Laurie Bielong, longtime adviser of the Hy News at Belleville West, was surprised Wednesday, April 10, at a faculty meeting by being named IJEA’s 2013 Illinois Scholastic Journalism Educator of the Year.

Carol Smith of the IJEA Board of Directors and Sally Renaud, IJEA executive director, presented the award and flowers, with help from students from Bielong’s Hy News staff.

Bielong will formally accept her award at the IJEA adviser breakfast April 26 held in conjunction with the IHSA journalism state final at Eastern Illinois University.

Congratulations, Laurie!