Two Local Student Journalists Honored

Two Conestoga High School journalists are being honored by the Pennsylvania School Press Association for their work on the student newspaper The Spoke.

It's the third time in four years that a Conestoga student has been named Student Journalist of the Year by the group.

Laura Weiss, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Spoke has been named student journalist of the year. Spoke News Editor K.C. McConnell came in second for the award.

Here are the details included in press release on Paschoolpress.org.

Laura Weiss, co-editor-in-chief of The Spoke student newspaper in Berwyn, was selected based on the following criteria: skilled and creative use of media, inquiring mind and investigative persistence, courageous and responsible handling of sensitive issues, variety of journalistic experience and sustained and commendable work with community media.

Weiss, a senior, received the Jane Blystone Scholarship Award of $500 and admission to a state summer journalism workshop.

“Laura’s work at Conestoga, with PSPA, and with the wider community shows her to be a can-do-everything journalist. By example, she leads Pennsylvania journalism into the future,” PSPA president Robert Hankes said.

Weiss has been a member of the Spoke for four years, rising up the ranks from reporter, to section editor to co-editor-in-chief. She is a strong proponent of scholastic journalism. Weiss served this year as the head of the PSPA student board. On the national level, Weiss is active in the Journalism Education Association’s Student Partners. Student Partners consists of a select group of student journalists whose mission is to help students connect with their peers to support, protect and spread awareness about the First Amendment.

Weiss now moves on to the national level. Her work will be judged at the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association’s convention in Seattle this spring. The winner receives a $5,000 scholarship.

K.C. McConnell, news editor of The Spoke, received second place and $300. Madeleine O’Neill, editor-in-chief of the Lancer Ledger at General McLane High school in Edinboro, received third place and $200.