Thank you for your interest in applying or nominating for a JEA award. This homepage lists all award applications that are currently open. If you don't see the award you're looking for here, that means the application is not currently open. Please visit jea.org/awards to verify relevant dates for the specific award you are interested in.
To submit an award application, you must first create a Submittable account. This is not tied to your JEA member account, although we will verify current membership status for awards that require it. Through your Submittable account you will be able to complete the award submission form in stages and your progress is saved.
All parts of the award submission form must be completed by the award deadline to be eligible. Please visit jea.org/awards for more information. Questions can be directed to staff@jea.org.
The Carl Towley Award is JEA’s highest honor and is presented to a JEA member whose work is unusually beneficial and of superior value to the national JEA and to scholastic journalism.
Learn more about the award on JEA's website.
Nominate an individual for the Carl Towley Award: Include with the nomination form your letter of recommendation explaining your relationship with the nominee. Describe the candidate's effort to support JEA on a national, regional, state and/or local level, when applicable. Include nominee's involvement in local, state, regional or national scholastic journalism organizations and work done to improve scholastic journalism.
Eligibility: The nominator and nominee must both be current JEA members.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
This $1,000 annual award goes to a JEA member whose work has actively supported, defended, and fought for student journalists and their advisers on the local, state or national level.
Learn more about the application on JEA's website.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
Medals of Merit are given to current JEA members who have made significant contributions to scholastic journalism. JEA members are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals. Several awards may be presented each year.
Learn more about entry criteria on JEA's website.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
Rising Star trophies are given to advisers who are in their first five years of advising a media program and have shown great dedication to scholastic journalism and have had success advising at least one media program.
JEA members and beyond are encouraged to nominate deserving individuals. Nominations may come from scholastic press associations, yearbook companies, fellow teachers, students and/or parents.
Learn more about the application on JEA's website.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
The Journalism Education Association sponsors up to two $1,000 scholarships for education majors who intend to teach scholastic journalism. Each recipient must be a college junior, senior or master’s degree student in a program designed to prepare him/her for teaching at the secondary-school level. Current secondary-school journalism teachers who are in a degree program to improve their journalism teaching skills also are eligible.
Each recipient must complete the application and include the following:
- A 250-word essay explaining his/her desire to teach high school journalism.
- The answers to the three questions at the bottom of the application form.
- Two recommendation letters, preferably from those who have firsthand knowledge of his/her work with student journalists, and
College transcript(s) showing academic standing.
This award is given to a professional journalist, professional media outlet or other individual or group making a significant contribution to scholastic journalism. Current JEA members are encouraged to nominate worthy individuals or groups.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
This award is given to administrators who have demonstrated support and dedication to journalism education. Current JEA members are encouraged to nominate worthy administrators. Support of student press rights is of particular value.
The winning administrator is encouraged to present or co-present a session at the Fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention and give a five-minute speech at the adviser awards luncheon. Convention travel and lodging will be paid by JEA. In addition, the school’s journalism program will receive a $1,000 award.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.
DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. CDT Sept. 15
The H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year program is designed to honor outstanding secondary advisers and their exemplary work from the previous year, as well as throughout their careers. The top advisers will be named the H.L. Hall National Yearbook Adviser of the Year, Commended Yearbook Adviser, Distinguished Yearbook Adviser or Special Recognition Yearbook Adviser.
Learn more about Yearbook Adviser of the Year on JEA's website.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a member of the Journalism Education Association to be eligible for this award. The committee seeks those with at least five years’ experience. Advisers with less than five years experience are encouraged to apply for Rising Star Award.
Please review this PDF for details of what is required so you can work on the application in your own time.
The National Yearbook Adviser of the Year competition is underwritten by Balfour Yearbooks, Jostens Inc., Varsity Yearbook and Walsworth Yearbooks.
Note: Once the online application has been submitted, applicants should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact JEA headquarters at staff@jea.org to make sure your application was received.