MIPA recognizes 2020 all-state Student Journalist Staff

The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association honored 15 outstanding high school seniors as members of its 2020 Student Journalist Staff.

The students — who represent the state’s top journalists among scholastic media outlets — were honored April 23 during an online ceremony.

Graduating seniors chosen for the Student Journalist Staff submit a portfolio of their work that is judged by a committee of student media advisers.

“These highly skilled student journalists are our all-state team,” said Jeremy Steele, executive director of MIPA and a faculty member in the Michigan State University School of Journalism. “They not only are leaders in their schools and communities, but their work helps provide a voice for other students and sheds light on the important issues facing young people.”

MIPA also recognized seven members of the Student Journalist Staff as All-MIPA scholarship award recipients, the organization’s highest honor for student journalists. These journalists represent the top students in their field for Broadcast, Digital Media, News Design, News Writing & Reporting, Photojournalism, Yearbook Design and Yearbook Writing.

Members of the 2020 Student Journalist Staff are:

Rebekah Allen, of Davison, Davison High School, Broadcast (parents: David and Sarah Allen) All-MIPA
Isabella Bupp, of Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Photojournalism (parent: Rebeca Bupp) All-MIPA
Theresa De Benedetti, of Sterling Heights, Henry Ford II High School, News Design (parent: Susan De Benedetti)
Haley Grooms, of Shelby Township, Utica High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Karen and Lonnie Grooms)
Julie Heng, of Ann Arbor, Huron High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: J Christine Ye and Henry Heng) All-MIPA
Nathaniel Hoffman, of Lansing, East Lansing High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Renee Hoffman and Peter Hoffman)
Madelyn Holmes, of Troy, Troy High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Janet Holmes
Steve Holmes)
Isaac McKenna, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, News Design (parents: Craig Smith, Erin McKenna) All-MIPA
Julian McKenzie, of Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Kimberly McKenzie and Jeffrey McKenzie) All-MIPA
Imran Siddiqui, of Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe South High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Aamir and Parveen Siddiqui)
Abby Sizemore, of Fenton, Fenton High School, Photojournalism (parents: Rolland Sizemore and Tami Sizemore)
Camryn Tirico, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Debbie and Mike Tirico)
Gracie Warda, of Fenton, Fenton High School, Digital Media (parents: Jason Warda and Mitzi Swanick) All-MIPA
Halle Welter, of Grand Blanc , Grand Blanc High School, Yearbook Writing (parents: Eric Welter and Nannette Welter) All-MIPA
Morgan Womack, of Grand Haven, Grand Haven High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Rachel Whiting and Rick Womack)

In addition, MIPA submitted Ann Arbor Huron High School student Julie Heng’s portfolio to represent Michigan in the national Journalism Education Association Student Journalist of the Year content. Each state can submit the portfolio of one student journalist to the prestigious contest. Julie was named among six runners-up for this national honor.

“We are so proud of Julie Heng,” Steele said. “This honor puts her among a select group of Michigan student journalists to ever reach such a level of recognition.”

ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INTERSCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION

Founded in 1921 and housed in the Michigan State University School of Journalism, the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association is a nonprofit organization composed of scholastic journalism teachers and publications advisers and their students. MIPA is committed to promoting and recognizing excellence in scholastic journalism at all levels through education, training and support of student journalists and their advisers.