The Pioneer Award is NSPA’s top honor to individuals. It recognizes substantial contributions to scholastic journalism outside regular job requirements. Seven people committee to improving scholastic journalism have been selected as NSPA Pioneer Award recipients for 2008. They are:
James Crook, Ph.D., a professor emeritus and former director of the University of Tennessee School of Journalism and Electronic Media, had a long career promoting scholastic journalism through workshops, texts and teaching. He has been active in the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and was its 2008 Honors Lecturer.
Beth Fitts retired from Oxford (Miss.) High School in 2006 but has remained active as a speaker and presenter at conventions and workshops around the country and as a judge in NSPA’s critique service. She was named National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2003 and continues to serve as director of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association.
Kathleen Hansen is director of the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota, which serves as the outreach arm of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Hansen is a former member of the NSPA Board of Directors and remains active in assisting with NSPA activities in Minnesota and across the country.
Sarah Nichols advises the Details yearbook and The Roar newspaper at Whitney High School in Rocklin, Calif. She is the president of the Journalism Education Association of Northern California and the author of the 2008 revision of the NSPA Yearbook Guidebook. She is an active judge for NSPA critiques and a frequent workshop and convention speaker.
Kathy Schrier is past president of the Washington Journalism Education Association based in Seattle. Although not a regular classroom teacher and adviser, she has guided WJEA programs, including Journalism Day at the University of Washington and efforts to pass free student press legislation. She now serves as WJEA executive director.
Alan Weintraut advises The A-Blast newspaper at Annandale (Va.) High School, where he also teaches media. A popular speaker at summer workshops and state and national conventions, Weintraut is a current member of the NSPA Board of Directors and was the 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year.
Sandy Woodcock is the director of the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, based in Arlington, Va. Her work for the NAA Foundation has led to additional funding for adviser outreach and an update to landmark research about journalism education. She is also a frequent speaker and presenter at state, regional and national conventions and workshops.
These seven individuals will be honored at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in St. Louis at the adviser luncheon Nov. 15.
NSPA maintains a composite plaque of Pioneers and displays it at the JEA/NSPA national conventions. Candidates are nominated and selected by previous Pioneer Award winners.