their significant contributions to scholastic journalism in Michigan. The award was first given in 1972 to John Field, who served as the executive director of MIPA for more than 20 years when MIPA was housed at the University of Michigan.
Prior to the creation of the John V. Field Award, MIPA issued a series of annual special citations of appreciation to people who served scholastic journalism. Those special citation honorees, as well as Field Award winners, are listed below.
Selection is based on a nomination letter and supporting materials that detail the contribution the nominee has made to scholastic journalism. The annual deadline for this contest is in February.
Make a Nomination
- Deadline: Feb. 23, 2024
- Complete the online nomination form here (opens in a new window)
- Preview the application form – You must complete our online entry form, but here’s a Word copy of the questions we ask
Previous John V. Field Award Honorees
1972
John V. Field
1973
Edmund Arnold
Saginaw News
Jenine Kemp
East Lansing Towne Courier
Harry Stapler
1974
Tom Rood
1975
Rita Abent
1976
Mattie Crump
1977
Gilbert Mainenknecht
1978
Col. Joseph M. Murphy
1979
The Detroit News
Detroit Free Press
1981
Bob Talbert, Detroit Free Press
1982
Stan Soffin, Michigan State University
1983
Charlie Manos, Detroit News
1984
Mary Benedict, Indiana University
1985
Janet Mendler, U-M News and Information Services
1986
Richard Johns, Quill and Scroll Society
1987
Neal Shine, Detroit Free Press
1988
Kenson Siver, Southfield Public Schools
1989
Craig Trygstad, Youth Communication
1990
The Macomb Daily
Detroit Free Press
1991
Rep. H. Lynn Jondahl, D-Okemos
1992
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press
1993
Lorraine Reuther, Alpena Community College
1994
Saginaw News
1995
Larry Mack, Jackson HS (retired)
1996
Lorraine Miller, Walsworth Publishing
Bob Button, Virgina High School League
1997
Lansing State Journal
Quick Print–Kalamazoo/Plainwell
1999
David Stedwell, Marycrest International University
2001
H.L. Hall, JEA President
2002
Bobby Hawthorne, Interscholastic League Press Conference (ILPC), Texas
2003
Jane Briggs-Bunting, Oakland University
Mark Goodman, Student Press Law Center
2004
Joe Grimm, Detroit Free Press
2005
Mike McCullough, Editor, Battle Creek Enquirer
2006
Tom Campbell, Argus-Press, Owosso
2007
Ike Lea, Lansing Community College
2009
Cheryl Pell, Michigan State University
Erin Hill, Detroit Free Press
2012
Betsy Pollard Rau
2014
2015
2016
Crain Communications & Automotive News
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Jeremy Whiting
Special Citations
Prior to 1972, MIPA made a series of special citations of appreciation to persons who, although not actually advising school publications at the time, had done so in the past or had served scholastic journalism peripherally. Among the individuals honored were:
- Helen J. Hanlon (1959)
- Ruth M. Barns (1959)
- Leslie George Carter (1961)
- Dorothy Rich (1962)
- Lawrence Niblett (1962)
- Lizetta Harris (1963)
- Harry Stapler (1964)
- Charles Follo (1966)
- Bernadine M. Staples (1967)
- Robert Hughes (1968)
- Henry Maloney (1969)
- Wilton C. Scott (1970)
- Ryll Clark (1971)
- Merle Loch (1971)
- Jerry Gerich (1971)
- George Kiesel (1971)