The Wisconsin Journalism Education Association is delighted to announce Ava Smith as the 2025 Wisconsin Journalist of the Year! This award recognizes Smith’s outstanding leadership, dedication to
teaching others, exceptional organizational skills and commitment to celebrating others through her journalism.
Ava Smith, a high school senior at Indian Trail High School and Academy and Copy Editor and Podcast Staff for The Blaze Yearbook, demonstrated exceptional leadership through helping organize the workflow for the yearbook staff and helping teach journalism skills to her peers. The judges noted that she has the skills of a natural newsroom director, a difficult feat to achieve at her age.
Smith’s portfolio showcased strong eye for detail in all categories of her work. She notably went above and beyond in the interviewing category, creating fun and engaging features and profiles. This trait carried over into all of her pieces, and the judges appreciated her strong, personal style of work.
“We were all very impressed with the depth of journalism displayed by Ava in such a wide variety of areas – she nailed all of it – from photos, to writing, to broadcaster experience,” Wisconsin JEA President Matthew Smith said. “She did all of her pieces exceptionally well.”
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The Wisconsin JEA is also pleased to recognize Addy Benzinger, a senior at Fond du Lac High School
and Editor-in-Chief of the Cardinal Columns newsmagazine, as this year’s Wisconsin Journalist of the Year Finalist. The judges commended her prominent writing and reporting skills. Her sports coverage really stood out, and her eye for seeking out stories made her portfolio enjoyable to read.
The judges were also impressed by investigative features in her portfolio, specifically the piece focused on academic anxiety, and its effect on high school seniors. There were many elements of high-level organization and storytelling that went into her pieces in addition to compiling data and conducting numerous interviews.
The Wisconsin Journalism Education Association Committee was impressed with all 5 of the entries submitted for consideration this year. All of the submissions showed strong journalistic elements, and everyone who applied should be extremely proud of their work.
