The Kansas Scholastic Press Association is pleased to announce that Barbara Tholen will become executive director beginning August 2025. Tholen has taught journalism at Lawrence High School for 15 years, following 10 years as a newspaper reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Topeka Capital-Journal. She has been an active KSPA member and currently serves as president-elect.

Click here to read more about Tholen’s vision for KSPA.

We hope to see advisers at our February Professional Development events. These are days designed to give advisers time to investigate, collaborate and plan for the new CTE journalism standards that begin in 2025-2026. We have six locations on five different dates. Lunch is included in the registration cost and attendees will receive access to a shared folder with documents and other materials that will help you make plans for 2025-2026.

Registration is now closed. We are watching the weather closely and will let registrants know of any changes or cancellations.

It’s back, another awesome chance to showcase your students’ best work with the KSPA Student Showcase-Winter edition. Start collecting your entries for the December to February and submit them by Friday, Feb. 28.

Here’s all the information you need about the Winter Showcase.

Throw it back to December and see all the great work turned in for the Fall Showcase.

If it’s one thing KSPA loves to do, it’s recognize the very best of our member students, staffs and advisers. But we need your help. Nominate someone for, apply for and register for these KSPA awards:

Student applications due March 3: Courage in Student Journalism award, Mary Patrick Aspiring Young Journalist award

Adviser and professional award nominations due March 3: Ad Astra, Administrator of the Year, Jackie Engel, Friend of KSPA, Hall of Fame, and Sunflower awards

Staff awards due March 7: All-Kansas news publications, news website and video news critiques

Click here for information on all KSPA awards.

It’s time to BRING IT! Information about the 2025 Regional Contest is ready, including the prompts for the digital contests. KSPA Regional Contests allow students to practice their skills, get feedback and earn awards. We offer categories for photographers, designers, writers, cartoonists, online journalists and videographers. Plus, students who place at Regionals can advance to the State Contest to earn points for their school and the Sweepstakes trophies.

CONTEST ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED. STAY TUNED FOR THE BIG REVEAL OF WINNERS IN MARCH.

KSPA is pleased to honor the 25 yearbooks that earned a 2024 All-Kansas rating, the highest available in the annual critique service program. Thirteen judges from across the country evaluated submissions from 51 schools across the state. These yearbooks were assessed for excellence in design, writing, photography, and overall presentation. Earning the prestigious All-Kansas Award is a distinction reserved for the most outstanding yearbooks. Click here to read more about the schools and yearbooks earning this honor.

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