Student Press Freedom Awards

Each year since 1984, the Student Press Law Center presents competitive awards to recognize exceptional efforts of high school and college journalists in fighting for student press freedom and in telling important stories of their communities.

Nominations for both awards are open now through May 31, 2024.

Courage Award

Learn more and apply

Student FOI Award

Learn more and apply

Prior Recipients

View awardees

Courage in Student Journalism Award

Nominations are open now through 11:59 p.m. eastern May 31, 2024.

The Courage in Student Journalism Award recognizes student journalists who have demonstrated exceptional determination and support for student press freedom, despite resistance or difficult circumstances.

It is presented to a student news organization, student journalist or team of journalists who challenge censorship, onerous school policies, retaliatory funding changes or other obstacles to their ability to freely report on the issues that matter to their school community. 

Separate winners may be recognized at both the high school and college levels:

High school: The award comes with a $1,000 prize, sponsored by the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University. It is presented annually by SPLC and the National Scholastic Press Association at the fall National High School Journalism Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization and, if applicable, between multiple winners. View prior recipients.

College: The award comes with a $2,000 prize, sponsored by the Louisiana State University Manship School of Mass Communication in memory of “The Reveille Seven,” a group of LSU student journalists who, in 1934, were expelled for publishing criticism of Louisiana Gov. Huey Long, and later cleared of wrongdoing and vindicated. The award is presented annually by SPLC and the Associated Collegiate Press at the Fall National College Media Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization and, if applicable, between multiple winners. To avoid any potential conflict of interest, the Manship School is not involved in the judging/selection process. View prior recipients.

Courage Nomination Form

Student Freedom of Information Award

Nominations are open now through 11:59 p.m. eastern May 31, 2024.

The Student Freedom of Information Award recognizes a student journalist or team of journalists for outstanding and tenacious use of public records in reporting that promotes transparency and brings important issues to light in their school or community. 

Separate winners may be recognized at both the high school and college levels:

High School: The award comes with a $1,000 prize, sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. It will be presented at the fall National High School Journalism Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization or reporting program and, if applicable, between multiple winners. View prior recipients.

College: The award comes with a $2,000 prize, sponsored by the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida. It will be presented at the Fall National College Media Convention. The cash prize will be split between the student(s) and the student news organization or reporting program and, if applicable, between multiple winners. View prior recipients.

FOI Nomination Form

Are you a student journalist wanting to learn how to use public records in your own reporting in hopes of applying for this award? Review SPLC’s public records resources (including our FOI explainer and a tool that will generate the records request letter for you), find additional resources at Brechner and contact the SPLC Legal Hotline if you have any questions.

Prior Award Recipients

Courage in Student Journalism Award (High School)

2023 (Press Release, 11/4/2023)

  • Valeria Luquin, Nathalie Miranda, Delilah Brumer and Gabrielle Lashley and adviser Adriana Chavira, The Pearl Post, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, Lake Balboa, California.
  • Marcus Pennell, Viking Saga, Northwest High School, Grand Island, Nebraska.

2022 (Press Release, Video, 11/12/2022)

  • Nordic News, Inglemoor High School in Kenmore, Washington. Mireya Avalos, Kellen Hoard and Tammi Tran.
  • Sara Ward and The Greyhound, Lyman High School, Longwood, Florida (presented as the “Student Press Freedom Award”).

2021 (Press Release, 12/03/2021)

  • The RedEye, duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, Journalism and Communication Magnet Program.

2020 (Press release, 11/19/2020)

  • BluePrints magazine, Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia. Stephany Gaona-Perez, Brittany Lopez, and Jacqueline Wright.

2019 (Press Release, 11/23/2019)

  • The BHS Register, Burlington (Vermont) High School. Julia Shannon-Grillo and Jenna Peterson, co-editors-in-chief.

2018 (Press Release, Video, 11/3/2018)

  • Conor Spahr and Max Gordon, The Telegram, Herriman, Utah.

2017 (Press Release, Video, 11/16/2017)

  • Sumaita Hasan and Mehrose Ahmad, The Classic, Townsend Harris High School,  Flushing, N.Y. Adviser Brian Sweeney.
  • No administrator award given

2015 (Press Release, 11/6/2015)

  • Kelly Ho, Thomas Wang, Sydney Trieu, Rebecca Lei and Simon Yung, The Matador, San Gabriel High School, Pasadena, Calif.
  • No administrator award given

2014 (Press Release, 11/14/2014)

  • Tanvi Kumar, Cardinal Columns, Fond du Lac (Wis.) High School, and Gillian McGoldrick and Reed Hennessy, The Playwickian, Neshaminy High School, Langhorne, Pa.
  • No administrator award given

2013 (Press Release, 11/14/2013)

  • Staff of MavLife, La Costa Canyon High School, Carlsbad, Calif.
  • No administrator award given

2012 (Press Release, 9/18/2012)

  • Zoe Schaver, Patrick Hartel, Emily McConville, Kelsey McKim, Dakota Sherek and Virginia Johnson, The Red Pen, duPont Manual High School High School, Louisville, Ky.
  • James Yoakley, Lenoir City (Tenn.)  High School.
  • No administrator award given

2011 (Press Release, 10/13/2011)

  • Lori Shafer and Jaclyn Gutierrez, The Overland Scout, Overland High School, Aurora, Colo.
  • No administrator award given

2010 (Press Release, 10/06/2010)

  • Vaughn Hillyard and Sophia Curran, The Challenge, Thunderbird High School, Glendale, Ariz.
  • William C. (“Kit”) Moran, principal, Dexter (Mich.) High School.

2009 (Press Release, Video, 11/05/2009)

  • Seth Zweifler and Henry Rome, The Spoke, Conestoga (Pa.) High School.
  • Barb Thill, former adviser, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Ill.

2008 (Press Release, 11/12/2008)

  • Jaishri Shankar and Rachel Wagner, The Rockville High School Rampage, Rockville (Md.) High School.
  • Peter Daddone, adviser, Rockville (Md.) High School.
  • Debra Munk, principal, Rockville (Md.) High School.

2007 (Press Release, 11/5/2007)

  • Eric Sheforgen, The Crier, St. Francis (Minn.) High School.
  • Amy Sorrell, Woodlan (Ind.) High School.

2006 (Press Release, 11/13/2006)

  • Claire Lueneburg and Sara Eccleston, KODAK, Everett (Wash.) High School.
  • David Clark, principal, Columbus (Ind.) North High School.

2005 (Press Release, 11/4/2005)

  • Whitney Basil, Eric Gentry, Zach Kroh and Jeremy Willis, Eagle Eye, DeSoto (Texas) High School.
  • Carol Richtsmeier, adviser, DeSoto (Texas) High School.

2004 (Press Release, 11/22/2004)

  • Darcie Draudt, Tim Yaczo, Kendra Oyer and Vasanth Ananth, The Wooster Blade, Wooster (Ohio) High School.
  • No administrator award given

2003 (Press Release, 11/24/2003)

  • Katherine Dean, The Arrow, Utica (Mich.) High School.
  • No administrator award given

2002 (Press Release, 10/15/2002)

  • Holly Ballard, Prospective, Bryant High School, Alexander, Ark.
  • Dr. Julie Leeth, principal, Hillcrest High School, Springfield, Mo.

2001 (Press Release, 11/9/2001)

  • Beth Covington, Thomas Silvers, Erin Grantier and Rachel Johnson, The Chatterbox, George Washington High School, Danville, Va.
  • Thomas Wachnicki, principal, Avon (Ind.) High School.

2000 (Press Release)

  • Marina Hennessy, Avon High School, Avon, Ind.
  • Henry L. Caudle, principal of Davenport Central High School, Davenport, Iowa

1999 (Press Release)

  • Brady Ward and Mario Weber of Coral Gables Senior High School, and Isabel Eisner, Joey Ruiz and Katie Townsend of Miami Palmetto Senior High School

1998 (Press Release)

  • Dan Vagasky, Bulldog Express, Otsego Middle School
  • Phillip Gainous, principal of Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Maryland

Reveille Seven Courage in Student Journalism Award (College)

Previously called the “Reveille Seven College Press Freedom Award” prior to 2022.

2023 (Press Release, 10/30/2023)

  • Nicole Markus, Alyce Brown, Cole Reynolds and Divya Bhardwaj, The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University.
  • Finalist: Kloe Witt, The Maroon, Loyola University.

2022 (Press Release, Video, 10/28/22)

  • Cate Charron, Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University.
  • The Battalion, Texas A&M University, former editor-in-chief Myranda Campanella and former adviser Doug Pils (presented as the Student Press Freedom Award”).

2021 (News Release 10/18/21)

  • The Rocky Mountain Collegian, Colorado State University.

2020 (News Release 10/22/2020)

  • The Linfield Review, Linfield University, Oregon.

2019 (News release, 11/2/2019)

  • The Lantern, The Ohio State University, Columbus.

2018 (Press Release, 10/27/2018)

  • The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, Calif. Here’s a May 2019 story about adviser Max Branscomb.

2017 (Press Release, Video, 10/26/2017)

  • 2016-17 Editor-in-Chief Marjorie Kirk, 2017-18 Editor-in-Chief Paidin Dermody and the staff of the Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Chris Poore, adviser.

2016 (Press Release, 10/24/2016)

  • The editors and staff of Knight News at the University of Central Florida, Orlando. This marks the first time the award was presented to an online-only publication.

2015 (Press Release, 11/1/2015)

  • Jacob Buckland and the staff of The Columns, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, W. Va.

2013 (Press Release, 10/23/2013)

  • Mazie Bryant, Abbey Crain and Matt Ford, The Crimson White, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

2012 (Press Release, Video, 9/12/2012)

  • The Daily Helmsman staff and Editor-in-Chief Chelsea Boozer, University of Memphis.

2011 (Press Release, 9/29/2011)

  • The Sun, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, Calif.

2010 (Press Release, 10/06/2010)

  • Northwest Trail, Northwest College, Powell, Wyo.

2009 (Press Release, 9/28/2009)

  • Jonathan Anderson, UWM Post, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

2008 (Press Release, 10/17/2008)

  • The Montclarion, Montclair (N.J.) State University

2007 (Press Release, 10/30/2007)

  • Darryl D. Smith, The Gramblinite, Grambling (La.) State University.

2006 (Press Release, 10/31/2006)

  • Viking News, Ocean County College, Toms River, N.J.

2005 (News Brief)

  • Katie Lane and Sarah Rice, The Collegian, Kansas State University, Manhattan.

2004 (Press Release, 11/4/2004)

  • The Script, Hampton (Va.) University.

2003 (Press Release, 11/10/2003)

  • The Independent Florida Alligator, University of Florida, Gainesville.

2002

  • No award presented

2001

  • Capri Coffer, editor, The Thorobred, Kentucky State University, Frankfort.

Student Freedom of Information Award (High School)

2023 (Press Release, 11/4/2023)

  • Riya Vyas, The Union, Milpitas (Calif.) High School.
  • Finalist: Alexandra Cohen and Caitlin Kuhlmann, The Globe, Clayton High School.
  • Finalist: Talvin Dhingra and adviser Sara Barber-Just, The Graphic, Amherst (Mass.) Regional High School.

Student Freedom of Information Award (College)

2023 (Press Release, 10/30/2023)

  • The Citizen, Laney College.
  • Finalist: Alicia Rivero, Camila Gonzalez, Liliana Anguiano, Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College.
  • Finalist: Jessica Langer, The Lantern, The Ohio State University.
  • Finalist: Elissa Maudlin, Ball State Daily News, Ball State University.

Scholastic Press Freedom Award (High School and College, 1984-2000)

2000

  • Muleskinner, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg.
  • Nick Edwards, Stinger, Adolfo Camarillo (Calif.) High School.

1999

  • Lee Davidson, The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn (Ala.) University.

1998

  • Ben Powers, The Central Voice (independent publication), Central High School, Phoenix.

1997

  • The Miami Student, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio

1996

  • Michele Ames, Minnesota Daily, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
  • Jaguar Journal, Blue Springs (Mo.) South High School.

1995

  • Stacey Burns, Hawkeye, Mountlake Terrace (Wash.) High School.

1994

  • Daily Bruin, University of California at Los Angeles.

1993

  • Lion’s Roar, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond.

1992

  • The Red & Black, University of Georgia, Athens.
  • Jana Studelska, Northern Student, Bemidji (Minn.) State University.
  • Hi-Spots, Tigard High School, Tigard, Ore.

1991

  • The Kirkwood Call, Kirkwood (Mo.) High School, Kirkwood, Mo.

1990

  • Traci Bauer, Southwest Standard, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield.

1989

  • Sean McNamara, Duquesne University, Duquesne Duke, Pittsburgh.

1988

  • The Epitaph, Homestead High School, Cupertino, Calif.

1987

  • David Arnett, Horizon, Tulsa (Okla.) Junior College.

1986

  • Manny Sferios, Not for Profit (independent publication), St. Petersburg (Fla.) High School.

1985

  • Adam Truitt, The Lumberjack, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif.

1984

  • Cathy Kuhlmeier, Leslie Smart, Leanne Tippett, Hazelwood Spectrum, Hazelwood (Mo.) East High School.