Rosenau Wins December WisJEA Competition

The Wisconsin Journalism Education Association (WisJEA) is proud to announce the winners of its first mini contest for the 2025-26 school year. This campaign was launched to celebrate the exceptional work of student journalists across the state and increase engagement within the WisJEA community.

A panel of judges evaluated 14 entries submitted by dedicated advisers from four different Wisconsin high schools. The entries were judged using a comprehensive rubric focusing on technical quality, creativity, and overall impact.

The winners for this period are:

• Photography: Cameron Meland (Robert M. LaFollette HS) for “Friday Night Hoco Lights.” Adviser: Darcy Poquette.

  • Judge’s Comment: “Really great shots. They are sharp and generally capture powerful moments, with a strong focus on faces and unique action and interactions between people.”

• Written: Evan Rosenau (Hamilton HS) for “The Woman Who Changed Writing Forever – Virginia Woolf – Erased Queer Stories.” Adviser: Sarah Kowalske.

  • Judge’s Comment: “Wow! What a great story and series. This was so well written and engaging to the reader.”

• Video: Ben Breining (Black River Falls HS) for “Mission-driven teaching.” Adviser: Julie Tiedens.

  • Judge’s Comment: “Great topic with an angle that isn’t really focused on by students.”