Abington Friends School students Mason Fullerton, Orla Maxcy, Priyal Sanathara, and Miranda Shandell were four of the approximately 1,500 high school journalists across the country to receive the National Scholastic Press Association’s Leadership Award in Scholastic Journalism.
The NSPA is the nation’s largest association serving scholastic media.
“NSPA is pleased to honor such a distinguished group of student journalists,” said Associate Director Gary Lundgren. “The leadership demonstrated by these students during their two years working on high school media will serve them well for careers in journalism or any future endeavors.”
To earn the NSPA Leadership Award in Scholastic Journalism, a high school student must serve with distinction for at least two years on the staff of an NSPA-member broadcast, literary arts magazine, newspaper, specialty magazine, website, or yearbook.
Maxcy and Shandell founded The Blue and White, the student news site of Abington Friends School, in Fall 2023. Sanathara has served as Features Editor, and Fullerton as Photo Editor. Sanathara was previously honored with Best of SNO for her article “Elemental: The Importance of Highlighting First Gen Stories.”
Students are nominated by their advisors and must be in good academic standing and demonstrate journalistic excellence and staff leadership while maintaining the high ethical standards outlined in the NSPA Model Code of Ethics.
Recipients receive a certificate of recognition and are eligible to wear the NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism teal honor cord at graduation.
Through education, training, and recognition programs, the NSPA, which celebrated 100 years of service in 2021, promotes the standards and ethics of good journalism. Its educational programs train thousands of student journalists and advisors.
Learn more about Abington Friends School and how it cultivates fearless, curious learning in a culture of intellectual and creative ambition.
