Awards for Excellence in HS Journalism
Empowering journalism’s future by empowering future journalists.
The Purchase College Awards for Excellence in High School Journalism recognize student journalists who’ve made an impact writing for their high school news publications.
Check back for details about the 2025 contest.
The Awards
Categories
Awards will be given in four categories:
- News
- Features
- Sports
- Arts
Criteria
Stories will be judged on:
- Accepted journalistic practice
- Quality and variety of sourcing
- Writing skill displayed
Submissions
Each submission must consist of:
- Copy of the story as it appeared in print or online
- Resume of the single reporter on the story
- Brief statement (fewer than 500 words) by the journalism advisor attesting to the impact of the story
The Prizes
Reception
Winning students and their advisors will be invited to a celebratory reception at Purchase College to receive awards certificates in person.
Scholarships
Winning students who are admitted and choose to attend Purchase College will receive a $10,000 housing scholarship ($2,500 for four years). Smaller awards will also be given to runners up.
The Guidelines
- The 2024 contest will cover stories written during the 2023–2024 high school academic year.
- Open to high school freshman, sophomores, and juniors.
- Contest submissions limited to one story in each category per school and will be nominated by the school’s journalism advisor.
- Entries must be submitted by June 30, 2024 to be eligible.
- Stories will be judged by Purchase College Journalism professors, with winners and runners-up selected by October 1, 2024.
