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  • The postmark deadline is almost here for the 2024 IJEA Yearbook Contest! Mail your books by Oct. 15 — we want to recognize your students' great work covering the 2023-24 school year!
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Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2501 Chatham Road, Suite 200, Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois JEA

IJEA Friend of Scholastic Journalism Award


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Honoring Those Committed to Student Media


Online Nomination Form

Submission Deadline: May 1


Each year, the IJEA honors an individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to scholastic journalism. In selecting honorees, the IJEA seeks to recognize those individuals and groups who have supported our mission in the following ways:

• By assisting IJEA and/or its advisers/members in promoting high standards in scholastic journalism and in elevating the status of media programs in secondary education.
• By supporting opportunities for interaction of student staffs, teachers and those in the professional media whenever possible.
• By serving as an exemplary model for students in secondary media programs.

 


Annual Deadline: May 1


The award is presented at the annual IJEA Fall Conference held at the University of Illinois. Past recipients include the Illinois Press Foundation, the Illinois High School Association, newspaper publishers and association directors.

 


How to Nominate a Candidate


You may nominate a candidate by using our online nomination form below. Please note that we no longer use PDF forms for award nominations.

 


Online Form


Click here to access the online nomination form for this award.

 


Previous Winners


2020
Jon Kauffman

Yearbook representative (now retired), Walworth Publishing Company; for his decades-long commitment to high school journalists and their advisers, for his support of the IJEA Fall Conference and the IHSA Journalism Tournament, and for his contributions to the strength of scholastic journalism in Illinois


2019
Dr. Sally Renaud

Executive director, Illinois Journalism Education Association, 2005-2019; professor and chair, Department of Journalism, Eastern Illinois University


2017
Lynn Holley-Bruns

Lecturer of journalism, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; executive director of the IJEA Fall Conference, 2004-2017


2016
Linda Jones

Dean of undergraduate studies, Roosevelt University, and executive director, Scholastic Press Association of Chicago


2015
College of Media and Department of Journalism, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Award accepted by Jan Slater, dean, and Lynn Holley, UIUC journalism faculty member and executive director of the IJEA Fall Conference.


2014
Susie Knoblauch

Journalism tournament administrator, Illinois High School Association


2013
Dann Gire

Film critic, Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)
NOTE: Watch Dann’s acceptance speech here.


2012
Karen Waldron

Administrative aide, School of Journalism, Southern Illinois University Carbondale


2011
George Q. Wilson

Publisher, Harrisburg Daily Register


2010

No award given.


2009
Bruce Dold

Editorial page editor, Chicago Tribune


2008
Dr. W. Manion Rice

Professor emeritus, School of Journalism, Southern Illinois University Carbondale


2007
Richard P. Johns

Executive director (retired), Quill and Scroll Society


2006
Illinois High School Association

Award accepted by Marty Hickman, IHSA executive director, and Susie Knoblauch, IHSA administrator for journalism.


2005
Illinois Press Foundation

Award accepted by Kim Filson, IPF director of education services.


 

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IJEA Friend of Scholastic Journalism Award