Students honored for work in youth journalism contest

The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association today announced winners of the Michigan Youth Journalism Experience contest.
The contest was conducted by MIPA, in partnership with the Michigan Humanities Council and the Pulitzer Prizes Board, as part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Pulitzer Prizes in 2016. Honorees will be recognized at the MIPA Fall Conference on Monday, Oct. 24, in Lansing.
Students in grades 8-11 were invited to submit entries in four categories. Work must have related to one or more of the following topics:

• Accountability & Abuse
• Presidential Power & Secrecy
• Civil Rights & Equality
• War & Peace

Judging was completed by journalists associated with the Michigan Press Association Foundation and faculty of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Judges selected a winner in each category and also recognized additional entries as finalists for their outstanding work.
Entrants in the contest will have an opportunity to meet with several Pulitzer Prize winning journalists speaking at the fall conference. Recognized work will be published into a commemorative booklet.

Essay

Winner

Nesreen Saad
Fordson High School
“A journalist’s influence on democratic society”

Finalists

Leah Graham
Troy High School
“Dangerously transparent”
Evan Stern
Bloomfield Hills High school
“Journalism plays a crucial role in democracy”

Bylined 0pinion article

Winner

Erykah Benson
The Tower Pulse
Grosse Pointe South High School
“Let’s not forget ‘The Dream'”

Finalist

Erica Heathcote
The Wind-Up
St. Joseph High School
Senate Bill 848: A student journalist’s saving grace

Staff editorial

Winner

Leah Graham, with Katie Bogdanovich, Silvia Hoxha, Bianca Bucholtz & Sarah Semon
The Chariot
Troy High School
“On the front lines”

Finalist

Jessica Freeman
The Occidentalist
Traverse City West Senior High School
“Taking sides: School board cancels trip”

Reporting