NSPA announces 2011 Wikoff, Honor Roll scholarship recipients

Contact Kathy Huting, contest and critique coordinator, at kathy@studentpress.org

Adrienne von Schulthess, editor-in-chief of the Urban Legend newspaper at the Urban School of San Francisco, has been selected as the winner of the $1,000 NSPA Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership out of 66 total entrants.

In recognition of his service to the National Scholastic Press Association as its executive director in the 1970s, NSPA has offered the Wally Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership since 1998. Entrants must submit three published editorials and must also possess at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. A recommendation letter from the publication adviser is also required.

Adrienne served in several roles for the Urban Legend, including reporter, opinions editor and editor in chief during her three years on staff. The Wikoff scholarship judge made the following remarks about her entry:

“I was impressed with the level of research and context she used to frame her opinions, and with her ability to localize and personalize issues of national significance. I thought an anecdote her adviser included chronicling how Adrienne rewrote part of a lengthy editorial on deadline was quite telling: Adrienne did a piece on the closing of Guantanamo Bay. Just before press time, Pres. Obama gave an unexpected statement that impacted the column. A lot of things are done and redone on deadline in a newsroom, but generally not opinion columns! She obviously understands her role as a public servant. And she is committed to having a healthy dialogue with her peers about the important issues of the day through her writing.”

Read Adrienne’s editorials here.

Molly Misek, assistant managing editor of The Network newspaper at Marian High School in Omaha, Neb., has been named the winner of the $1,000 NSPA Journalism Honor Roll Scholarship out of 57 entries.

Journalism Honor Roll scholarship applicants must possess a cumulative 3.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and also submit an essay on why they plan to choose a career in journalism. The publication adviser must recommend the applicant.

In a recommendation letter to NSPA, adviser Marsha Kalkowski, MJE, made the following remarks about Molly:

“Molly continues to impress me with her dedication to detail and her desire to make everything she does the absolute best. She is indispensable. She writes well, photographs with an artistic eye and designs like a professional. Molly also motivates her peers and edits with the gentleness of a seasoned editor.”

Read Molly’s scholarship essay here.

Kelsey Reid, editor in chief of The Echo at St. Louis Park High School in St. Louis Park, Minn., and Meghan Morris, co-editor in chief of The Spoke at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pa., were chosen as runners-up in the Journalism Honor Roll scholarship contest. Each will receive a $500 scholarship to the university they plan to attend this fall.

Read Kelsey’s scholarship essay here.

Read Meghan’s scholarship essay here.

All four scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention on Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif.