At a ceremony Saturday, June 4, 2011, at the Executive Mansion in Springfield, the IJEA honored the state’s top high school journalists. At this annual event, co-sponsored by the Illinois Press Foundation, students, their advisers and their families celebrated excellence in scholastic journalism. The keynote speaker was Dave Bakke, a columnist at the State Journal-Register.

(Above) Congratulations to the 2011 All-State Journalism Team, from left Teagan Ferraresi, Hersey HS, adviser Janet Levin; Michaela Eickhoff, Oakland HS, adviser Tim Lee; Robert Jake Hamilton, O’Fallon HS, advisers Kristin Strubhart, Ashlee Heady and Lindsay Kusmierczak; Meagan Flynn, Huntley HS, adviser Dennis Brown; Michael McKenna, Rolling Meadows HS, adviser Stan Zoller; Sydney Scarlatta, University HS-Chicago, adviser Wayne Brasler; Sierra Lowe, Belvidere North HS, adviser Mike Doyle.

(Above) Congratulations to the Illinois Journalist of the Year Alexandria Johnson of Rolling Meadows HS and runner-up Faiaz Khan (left) of University HS-Chicago and Jake Hamilton of O’Fallon Township HS. Their
advisers are Stan Zoller, Wayne Brasler and Kristin Strubhart, Ashlee Heady and Lindsay Kusmierczak.

(Above) Tina Cantrell, principal at John Hersey High School, was honored as Administrator of the Year by the IJEA. Former IJEA Executive Secretary James Tidwell, introduced Cantrell at a ceremony June 4 at the Executive Mansion in Springfield, and cited her for her commitment to a free student press at Hersey. She was nominated by adviser Janet Levin.
Congratulations to IJEA board member Brenda Field for her Special Recognition Award last week in Anaheim. Here she receives the award from JEA secretary Linda Drake (left). 



