On Sunday, April 12, six seniors were awarded TAJE scholarships at the ILPC Spring Convention awards assembly in Austin, Texas. Several students and teachers were also announced as receiving scholarships for use at workshops.

2026 College Scholarships
Logan Day, Caney Creek HS (adviser Stephen Green), JOY Scholarship sponsored by Jostens (in memory of Bill Taylor) – $1,500
Poojasai Kona, Frisco HS (adviser Colleen Smith), Julia Jeffress Memorial Scholarship – $1,000
Jordan Doty, Ray Braswell HS (adviser Daniel Ryan Carr), Dewitt C. Reddick Memorial Scholarship – $1,000
Erick Garcia, Caney Creek HS (adviser Stephen Green), Bobby Hawthorne Scholarship – $1,000
Katie Keating, Mansfield Legacy HS (advisers Jonathan Dixon, Rachel Dearinger), Jim Davidson Memorial Scholarship – $1,000
Abigail Fleeman, Walnut Grove HS (adviser Taylor Mersmann), TAJE Executive Board Scholarship – $1,000

Student Workshop Scholarships, $150 each
Breana Burkham, Wichita Falls Legacy HS (adviser Cherese Hegseth)
Ella Hickman, Kingwood Park HS, (adviser Megan Ortiz)
[email protected], Leonardo Pena, Kingwood Park HS, (adviser Megan Ortiz)

Adviser Workshop Scholarships, $250 each
Erin Sledge, Chisholm Trail HS

Others who were honored by TAJE at the convention included:

Journalist of the Year & Runners-up
Logan Day, Caney Creek HS, winner (adviser Stephen Green)
Siddartha Manubothu, Frisco Independence High School, first runner-up (adviser Brian Higgins)
Elizabeth De Santiago, Coppell High School, second runner-up (adviser Chase Wofford)
Trisha Panicker, Prosper High School, third runner-up (adviser Lisa Roskens)
Shaarika Kaul, Walnut Grove High School, fourth runner-up (adviser Taylor Mersmann)
Elizabeth Yowell, James Bowie High School, fifth runner-up (adviser Michael Reeves)

Trailblazer
Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Coppell HS