Main Line Student Named PA Student Journalist Of The Year

The managing editor of a Main Line high school's award winning monthly newspaper was recently named the 2018 Student Journalist of the Year by the Pennsylvania School Press Association.

Conestoga High School Senior Ian Ong earned the Pennsylvania Student Journalist of the Year award, which was named for Dr. Jane Blystone in 2011 and includes a $500 scholarship, the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District said.

Ong has been on the Spoke's staff since 2014.

Being the Pennsylvania scholarship winner, Ong moved onto the National JEA SJOY competition along with 36 other state winners, this past weekend at the National High School Journalism Convention in San Francisco, California.

Ong was named a national runner-up and received an $850 Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht Scholarship.

"Being on the school newspaper has really paid off in a lot of ways," Ong said. "It’s allowed me to become more conscious of the community and it has also allowed me to develop my voice in writing. Receiving this honor means a lot to me because it’s the culmination of the four years of journalistic work I’ve completed at The Spoke."

In addition to his recognition by PSPA, Ong was honored at the Pennsylvania News Media Association Student Keystone Press Awards in March.

He received first place for his columns, first place for layout and design and second place for his cartoon/graphic illustrations. His design work helped The Spoke win second place in Best of Show at the National Scholastic Press Association/Journalism Education Association convention in Dallas last fall.

Additionally, Ong received recognition from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for alternate story form, combining narrative with data to tell the story of how much the school and students pay for their education.

The mission of the Pennsylvania School Press Association is to promote excellence and responsibility in scholastic journalism through developing students who possess sound journalism skills, demonstrate ethical decision making and recognize, uphold and advocate

First Amendment rights through responsible citizenship and informed media consumption

Congratulations and good luck, Ian Ong!

Image via Conestoga High School