Lu Flannery Outstanding Journalist Award

This award recognizes one Washington state senior who has made significant contributions to their journalism program.

Arjun Thomas, left, in the blue shirt, celebrates his win with his staff members.

ENTRY CRITERIA

1. Graduating high school senior
2. Applicant has made significant contributions to the school’s student media.
3. 3.0 GPA minimum on a 4.0 scale
4. Adviser is a WJEA member
5. Completed WJEA Outstanding Journalist 2024 Entry Form (fillable PDF)
6. Letter of nomination from the student’s adviser
7. Online portfolio must include:
• Self-evaluation of applicant’s “journalistic life” (max. 500 words)
• Three to seven work samples showing quality and diversity.
8. Additional letters (optional—no more than three additional letters from teachers, journalism staff peers, administrators or others who can speak to the quality of the student’s work)

Preparing your portfolio

1. Your portfolio should be submitted online. You may use any online tool to create and share your portfolio. If you are also applying for WJEA’s Journalist of the Year award, make sure the portfolios are separate and the links to each are clear and submitted separately.

2. Some ideas to help you with the self-evaluation (max 500 words): How do you feel about journalism? How did you get started in journalism? What have you had to go through to achieve success in journalism? What have you contributed to journalism? What are your journalism plans for the future?

3. Samples of work should be carefully selected. Provide judges with a cross-section of your best work. Date, name of publication and description of relevance should be visible near sample.

4. If applicable, work samples should show one or more of the following characteristics. Please group and label samples according to what they represent and why they were chosen:

*Skilled and creative use of media content – writing, production, photography, etc.
*Inquiry and investigative persistence resulting in in-depth study or studies of issues important to the local high school community, high school students in general, or society
*Courageous, responsible handling of controversial issues despite threat or imposition of censorship
*Variety of journalistic experiences handled in a quality manner
*Sustained and commendable work with community media

Award recognition

A panel of local professional journalists and educators evaluate entries.
The scholarship of $2,000 goes to one winner.
The winner will be announced at the spring WJEA Awards Banquet.
The winner’s name will be published in WJEA’s e-newsletter and on the WJEA web site.
The parent(s)/guardian(s), adviser and principal of the recipient will be notified and a press release will be sent to local media.

Previous recipients

2023 Kathryn Shelden, Inglemoor
2022 Alexandria Bunn, Bellaramine Prep
2021 Abigail Sonnichsen, Mead High School & Ellie Sullivan, Hanford High School
2020 Arjun Thomas, Shorewood HS
2019 Greta Forslund, Timberline HS
2018 Tina Dang, Cleveland STEM HS
2017 Ronnie Estoque, Cleveland STEM HS
2016 Paxton Merten, Mountlake Terrace HS
2015 Bryce Newberry, Wenatchee HS
2014 Emma McIntosh, Shorewood HS
2013 Abby Zieve, Roosevelt HS
2012 Olivia Smith, Cleveland HS
2011 Nicole Jennings, Mount Vernon HS
2010 Amelia Furlong, Mount Vernon HS
2009 no applicants
2008 Emily Rome, Charles Wright Academy
2007 Cassandra Kapp, Peninsula HS
2006 Maggie Taylor, Mt. Vernon HS
2005 Katie Weeks, Wapato HS
2004 Julian Sterbick-Myers, Wenatchee HS
2003 Katie Baumgartner, Inglemoor HS