MIPA’s Student Journalist is a statewide honor for graduation seniors. These individuals represent the top student journalists in the state. Click on the image to open a larger version.
The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association today honored 16 outstanding high school seniors as members of its 2021 Student Journalist Staff.
The students — who represent the state’s top journalists among scholastic media outlets — were honored 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 student journalists have been leaders in their schools and communities during an unprecedented crisis,” said Jeremy Steele, executive director of MIPA and a faculty member in the Michigan State University School of Journalism. “Despite the challenges of remote learning and pandemic safety protocols, they have kept their community informed, they’ve provided a voice for other students and they’ve brought focus to important issues facing young people.”
MIPA also recognized seven members of the Student Journalist Staff with All-MIPA scholarships, 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, Photojournalism, Yearbook Design and Yearbook Writing.
Members of the 2021 Student Journalist Staff are:
- Kamryn Almasy, of Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Shelley Tereau and Benjamin Almasy)
- Clara Bowman, of Ann Arbor , Huron High School, News Writing (parents: Marion Hofmann Bowman and Terry Bowman)
- Olivia Carmody, of Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc High School, Photojournalism (parents: Chris Carmody) All-MIPA
- Mishal Charania, of Ann Arbor, Huron High School , Digital Media (parents: Nadia Charania and Muhammad Ali Charania) All-MIPA
- Kylie Clifton, of Portage, Portage Northern High School, News Writing (parents: Ginger and Ron Clifton)
- Kali Francisco, of East Lansing, East Lansing High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Stephanie Francisco) All-MIPA
- Maya Kogulan, of Ann Arbor, Huron High School, Photojournalism (parents: Nalayini Kogulan and Palaniandy Kogulan)
- Jason Laplow, of Midland, H.H. Dow High School, Broadcast (parents: Melissa Laplow and Mike Laplow)
- Lady’ Jordan Matthews-Mason, of Lake Orion, Lake Orion High School, Broadcast (parents: Charonda Matthews and Grant Mason) All-MIPA
- Eva McCord, of Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe South High School, News Writing (parents: Catherine Stone)
- Julie Park, of Ann Arbor, Huron High School, News Design (parent: Kazumi Matsubara) All-MIPA
- Alexis Sharplin, of Shelby Township, Eisenhower High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Karen Sharplin and Scott Sharplin)
- Lily Sickman-Garner, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, Digital Media (parents: Carol Sickman-Garner and Pete Sickman-Garner)
- Somer Sodeman, of East Lansing, East Lansing High School , Yearbook Writing (parents: Carin Sodeman and Joel Sodeman) All-MIPA
- Taisiya Tworek, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, News Writing (parents: Stephanie Patterson and Joseph Tworek) All-MIPA
- Kendall Westgate, of Macomb, Eisenhower High School, News Writing (parents: Holly Westgate and Mark Westgate)
In addition, MIPA submitted Grosse Pointe South High School student Eva McCord’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.
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.