• Our 2025 Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest is now open for entries! Advisers, we want to recognize your students' great work! Deadline is March 15.
  • Congratulations to IJEA Executive Director Linda Jones on receiving the national JEA's Lifetime Achievement Award! She will be honored at the 2025 Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.
  • Congratulations to IJEA member Leslie Fireman, journalism adviser at West Chicago High School, on winning the national JEA's Rising Star Award! She was honored at the 2024 Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Philadelphia.
  • Congratulations to IJEA Hall of Fame member Stan Zoller, MJE, on being the inaugural winner of the National JEA's Candace and John Bowen Adviser First Amendment Leadership Award! He was honored at the 2024 Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Philadelphia.
  • It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sarah Doerner, IJEA’s longest-serving president. Sarah died Nov. 29 in Du Quoin at the age of 86. Services were held Dec. 7. See below for our tribute to this great journalism educator.
  • Advisers! Join IJEA today! Annual memberships and lifetime memberships are available. Use our online form or fillable PDF to join!
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 Adviser Service Award

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Honoring Those Who Go the Extra Mile for Scholastic Journalism

Online Nomination Form

Submission Deadline: March 15

Each year, the IJEA seeks to honor active or retired scholastic media educators and advisers for special initiative on behalf of scholastic journalism in Illinois.

Criteria for award recipients include the following:

• The nominee’s membership in IJEA
• The nominee’s initiative and service above and beyond normal classroom or advising duties
• The nominee’s specific benefit to fellow media advisers or scholastic media students in Illinois, but the nominee may also have impact beyond the state

Past recipients of this award and other advisers who are members of IJEA are encouraged to recommend candidates to a representative on the IJEA board. Nominations must be made by an IJEA board member.

 

Annual Deadline: March 15

The award is presented at the annual All-State Journalism luncheon in June, held in Springfield in conjunction with the Illinois Press Foundation; however, it may not be presented every year.

 

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.

 

IJEA Adviser Service Award Winners

2020
Brad Bennewitz

• Galesburg High School (Galesburg, Knox County)
• Brad advised the GHS Budget newspaper at Galesburg High through 2022
• As of 2022-23, Brad advised the GHS Yearbook

2018 (two winners)
Amanda Bright

• Formerly Mattoon High School (Mattoon, Coles County)
• Amanda advised newspaper and yearbook at Mattoon High

Dave Porreca

• Formerly University of Illinois Laboratory High School (Urbana, Champaign County)
• Dave advised print and online newspaper at Uni High

 

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IJEA Adviser Service Award