Achievement Awards
The GSPA Achievement Awards recognize "behind-the-scenes" work of staffs or individuals. Please submit an entry form for each entry. Entry forms are available now. There is no fee to enter Achievement Award categories, and they are open to all publication types. The deadline for entries is Feb. 1, 2026.
NOMINATIONS FOR AN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS OPEN IN DECEMBER
Achievement Award Descriptions:
Administrator of the Year recognizes an administrator who has demonstrated strong support for the journalism program.
Adviser of the Year recognizes a journalism adviser who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting their staff.
Community Service recognizes a staff that through its forum has initiated significant change within the community.
First-Year Adviser recognizes a new adviser who has demonstrated success and desire in strengthening the program.
Freedom of the Press recognizes a producer(s) of work that demonstrated solid reporting and/or insight, but was censored from student publication. Examples may include persevering through prior review and/or prior restraint.
Perseverance recognizes a staff or member that has overcome significant adversity to put out a quality product or who has overcome many obstacles to report on an important issue. Use of open records or “sunshine” laws is deemed particularly meritorious.
Start-Up recognizes a first-year publication/program that has demonstrated significant quality.
Turnaround recognizes the staff that has significantly changed the quality of its product from the previous year.
Enterprising recognizes a student who achieves success in publishing significant, quality journalistic work outside of school in local, regional or national outlets.