Students from Strafford, Lebanon and Platte City submit top essays in journalism contest

A submission by a homeschooled senior from Strafford, Mo., was the unanimous grand-prize selection in the 2009 First-Amendment essay contest sponsored by the Southwest Missouri Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Ninety-six students from 34 Missouri high schools submitted entries this year addressing the theme of "Why Free News Media Are Important." The grand prize essay was written by Joshua Scott Holcomb, a home-schooled senior from Strafford, Mo.

First place in the Northern Missouri division went to Peter Yankowsky, a senior at Platte County R-III in Platte City, Mo. First place in the Southern Missouri division went to Timothy Howe, a senior at Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Mo.

Other honors in the northern division included: second place, Connor Voss, Washington, Mo.; third place, R. Timothy Weeks, Savannah, Mo.; and honorable mention, Hannah Spaar, Odessa, Mo.

Honors in the southern division included: second place, Carson Spears, Aurora, Mo.; third place, Jeremiah Robertson, Central High School, Springfield; and honorable mention, Kelsie Young, Aurora, Mo.

The contest was open to students enrolled in grades nine through 12, in public, private or home schools. Students entered for no charge but had to have a sponsoring teacher. Entries had to address the theme of: "Why Free News Media are Important." Students placing first- through third-place in the Missouri contest received award certificates and cash prizes from the local SPJ chapter. The first place essay has been forwarded to the national competition where students could earn a scholarship worth $1,000, $500 or $300.

The Southwest Missouri Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists organized the qualifying essay contest for students from high schools in the Ozarks. Essay chairperson David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of Missouri Extension, said the local chapter got more than was planned on this year.

"Our chapter was overwhelmed with entries this year. The Kansas City and St. Louis chapters both decided not to host student essay contests this year. That meant that all of the Missouri entries were sent to me and the southwest Missouri chapter," said Burton.

Because of the number received, our contest judges divided the winners into two divisions -- southern Missouri and northern Missouri. The essays were judged without knowledge of who the submission was from or where that student lived.

"However, we could still only give out one overall first place (or grand prize) award for submission to the national contest," said Burton. "I'm just thrilled that the person was from the Ozarks." Ironically, the sister of this year's contest winner, Rachel Holcomb, won the 2008 essay contest.

The SPJ chapter in southwest Missouri has about 25 members and was named the Outstanding Small SPJ Chapter in the Nation for 2007-2008. Membership information can be found online at http://extension.missouri.edu/swregion/spj/SWMo.shtml.

Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's largest journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. The SPJ chapter in southwest Missouri has about 25 members.