Educators of the Year - California Press Foundation

Journalism Educators of the Year Award Recipients:

Educators at the high school, community college and university levels are eligible for the honors. Occasionally, an additional plaque goes to a Champion of Journalism Education.

The program is administered by the California Journalism & Media Affiliates. The California Press Foundation provides funding for the award plaques.
 
Statewide honors for California journalism educators began in 1968 and were administered by the California News Publishers Association (CNPA) until 1998. No awards were issued until the California Journalism Education Coalition relaunched them in 2006, with support from CNPA and then from Cal Press.

2021
University:
Deidre Pike, Humboldt State University, Arcata
Stu VanAirsdale, Sacramento State University, Sacramento
 
Community College:
Cecilia Deck, De Anza College, Cupertino
Stefanie Frith, El Camino College, Torrance

High School:
Gabrielle Doyle, Beverly Hills High School
Brian Wilson, Palo Alto High School
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Jim Boren, executive director, Institute for Media and Public Trust, CSU Fresno; and former executive editor, The Fresno Bee.
 
2020
University:
Tom Nelson, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
 
Community College:
Toni Albertson, Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut
Lifetime Achievement: Paul DeBolt, Contra Costa College, San Pablo

High School:
Danielle Witten, Arcata High School (Nick Ferentinos Award for Advising Excellence)
Lifetime Achievement: Casey Nichols, Rocklin High School
 
2019
University:
Lifetime Achievement: Mark Plenke, CSU Chico
 
Community College:
Anne Belden, Santa Rosa Junior College
Lifetime Achievement: Cynthia McGrath, Los Medanos College, Pittsburg
 
High School:
Don Bott, Stagg High School, Stockton (Nick Ferentinos Award for Advising Excellence)
Lifetime Achievement: Lorraine Langevin, Schurr High School, Montebello
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Gary Metzker, CSU Long Beach (Jolene Combs Journalism Education Spirit Award)
 
2018
University:
Brady Teufel, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
 
Community College:
Lifetime Achievement: Pat McKean, Long Beach City College; Meg O’Neil, Citrus College, Glendora
 
High School:
Kathi Duffel, Bear Creek High School, Stockton (Nick Ferentinos Award for Advising Excellence)
Lifetime Achievement: Julie Braun, Irvine High School
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Matthew Perry, assistant superintendent, Sacramento County Office of Education
 
2017
University:
Paul Bittick, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
 
Community College:
Judy House, College of the Sequoias, Visalia
 
High School:
Kelly Wilkerson, Davis High School (Nick Ferentinos Award for Advising Excellence)
Lifetime Achievement: Konnie Krislock, Newport Beach; Jo Zimmerman, Thousand Oaks High School
 
2016
University:
Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, CSU Long Beach
 
Community College:
Bud Little, Santa Ana College
 
High School:
Lacey Hatfield, Public Service Community School, Los Angeles (Nick Ferentinos Award for Advising Excellence)
 
2015
University:
Michael Longinow, Biola University, La Mirada
 
Community College:
Walter Hammerwold, American River College, Sacramento
 
High School:
Kristy Blackburn, Gunn High School, Palo Alto
Mitch Zeigler, Redondo Beach High School
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Los Angeles Press Club

2014
University:
Jennifer Aquino, Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont
 
Community College:
Amara Aguilar, Saddleback College
 
High School:
John Tyler, Saratoga High School
Greg Vieira, Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School, Long Beach
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Tim Taylor, Superintendent, Butte County Eduation

Jolene Combs Journalism Education Spirit Award:
Konnie Krislock, Newport Beach

2013
University:
Educator of the Year: Gary Metzker, CSU Long Beach
 
Community College:
Mary Mazzocco, Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill
 
High School:
Coleen Bondy, Cleveland High School, Reseda
 
Jolene Combs Journalism Education Spirit Award:
Steve O'Donoghue, California Scholastic Journalism Initiative
Donna Myrow, L.A. Youth (TBD)

2012
Educator of the Year: Nancy Kaplan-Biegel, Skyline College, San Bruno
Lifetime Achievement: Lori Medigovich, El Camino College, Torrance
 
2011
Educator of the Year: Stephanie Stassel-Bluestein, Pierce College, Woodland Hills
Lifetime Achievement: Jolene Combs, El Camino College, Torrance

2010
University:
Educators of the Year: Jose Luis Benavides, CSU Northridge; and Melissa Lalum, CSU Northridge
 
Community College:
Educator of the Year: Jay Seidel, Fullerton College
Lifetime Achievement: Juan Gonzales, City College of San Francisco
 
High School:
Educators of the Year: Sarah Nichols, Whitney High School, Rocklin; Ellen Austin, Palo Alto High School; and Kimberly Messadieh, El Camino Real High School, Woodland Hills
Lifetime Achievement: Olga Kokino, University High School, Los Angeles
 
Champions of Journalism Education:
Ed Borges, Principal, San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno
Editors and staff of The Orange County Register
Janet Ewell, Garden Grove
Rowland “Reb” Rebele, Aptos
 
2009
University:
Educator of the Year: Marcy Burstiner, Humboldt State
Lifetime Achievement: Glen Bleske, CSU Chico
 
Community College:
Educators of the Year: Rhonda Guess, Los Angeles City College; and
Max Branscomb, Southwestern College, Chula Vista
Lifetime Achievement: Rob O’Neil, Pierce College, Woodland Hills
 
High School:
Educators of the Year: Debra Schaefer, El Toro High School, Lake Forest; and
Michelle Balmeo, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino
Lifetime Achievement: Diane Honda, Bullard High School, Fresno
 
Champion of Journalism Education:
Deric Rothe, Gold Country Media, Auburn

2008
University:
Educator of the Year: Dave Waddell, CSU Chico
Lifetime Achievement: Sylvia Fox, CSU Sacramento
 
Community College:
Educators of the Year: Paul McLeod, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo/Harbor College, Wilmington; and Joanna Miller, Moorpark College
Lifetime Achievement: Paul DeBolt, Contra Costa College, San Pablo; Jolene Combs, El Camino College, Torrance
 
High School:
Educators of the Year: Angela Buenning, Eastside College Preparatory School, East Palo Alto; Paul Kandell, Palo Alto High School
Lifetime Achievement: Ed Galdrikian, Washington High School, Fresno/Journalism Education Association of Northern California
Champions of Journalism Education: Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco
Richard Hanner, Lodi News-Sentinel
 
2007
University:
Educator of the Year: Linda Bowen, CSU Northridge
Educator of the Year: Tom Clanin, CSU Fullerton
Lifetime Achievement: D. Greg Lewis, CSU Fresno
 
Community College:
Educator of the Year: Rubina Gulati, Cosumnes River College, Sacramento
Lifetime Achievement: Burt Dragin, Laney College, Oakland
 
High School:
Educator of the Year: Tracy Anne Sena, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, San Francisco
Lifetime Achievement Award, Esther Wojcicki, Palo Alto High School.
Champion of Journalism Education: Larry Welborn, The Orange County Register/California Scholastic Press Association
 
2006
University:
Rachele Kanigel, San Francisco State University
Lifetime Achievement Award: Mark Larson, Humboldt State University
 
Community college:
Patricia Stark, Santa Barbara City College
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jean Stapleton, East Los Angeles City College
 
High school:
Randy Hamm, East Bakersfield High School
Lifetime Achievement Award: Hilda Walker, Journalism Education Association of Northern California
 

No awards were issued from 1999 to 2005. From 1968 to 1998, the Educator of the Year Awards were administered and funded by the California Newspaper Publishers Association:
 
 
1998
High School: Karl Grubaugh, Granite Bay High School
2-Year College: Margaret O’Neil, Citrus College, Glendora
4-Year University: Jack Quinton, San Jose State University
 
1997
High School: Mary Ellen Cummings, Esperanza High School, Anaheim
2-Year College: William B. Johnson, Chabot College
4-Year University: Dr. Glen Bleske, CSU Chico
 
1996
High School: David Menendian, Clovis High School
2-Year College: Cynthia McGrath, Los Medanos College, Pittsburg
4-Year University: Michael A. Jordan, Pepperdine University, Malibu
 
1995
High School: Dana O’Roark-Clark, Buchanan High School, Clovis
2-Year College: Kathy Freeman, Bakersfield College
4-Year University: James Tucker, CSU Fresno
 
1994
High School: Valerie Armstrong, San Pedro High School
2-Year College: J. Michael Reed, Saddleback College, Mission Viejo
4-Year University: Jeffrey Brody, CSU Fullerton
 
1993
High School: Charles Clouse, Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara
2-Year College: Bruce Patt, American River College, Sacramento
4-Year University: Mary Glick, CSU Long Beach
 
1992
High School: Janet Beach, Cerritos High School
2-Year College: Paul DeBolt, Contra Costa College, San Pablo
4-Year University: Maureen Rubin, CSU Northridge
 
1991
High School: Ed Galdrikian, Washington Union High School, Fresno
2-Year College: Arthur C. Carey, San Jose City College
4-Year University: Dr. Carl Jensen, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park
 
1990
High School: Jennie Bshara, Montgomery High School, San Diego
2-Year College: Michael Cornner, Los Angeles Pierce College
4-Year University: Dr. W. Robert Nowell, CSU Chico
 
1989
High School: Virginia Slone, Enterprise High School, Redding
2-Year College: Jolene Combs, El Camino College, Torrance
4-Year University: John Gothberg, CSU Hayward
 
1988
High School: Steve Donoghue, John C. Fremont High School
2-Year College: Rich Cameron, West Valley College, Saratoga
4-Year University: Jay Berman, CSU Fullerton
 
1987
High School: Barbara Copeland, Chico Senior High School
2-Year College: Florence Reynolds, Ohlone College, Fremont
4-Year University: Dr. Steve Ames, Pepperdine University, Malibu
 
1986
High School: Pat Wilson, Ukiah High School
2-Year College: Susan Cornner, College of the Canyons, Valencia
4-Year University: Cynthia Rawitch, CSU Northridge
 
1985
High School: Jake Merritt, Surprise High School, Cedarville
2-Year College: Eldridge Trott, Shasta College
4-Year University: Dr. Arthur Margosian, CSU, Fresno
 
1984
High School: Don Powell, Woodland High School
2-Year College: Warren Mack, DeAnza College
4-Year University: Dr. Ken Devol, CSU Northridge
 
1983
High School: Twila Cook, Ceres High School
2-Year College: Robert Scheibel, Los Angeles Pierce College
4-Year University: Mac McClary, Humboldt State University
 
1982
High School: Jeannette Jennett, Adolfo Camarillo High School, Camarillo
2-Year College: Ray Canton, Santa Barbara City College
4-Year University: Howard Seeman, Humboldt State University
 
1981
High School: Dennis Jory, Cabrillo High School, Lompoc
2-Year College: Vicki Bortolussi, Ventura College
4-Year University: Dr. Rick D. Pullen, CSU Fullerton
 
1980
High School: Jerome Weiner, Verdugo Hills High School, Tujunga
2-Year College: Ben H. Adelson, Los Angeles Pierce College
4-Year University: Marion Lewenstein, Stanford University
 
1979
High School: Michael Wiener, Canoga Park High School
2-Year College: Dr. Jean Stephens, Sacramento City College
4-Year University: John R. Hetherington, CSU Chico
 
1978
High School: Gilbert K. Chesterton, Beverly Hills High School
2-Year College: Tom Kramer, Los Angeles Pierce College
4-Year University: Roger Tatarian, CSU Fresno
 
1977
High School: Gladys C. Wood, Willow Glen High School, San Jose
2-Year College: Dr. S. Roy Wilson, College of the Desert, Palm Desert
4-Year University: James Hayes, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
 
1976
High School: Konnie Krislock, Hawthorne High School
2-Year College: Wilbur G. Sims, Modesto Junior College
4-Year University: Dr. Michael C. Emery, CSU Northridge
 
1975
High School: Emilie Disen, Valencia High School, Placentia
2-Year College: Terry F. Itnyre, Cypress College
4-Year University: Dr. James Alexander, CSU Fullerton
 
1974
High School: Robert Nestor, West High School, Bakersfield
2-Year College: Louise Barrett, Fullerton College
4-Year University: Roy H. Copperud, USC
 
1973
High School: Louis Pacini, Terra Nova High School, Pacifica
2-Year College: Charles Katzman, Bakersfield College
4-Year University: Bernard H. Liebes, San Francisco State University
 
1972
High School: Wayne L. Field, Tokay High School, Lodi
2-Year College: Sam Goldman, Skyline College, San Bruno
4-Year University: Dr. DeWayne Johnson, CSU Northridge
 
1971
High School: Dorothy W. Brubeck, Santa Barbara High School
2-Year College: Alma Oberst, Contra Costa Junior College
4-Year University: Dolores Spurgeon, San Jose State University
 
1970
High School: Christina D. Beeson, Colton High School
2-Year College: Leo Garapedian, Los Angeles Valley College
4-Year University: Dr. James L. Julian, San Diego State University
 
1969
High School: Clovis L. Hill, Helix High School, La Mesa
2-Year College: Ray Canton, Santa Barbara City College
4-Year University: John R. Healey, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
 
1968
High School: Ted Tajima, Alhambra High School
2-Year College: William Kamrath, El Camino College
4-Year University: Dr. Bernard Shepard, CSU Fresno
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