Students from Strafford, Lebanon and Platte City Submit Top
Essays in 2009 Missouri SPJ Contest
A submission by a homeschooled senior from Strafford, Mo., was
the unanimous grand-prize selection in the 2009 First-Amendment
essay contest sponsored by the Southwest Missouri Professional
Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Ninety-six students from 34 Missouri high schools submitted
entries this year addressing the theme of “Why Free News Media
Are Important.”
The grand prize essay was written by
Joshua Scott Holcomb, a
home-schooled senior from Strafford, Mo.
First place in the Northern Missouri division went to
Peter Yankowsky, a senior at Platte County R-III in Platte City, Mo.
First place in the Southern Missouri division went to
Timothy
Howe, a senior at Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Mo.
Other honors in the northern division included: second place,
Connor Voss, Washington, Mo.; third place,
R. Timothy Weeks,
Savannah, Mo.; and honorable mention,
Hannah Spaar, Odessa, Mo.
Honors in the southern division included: second place,
Carson
Spears, Aurora, Mo.; Jeremiah Robertson, Central High School,
Springfield; and honorable mention,
Kelsie Young, Aurora, Mo.
The contest was open to students enrolled in grades nine through
12, in public, private or home schools. Students entered for no
charge but had to have a sponsoring teacher. Entries had to
address the theme of: “Why Free News Media are Important.”
Students placing first- through third-place in the Missouri
contest received award certificates and cash prizes from the
local SPJ chapter. The first place essay has been forwarded to
the national competition where students could earn a scholarship
worth $1,000, $500 or $300.
The Southwest Missouri Professional Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journalists organized the qualifying essay contest
for students from high schools in the Ozarks. Essay chairperson
David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of
Missouri Extension, said the local chapter got more than was
planned on this year.
“Our chapter was overwhelmed with
entries this year. The Kansas City and St. Louis chapters both
decided not to host student essay contests this year. That meant
that all of the Missouri entries were sent to me and the
southwest Missouri chapter,” said Burton.
Because of the number received, our contest judges divided the
winners into two divisions -- southern Missouri and northern
Missouri. The essays were judged without knowledge of who the
submission was from or where that student lived.
“However, we could still only give out one overall first place
(or grand prize) award for submission to the national contest,”
said Burton. “I’m just thrilled that the person was from the
Ozarks.”
Ironically, the sister of this year’s contest winner, Rachel
Holcomb, won the 2008 essay contest.
The SPJ chapter in southwest Missouri has about 25 members and
was named the Outstanding Small SPJ Chapter in the Nation for
2007-2008.
Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest
journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free
practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical
behavior. The SPJ chapter in southwest Missouri has about 25
members.
