Five people committed to improving scholastic journalism through decades of service have been selected to receive the NSPA Pioneer Award, NSPA’s top honor to individuals. It recognizes substantial contributions to scholastic journalism outside regular job requirements as well as service to NSPA and its programs. The 2010 recipients are:
Linda Barrington, journalism instructor and adviser at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wis., and former newspaper adviser at Wauwatosa East High School in Wisconsin, is active as the Journalism Education Association’s liaison to the National Council of Teachers of English and as co-chair for JEA’s highly successful mentoring program. She also serves on the board of the Kettle Moraine Press Association, speaks at conventions and workshops, and critiques publications for NSPA.
Linda Drake has taught journalism and advised publications at Chase County High School in Cottonwood Falls, Kan., for more than 37 years. She’s twice been president of Kansas Scholastic Press Association and was the 2008 JEA National Yearbook Adviser of the Year. She serves as JEA secretary and has been on NSPA’s board of directors since 2006. Drake is a frequent speaker at conventions and workshops.
Diana Hadley became the executive director of the Indiana High School Press Association in 2006 after two years as its assistant director and 33 years teaching journalism at Mooresville High School, where she advised the newspaper, yearbook and broadcast. She has presented at countless workshops in Indiana and around the nation. She teaches journalism courses at Franklin College in Indiana.
Aaron Manfull advises converged student media at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles, Mo., which includes the newsmagazine, yearbook, podcast and website. He is the chair of JEA’s Digital Media Committee and a frequent instructor on multimedia and online journalism. He also critiques websites for NSPA.
Martha Rothwell retired from teaching journalism and advising at North Iredell High School in Statesville, N.C., in 2007, but she continues to serve journalism educators as a JEA mentor. Rothwell is a past president of North Carolina Scholastic Media Association and is an active board member of the Southern Interscholastic Press Association.
These five individuals will be honored at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Kansas City, Mo., at the adviser luncheon Nov. 13.
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.
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