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JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship

Offered by Journalism Education Association (JEA) · Free to apply

The Journalism Education Association's Journalist of the Year competition, which awards the Sister Rita Jeanne Abicht Scholarships, recognizes the top high school journalists in the country. It is open to high school seniors who work on student media such as newspapers, yearbooks, broadcast or online news. Students first enter their state's Journalist of the Year contest, run by the JEA state director, by the state deadline. Each state winner then completes a national application with a transcript or counselor statement, three letters of recommendation, a resume, a personal narrative about their journalism, and a link to an online portfolio. The national winner receives a $4,000 scholarship and up to five finalists receive $1,200 each, paid to the student's college. National winners are announced at the spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention. State winning portfolios are due to JEA by March 15, 2027.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

Estimated odds
roughly 1 in 333 applicants
Modelled applicant field
~2,000 students
Awards each cycle
6
Payoff per hour of work
$0 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

  • More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
  • Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
  • Fewer rivalsRecommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip
  • Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
  • Fewer rivalsRestricted to specific intended majors
  • Fewer rivalsOpen to a single grade level only

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

  • Open to high school seniors
  • Planning to study the Humanities
Confirm these before applying
  • Must win your state's Journalist of the Year contest first
  • Must be a high school senior

Personalized matching

Does your student actually qualify?

Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

Match my student to scholarships

What the application takes

  • Essay required.
  • 3 letters of recommendation. Ask teachers or counselors early; good letters take time.
  • Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is March 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM CDT. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 15 each year. State deadlines come first and vary; check with your JEA state director this fall.

State contest deadline (varies by state)
March 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM CDT
State winners' national portfolios due
March 15, 2027
National winners announced at JEA/NSPA convention
Spring 2027
Remind me before March 15Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship

How much is the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship worth?

The JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship awards $1,200 to $4,000. 6 awards are made each cycle.

When is the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is March 15, 2027 at 11:59 PM CDT. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 15 each year. State deadlines come first and vary; check with your JEA state director this fall.

Who is eligible for the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship?

Key requirements: Open to high school seniors; Planning to study the Humanities.

Does the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship require an essay?

Yes. The application requires an essay, 3 recommendations, and a transcript. Expect to spend about 25 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 333 applicants, against a modelled field of ~2,000 students. The pool stays that size because an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and recommendation letters are required, a step many applicants skip. At 25 hrs of work, that is about $0 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The JEA High School Journalist of the Year Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

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Lists this award appears on

Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.