Journalism Educator of the Year
Call for entries
Minnesota High School Press Association is pleased to offer the opportunity to recognize the contributions and excellence of a Minnesota Journalism educator. Any student, colleague, parent or community member may nominate a journalism educator by completing the application and sending the support material. An educator may also self-nominate.
A nominee must be a journalism educator at the high school or middle school level in Minnesota during the 2022-23 school year. Teachers/advisers from all media are eligible — newspaper, online, magazine, yearbook or broadcast.
Support material
The nomination packet should include a résumé/vita and one to five letters of support from the nominators.
The nominator should email the complete packet to Gary Lundgren, gary@studentpress.org, on or before the Feb. 3, 2023, deadline.
A panel of journalists and educators will select the recipient. The announcement will be made in May. In addition to a plaque proclaiming the educator’s achievements and recognition of excellence in journalism education, the winner will be recognized at the 2023 Minnesota State Journalism Convention.
Nominations should highlight the candidate’s success in these areas:
- Teaching/advising experience and ability
- Background and training as a journalism educator; personal development
- Promoting a student-centered classroom
- Relationships with students, parents, administrators and community stakeholders
- Contributions to the profession
- Commitment to fostering an appreciation for journalism in society and careers in media
- Support of the First Amendment

Past winners
of Journalism Educator
of the Year
2018
Rachel Steil
Stillwater Area High School
2016
Anna Reid
The Blake School
2015
Kathryn Campbell
St. Paul Academy and Summit School
2014
Martha Rush
Mounds View High School
2013
Jason Wallstad
Benilde-St. Margaret’s School
2011
Ryan McCallum
Buffalo High School
2010
Lori Keekley
St. Louis Park High School
2009
Nick Fornicoia
Eastview High School, Apple Valley
2008
Laurie Hansen
Stillwater Area High School