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SPJ Members
– Members Home
– Edit Profile
– Renew Membership
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– Join SPJ
– Why Join?
Tip: Press the ESC key to instantly call up a feed containing all the newest SPJ news and updates to our social channels.
For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press.
We invite you to join us today!
– Join Online
– Benefits of an SPJ Membership
– Membership Fees
1. Join online
2. Download a form and join by mail or fax [PDF]
3. Request an application by mail
Membership expired? Renew in minutes today.
– How SPJ Works for You
– Discounted Services for Members
– Testimonials: Why I'm a Member
– Three Reasons to Join: Education, Support, Advocacy
– Membership Fees
– Join Now!
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The work of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation depends on time, talent and financial support from those who support excellence and ethics in journalism. Our online giving process will only take a few moments. Please visit our donation page to support SPJ and the SDX Foundation.
Since its founding in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism. The SDX Foundation is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization that supports the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and serves the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.
– Home
– Board of Directors
– Donors Circle
– Give Monthly
– Planned Giving
– Memorial & Tribute Gifts
– Signature Programs
– Grants Information
– Documentation
Excellence in Journalism is the national journalism conference of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Join us in September in Nashville for training, networking, workshops and more!
– 2014 Recap
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– Sat, Feb 28, 2015: High School Essay Contest Postmark Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Sunshine Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Historic Sites in Journalism Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award Application Deadline [Awards] [Convention]
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– Fri, Mar 20, 2015: Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award Nomination Deadline [SPJ Awards]
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– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Julie Galvan Outstanding Campus Member Award Nomination Deadline [Awards]
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– Fri, Apr 17, 2015: Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Fri, Apr 24, 2015: 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards Winners Announcement [SPJ Awards]
– Mon, Jun 22, 2015: Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award Application Deadline [Awards]
– Mon, Jun 22, 2015: Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing Application Deadline [Awards] [Fellowships]
– Fri, Jun 26, 2015: 2014 Sigma Delta Chi Awards Banquet [SPJ Awards]
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Home > Awards > High School Essay Contest
Awards
2015 High School Essay Contest
Topic: Why is it important for journalists to seek the news and report it?
Postmark deadline: February 28, 2015
Nominations accepted beginning November 5, 2014
2014 Contest Winners
First Place National Essay Winner
($1,000 scholarship)
Tianyu Lin of Milton Academy in Milton, Mass.
Read essay [PDF]
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Phoebe Fox of La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls in Honolulu, Hawaii
Read essay [PDF]
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Jacob Bloch of Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, N.Y.
Read essay [PDF]
Resources for scholastic journalists and educators
JEA Digital Media Resources
Multimedia Tools
Guide to Broadcast/Video
Guide to Moving Online
Previous honorees
2013 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Courtney Swafford of Write from the Heart in Wilmington, Del.
Read essay [PDF]
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Anran Yu of Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Ariz.
Read essay [PDF]
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Chuli Zeng of Woodbridge High School in Irvine, Calif.
Read essay [PDF]
2012 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Hwasung (Daniel) Yoo of Maggie L. Walker Governor's School for Government and International Studies in Richmond, Va.
Read essay [PDF]
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Niisackey Mills of South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield, N.J.
Read essay [PDF]
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Dustin Chandler of East Burke High School in Connellys Springs, N.C.
Read essay [PDF]
2011 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Emerson Hardebeck of Timberline High School in Lacey, Wash.
Read essay [PDF, 139 KB]
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Shaun Moran of St. Augustine Prep School in Richland, N.J.
Read essay [PDF, 78 KB]
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Chris Papas of Oakton High School in Vienna, Va. Read essay [PDF, 74 KB]
2010 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Erin McDonough of Bishop OConnell High School in Arlington, Va.
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Shaj Mathew of Huntingtown High School in Huntingtown, Md.
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Xiaonan April Hu of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va.
2009 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Alix Cohen of Cypress Bay High School, Weston, Fla.
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Victor Hollenberg of Staples High School, Westport, Conn.
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Alyssa Patrick of Eisenhower High School, Yakima, Wash.
2008 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Mark Brouch, Aurora Central Catholic High School, Aurora, Ill.
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Evan Rich, Jericho High School, Jericho, N.Y.
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Danna Seligman, Newbury Park High School, Newbury Park, Ca.
2007 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): David Kelly, Broomfield High School, Broomfield, Colo.
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Dan Garon, Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, Plymouth, Minn.
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Erin Gowdy, Bob Jones High School, Madison, Ala.
2006 Contest Winners
Read Press Release
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship): Angelika Zych, Vanguard High School, in Ocala, Fla.
Second Place, $500 Scholarship Winner: Jonathan Homrighausen of Sunnyside High School in Sunnyside, Wash.
Third Place, $300 Scholarship Winner: Amy Brooks of Clayton High School in Clayton, Mo.
2005 Contest Winners
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship winner) : Mindy Zhang, Robinson Secondary School, Fairfax, Va.
Second Place ($500 scholarship winner): Zachory John Drisko, Green Hope High School, Cary, N.C.
Third Place ($300 scholarship winner): Katie Roberts, Home schooled, Walnut Shade, Mo.
2004 Contest Winners
First Place National Essay Winner ($1,000 scholarship winner): Heather Hamilton, Sentinel High School, Missoula, Mont.
Second Place ($500 scholarship winner): Logan Oyler, Hickory High School, Chesapeake, Va.
Third Place ($300 scholarship winner): Joey Muffler, Bishop Ireton High School Alexandria, VA
2002 National First Place Winner
Jonathan Ross Kaplan, Nova High School, Davie, Fla.
2000 National First Place Winner
Katie Pennock, West Henderson High School, Hendersonville, NC
1999 National First Place Winner
Darcy Colson Baxter, Lansing Central High School (near Ithaca, N.Y.)
1998 National First Place Winner
Michael Anthony Fedele III, Northwestern High School, Rock Hill, S.C.
The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association want to increase high school students knowledge and understanding of the importance of independent media to our lives. National winners of this essay contest receive scholarship awards.
Award recognition
First Place: $1,000 scholarship
Second Place: $500 scholarship
Third Place: $300 scholarship
Entry Deadline
All entries should be postmarked by February 28, 2015.
Complete Official Rules and How to Enter
For official contest rules and information on how to enter this years High School Essay Contest, please visit this link.