Hersey journalism teacher wins national award, 2 students finalists

The Hersey High School journalism adviser will receive the Journalism Education Association's Medal of Merit Award for 2009 in November - at the same time two of her students are finalists for the JEA Story of the Year award.

Janet Levin will be one of four recipients nationwide of the Medal of Merit Award at the JEA conference in Washington D.C. this November.

The award is given to individuals dedicated to scholastic journalism. Levin was nominated by former Wheeling High School adviser Susan Tantillo and received supporting letters from three other advisers, including her former student and current Prospect High School adviser, Jason Block.

"It's nice to know that I could get an award for the work that I do," said Levin. "I do all the work because I know it helps students become better journalists and better people."

Levin advises Hersey's nationally recognized newspaper, The Correspondent. She has spoken at journalism conventions, mentored other advisers and has helped run the annual JEA/National Scholastic Press Association convention when it is held in Chicago. She has numerous former students working in the journalism field and some working as her fellow journalism advisers.

Levin won't be going to Washington D.C. alone.

Hersey graduate Jackie Tortorello and current senior Andrea Perkins are among six finalists nationally for the Story of the Year award, for "Clubs Care," that was published in December 2008.

The article was about the acts of kindness that Hersey clubs undertake. Levin was impressed enough to submit it to the prestigious National Scholastic Press Association's Story of the Year contest.

Levin said the breadth of the story and the depth of the research made her confident that this article could compete with the best from around the country.

The Story of the Year contest, co-sponsored by the American Society of News Editors, bases its selection of finalists on importance of the story, quality of reporting and quotes, quality of writing and editing, and credibility and leadership.

Tortorello, currently studying at Harper College, and Perkins are only the second Hersey students to be selected for this honor during Levin's 25-year tenure; 2007 graduate, Dan Diaz, was awarded 1st place in Diversity Story.