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 15 outstanding high school seniors as members of its 2022 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 honorary Student Journalist Staff submit a portfolio of their work that is judged by a committee of student media advisers.
“These students and their work represent the potential of journalism to make a difference in our schools and our communities,” said Jeremy Steele, executive director of MIPA and a faculty member in the Michigan State University School of Journalism. “They have overcome a pandemic and unprecedented learning challenges to keep their community informed and to provide a vehicle for youth voices in high schools across the state.
“We know more about the the issues facing young people because of these student journalists, and they are better prepared for life’s challenges because of their journalism education.”
MIPA also recognized six 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 and Yearbook Design.
Members of the 2022 Student Journalist Staff are:
- Olivia Austin, of Grand Rapids, Northview High School, Digital Media (parents: Amy and Kevin Austin; media adviser: Matt Howe) All-MIPA
- Camille Berko, of Grand Haven, Grand Haven High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Kevin and Barbara Berko; media adviser: C.E. Sikkenga)
- Declan Bradley, of Rockford, City High Middle School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Tara Kaley and Peter Bradley; media adviser: Philip Beckwith)
- Farrah Fasse, of Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe North High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Lena Fasse and Paul Fasse; media adviser: Allison Dunn)
- Mia Goldstein, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, News Design (parents: Daniel Goldstein and Grace Jenq; media adviser: Tracy Anderson) All-MIPA
- Vishwas Gondesi, of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Huron High School, Digital Media (parents: Subhasri Madaka and Sridhar Gondesi; media adviser: Sara-Beth Badalamente)
- Lydia Hargett, of Ann Arbor, Huron High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Doug Hargett and Kristi Hargett; media adviser: Sara-Beth Badalamente)
- Grace Montgomery, of Grand Haven, Grand Haven High School, News Design (parents: Chris Montgomery and Cyndi Montgomery; media adviser: C.E. Sikkenga)
- Lyndon Potter, of Lake Orion, Lake Orion High School, Broadcast (parents: Eric & Jill Potter; media adviser: Roger Smith) All-MIPA
- Maura Puro, of Flint, Grand Blanc High School, Yearbook Design (parents: Sandra Puro and Michael F. Puro; media adviser: Ava Butzu) All-MIPA
- Meagan Rockafellow, of Holland, West Ottawa High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Brent Rockafellow and Stacey Rockafellow; media adviser: Ken Strobel)
- Eleni Tecos, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe South High School, News Design (parents: Bill Tecos and Gina Tecos; media adviser: Kaitlin Edgerton)
- Lucy Tobier, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Rebekah Modrak and Nick Tobier; media adviser: Tracy Anderson)
- Cate Weiser, of Ann Arbor, Community High School, Photojournalism (parents: Mary Weiser and Marc Weiser; media adviser: Tracy Anderson) All-MIPA
- Meghan Wysocki, of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe South High School, News Writing & Reporting (parents: Laura Wysocki and David Wysocki; media adviser: Kaitlin Edgerton) All-MIPA
In addition, MIPA submitted Grosse Pointe South High School student Meghan Wysocki’s portfolio to represent Michigan in the national Journalism Education Association Student Journalist of the Year contest. Each state can submit the portfolio of one student journalist to the prestigious contest.
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.