Awards & Scholarships
For Students:
- FSPA Foundation Scholarship – Online Deadline: Feb. 15, 2013 (deadline has passed)
Twelve $150 scholarships are awarded to need-based students to enable them to attend the state convention for the first time. Students must submit a letter of nomination from an adviser, an essay not to exceed 250 words and provide their latest weighted GPA. Students selected for awards will be notified by March 1.
- Emerging Young Journalist – Online Deadline: March 1, 2013 (deadline has passed, finalists announced April 1 )
FSPA and the Tampa Bay Times Fund are proud to announce the Emerging Young Journalist Award for freshmen and sophomores who show promise in journalism. The award is open to freshman and sophomore students in FSPA member programs whose work demonstrates a bright future in scholastic and, perhaps, professional journalism.
- Todd C. Smith Student Journalist of the Year – Deadline: March 1, 2013 (deadline has passed)
Outstanding senior staff members may submit a portfolio for consideration for this award.
UPDATE FOR 2013: The JEA has revised its portfolio process for national Student Journalist of the Year. Since our state winner advances to the national competition (we’ve had three straight national finalists), our criteria is changing as well.
Portfolios must be received by the judging coordinator by March 1, so please let your outstanding seniors know about this opportunity.
The FSPA Student Journalist of the Year was established to recognize the exceptional contributions of student journalists in Florida high schools. To be eligible, a senior submits a portfolio of work that is reviewed and evaluated by Florida media professionals and journalism educators. The winner becomes FSPA’s entry in the Journalism Education Association’s National Student Journalist of the Year competition.
In 2002, the award was named in honor of Todd Carper Smith. Smith participated in FSPA in high school and after college wrote for the Tallahassee Democrat, St. Petersburg Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Tampa Tribune. He was killed by Shining Path guerrillas while working on a story in Peru. While his tragic death ended his own journalistic pursuit of truth, it continues to inspire others.
For Advisers & Administrators:
- Administrator of the Year Award – Online Deadline: March 1, 2013 (go to entry form)
The FSPA is pleased to offer this new recognition for outstanding school administrators. The FSPA seeks to recognize school administrators at all levels for their support and nurturing of scholastic journalism with its Administrator of the Year Award. Multiple awards may be made at the discretion of the awards committee, and nominee information will be kept on file for up to two years and can be reconsidered during that period.
Julie E. Dodd Scholarship – Online Deadline: April 1, 2013 (go to entry form)
This award was started in 2001 to honor Dr. Julie Dodd, FSPA’s longest serving Executive Director of FSPA. Dr. Dodd was the FSPA Executive Director from 1989 – 2000. She continues to be very supportive and involved in scholastic journalism at the national and state levels. This $500 scholarship is to be awarded to an adviser to attend a summer workshop or journalism training of some kind.
- Webb-Stapler Scholarship – Online Deadline: April 1, 2013 (go to entry form)
Named after former FSPA Executive Directors John Webb and Harry Stapler, this scholarship is awarded to advisers to support their training and improve scholastic journalism in Florida.
- Morty Schaap Journalism Teacher of the Year – Postmark Deadline: February 15, 2013
The Morty Schaap Journalism Teacher of the Year was established to recognize outstanding FSPA advisers. At the fall workshops, the seven districts select an adviser to be the district’s nominee. Each district nominee then submits a portfolio and letters of recommendation. The overall winner is selected by the adult members of the executive board and by representatives of Florida college and university mass communications programs. The award is named for Morty Schaap, a former newspaper adviser and FSPA president. The state winner becomes FSPA’s nominee for the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund’s National Journalism Teacher of the Year Award.
- Gold Medallion – Coordinator: Jill Maassen
Individuals who have made outstanding contributions to high school journalism in Florida for a minimum of five years may be nominated for FSPA’s highest award. The first Gold Medallion was presented at the 1979 convention to Allen Neuharth, who was the president of Gannett Florida at the time. The award was designed to honor journalism professionals who started their careers in high school journalism. Later the award criteria was changed to recognize individuals who made significant contributions to scholastic journalism and, in particular, FSPA.
- Silver, Gold and Platinum Keys
Advisers who have been FSPA members for five, ten and twenty years are awarded keys. Advisers should check the appropriate information on their convention registration form to receive a key at convention.
Five years – Silver Key
Ten years – Gold Key
Twenty years – Platinum Key - Lifetime Achievement
Advisers and others who have made significant contributions to scholastic journalism may, upon retirement, be selected for this award.
