Spring Awards Special Edition ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
GSPA

Spring Awards Special Edition

Nearly 300 high school journalists and teachers from around the state heard about the power of storytelling during the Georgia Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Awards ceremony, which was held on March 18 at the University of Georgia’s Center for Continuing Education.

“People may not remember the title of your story, they may not remember your headline or exactly what you said in a post or a podcast, but they will remember how it made them feel. And it's those feelings that inspire change,” said keynote speaker Lauren Patrick, a journalist and head of marketing at Infinite Giving.

“Whatever story calls you to tell it, explore it,” Patrick added. “When you get that lightning bolt in your brain or that jab in your heart, get to your phone, get to a notepad, get it on paper, because you have no idea how that story might shift your world.”

Patrick acknowledged the many challenges young journalists have encountered.

“Your generation has been through unprecedented times with everything you're up against, from the pandemic, technology, global socioeconomic change,” she said. “But I believe in y’all, and I cannot wait to see where your story goes from here.”

Patrick is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. While a student, she worked as a GSPA student assistant and attended the Summer Media Academy program. Watch the full speech here. Photos from the event are available here.

Peter Atchley named Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year

Peter Atchley, managing editor for ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, was selected as the 2026 Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year. The award recognizes the top high school senior journalist in the state. Atchley advances to represent the state in the Journalism Education Association’s National Journalist of the Year Competition.

Brennan Fritts, editor-in-chief at Midtown High School’s The Southerner, was the runner-up in the competition.

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Adam Throne honored as Adviser of the Year

Adam Throne, adviser of the Oracle news website and the Echo literary magazine at North Springs High School, was honored as GSPA’s 2026 Adviser of the Year during the Spring Awards ceremony. The award recognizes a journalism teacher who goes beyond the “call of duty” in supporting their staff.

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Spring award winners announced

Spring General Excellence and Individual Awards results in Broadcasts, Newspapers, Newsmagazines and News Websites were announced on March 18. A video presentation is available here. A pdf version of award winners is also available here.

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Achievement Award winners revealed

GSPA honored outstanding individuals and student publications during the Spring Awards ceremony. Recognitions included the Community Service Award, the First-Year Adviser Award, the Turnaround Award and Adviser of the Year.

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Behavioral Health Journalism Excellence Competition winner celebrated

Siddarth Suresh from Beacon at Innovation Academy has been selected as the first place winner in the Behavioral Health Journalism Excellence Competition. The competition recognizes middle school or high school journalists in Georgia who excel in reporting on behavioral health issues, with a focus on increasing awareness and competency, reducing stigma, and increasing the volume of high-quality, accurate, and sensitive media coverage.

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Spots filling fast for Summer Media Academy

In partnership with the University of Georgia’s Summer Academy program, Grady College will offer weeklong, in-person camps in the following subject areas: Advertising and Public Relations, June 15-19; Broadcast Journalism, June 15-19; Multimedia Journalism, June 8-12; and Entertainment and Media Studies, June 8-12. Registration is now open and limited need-based financial aid is available. The deadline to apply for financial aid is April 3.

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Thanks to our many sponsors for their generous support of GSPA and its mission.

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GA YRBK EXPO

www.jostens.com/yearbooks/advisers-and-staff/classroom-tools

grady.uga.edu

yearbookdiscoveries.com

walsworthyearbooks.com

piedmont.edu/program/mass-communications

SIPA

snosites.com

www.augusta.edu/pamplin/communication

www.gab.org

 
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Georgia Scholastic Press Association, University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, 120 Hooper Street, Athens, Georgia, 30602

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