Lawrence High School’s Maya Smith receives Kansas Student Journalist of the Year Award – Lawrence Times

Lawrence High School senior Maya Smith was named the state’s top student journalist Wednesday by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.

Friends, co-workers, family and school district staff applauded in amazement as Smith slowly descended the red steps of the school’s atrium. KSPA Executive Director Eric Thomas met Smith near the bottom of the stairs to present the award.

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“We’re here today to celebrate Maya,” Thomas said. “Her portfolio not only earned her 5A/6A Student Journalist of the Year award, but also named her the top student journalist in the entire state.”

The prize comes with a $1,250 scholarship check. The contest is open to third-year high school students. Thomas told the crowd that three judges judged the submissions.

Each applicant must submit a digital portfolio, a photo of themselves working in the field, a high school transcript showing an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal essay. I needed to.

Smith is co-editor-in-chief of the Red and Black Yearbook and has been on staff for three years. According to her staff bio, she does photography, writing, design, and covers live events.

Mr Thomas said the judges found Mr Smith’s work to be “an excellent portfolio of material from start to finish” and a “really strong image from a well-rounded journalist”. Thomas described Smith as a “truly dedicated journalist who provides great, tangible work to our schools and communities.”

Mabel Hamlin, a senior and co-editor of the yearbook, said Smith works hard without missing a day.

“Whether it’s stories, designs or photography assignments, she really values ​​these publications,” Hamlin said. “She has worked with so many great people and past editors at LHS, and she has absorbed everything she can from them in order to succeed for herself and our publications.” I think I did.”

Smith plans to major in journalism, possibly at KU, after high school, but said after the announcement that reality had not yet fully sunk in.

“I spent so much time on that portfolio that I thought I would see results in about a month, but I didn’t expect that today,” Smith said. “It’s just an honor. There’s no other word.”

Her portfolio will be competed at the national level at the Journalism Education Association/National Scholastic Press Association Spring National High School Journalism Competition in Kansas City in April.

Smith’s parents, Jerilyn Smith and Mike Smith, watched the festivities along with Maya’s grandparents, Linda Gilbert and Gary Gilbert. Jerilyn said Maya was always creative, artistic and an impressive writer.

“I think she’ll probably continue to amaze us,” Jerilyn said.

Mike said he was very proud of his daughter.

“When I first read that she wrote for The Budget, I was shocked,” Mike said of the school’s newspaper. “She was professional. She was very impressed.”

Barbara Thoren, Smith’s journalism advisor, said the challenge in winning the Kansas Student Journalist of the Year award is the vast amount of experience applicants must demonstrate.

Being a good reporter isn’t enough, Thoren says. Applicants must be excellent at everything, and Ms. Smith is one of those rare students. Thoren described her as a “very hard-working and talented” leader.

“I know she’s going to go on to do great things,” Toren said. “And this was one of those fun days that she’s sure will have many good days for her as a journalist.”

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Mr. Smith is the second Chesty Lion to receive this honor in recent years. Kyler Dunn, an LHS graduate and current Lawrence Times contributor, received the award in his 2022 class.

“It’s so fun to see their efforts recognized,” Toren said.

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Equity reporter Tricia Masenthin (she/her) can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more about her work at the Times here. Check out her staff profile here.

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