POLSON STUDENT NAMED HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

MISSOULA — Kate Tiskus, a reporter and editor for the Polson High School Salishian, has been named Montana’s High School Journalist of the Year, an award that carries a $1,000 scholarship from the Montana Newspaper Association.

Tiskus was selected as part of the 2002 Montana Interscholastic Editorial Association contest, which also named student newspapers in Great Falls, Libby, Boulder and Sheridan as the best in the state.
The annual contest, sponsored by the University of Montana School of Journalism and the Montana Newspaper Association, offers competition in writing, photography and design. It is judged by Montana newspaper professionals and UM journalism faculty.

Tiskus, a senior and chief editor of the Salishian, was nominated by her journalism adviser, Judie Woodhouse.

"Kate’s writing grabs readers," wrote Woodhouse. "Her news stories regularly run on the front page and her editorials provide a strong student voice and school leadership, often provoking action or needed change."

Tiskus has worked for four years on Represent, a biweekly student page in the Missoulian. Lynn Schwanke, who supervises her work there, also nominated her for the award.

"The English language comes up short of superlatives when it comes to describing Kate," wrote Schwanke. "She’s a powerful thinker/writer. She’s tackled subjects like discrimination on the Flathead Indian Reservation and why Montana’s top high school seniors leave the state to attend out-of-state colleges."

Tiskus herself plans to attend college out of state. She will head to Harvard University this fall.
This year’s Pacesetter Awards for the best high school newspaper in each class went to the staffs of The Iniwa at Great Falls High School, the Tamarack at Libby High School, the Panther Press at Boulder’s Jefferson High School, and the Passamari at Sheridan High School.

The Student Free Press Award also went to the staff of the Iniwa at Great Falls High School, which tackled a free speech controversy in its own hallways with news and editorials that educated readers about First Amendment law.

Contact: Professor Sheri Venema, UM School of Journalism, MIEA contest coordinator.
Phone: 406-243-2577

Return to School of Journalism Home Page and April news