CSPA 1927 Convention delegates, in front of Low Memorial Library on the Columbia campus.
To mark its centennial in 2025, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association will honor individuals who have profoundly contributed to and have had a sustained impact on scholastic journalism education. The Centennial Awards will be given in five categories: Innovation, Impact, Lifetime Achievement, CSPA Service, and the Alumni Award.
CSPA will not award the Murphy, O’Malley, and Paschal Awards or Gold Keys this year. The Sullivan Award will be given at the discretion of CSPA. Judging will be conducted by a panel appointed by CSPA and the CSPA Advisers Association.
Candidates may be nominated by others, or they may nominate themselves. Applications will open in mid-November and will close December 13, 2024, and will be linked here. Watch CSPA social channels for updates.
Innovation
The recipient of this award has introduced new and ingenious ideas, methods, a service, or processes that have resulted in educational/informational value for their students, schools, communities, and /or scholastic journalism overall. The awardee does not have to be a teacher or adviser, but their work or industry must somehow be tied to student media.
Impact
This award will recognize an individual who has made a measurable impact on students, school, community, industry, and/or colleagues through their dedication to their work and those they serve.
Lifetime Achievement in Scholastic Journalism
This award will be given to a member or members of the scholastic journalism community who have spent their professional lives serving the educational ideals for which we all strive: teaching the importance of, and ultimately the preservation of, a free press in our democratic society.
CSPA Service
This award will recognize individuals who have for years, and in some cases decades, supported CSPA in its mission of educating members of the student press to uphold the highest standard of journalism.
CSPA Alumni Award
CSPA is proud of its alumni. Many who have attended our programs have gone on to success elsewhere, whether in journalism or other industries. This award recognizes an individual for whom the teachings, skills, and values of journalism and CSPA have contributed to success in their current work.
CSPA 1928 Convention delegates (Photo: CSPA)