SIPA recognizes individual student work, publications, advisers and friends of scholastic journalism through contests and scholarships.
Experienced scholastic judges evaluate publications and provide valuable feedback to help staffs improve as well as award excellence according to established scholastic journalism standards. Staffs receive a rating and certificate from the critique. You must be a member of SIPA to receive a critique.
The Best of Show at SIPA competition is open to all publications and programs registered for the annual March convention. There is no qualifying critique score to enter the competition. The Best of Show at SIPA recognizes excellence among the convention attendees and those entered on-site. Enter through convention registration.
SIPA presents its highest award, the Scroggins Award: Best of South, each year to each publication type – broadcast, literary magazine, news, online and yearbook. To be eligible, a program must a SIPA member, fill out the entry form and submit the publications by Dec. 15.
Publications can submit three entries per category in these visual categories – ranging from broadcast and online to newspaper, newsmagazine, literary magazine and yearbook design to photography and art. Entries due Feb. 12 via email. Download submission instructions and category descriptions.
SIPA offers a writing contest for all types of media with over 45 categories. Entries are due by Dec. 15 and must be submitted digitally. Please read submission instructions and category descriptions carefully.
SIPA offers four scholarships for students who plan to attend college. Read scholarship descriptions and some requirements below.
The USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications has established a scholarship for a yearbook staff member who plans to attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The scholarship was first awarded at the 1992 convention. The winner must attend the convention.
This scholarship is awarded by the USC's School of Journalism and Mass Communications to an outstanding SIPA student at the annual convention. Recipients must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications and plan a career in journalism. The winner must attend the convention.
The student recipient of the J. Grady Locklear Scholarship must be on a literary magazine staff and must attend the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The winner must attend the convention.
The SIPA Endowment Committee awards a $500 scholarship to an outstanding SIPA student who will attend a school of journalism and mass communications at an accredited college or university in the SIPA region. The winner must attend the convention.
SIPA honors advisers, administrators and other supporters of SIPA and scholastic journalism each year at the convention. SIPA members can nominate individuals for any of the following awards.
One or two fellowships will be awarded in memory of Col. Savedge at each convention. Publications advisers who have never attended the Carolina Journalism Institute are eligible to win. Fellowship must be used to attend the Carolina Journalism Institute in June.
SIPA's first Principal of the Year Award was presented at the 1988 convention. Recipients are nominated by students or advisers and must nurture the principles of scholastic journalism. The winner should attend the convention.
These awards recognize advisers, teachers and friends of scholastic journalism who have contributed extraordinary amounts of time, talent and energy to SIPA. See form for award requirements.
SIPA's Freedom of the Press Award was initiated in 1989 in recognition of an adviser's use of her First Amendment rights on the high school level. The award, named in honor of a former dean of the School of Journalism, will be given periodically when someone makes a strong stand for scholastic journalism.
SIPA's Outstanding Service Award was awarded for the first time in 2010 as the New Friend of Scholastic Media Award. This award, renamed in honor of former director Karen Flowers, goes to an individual who is not in the classroom but who has significantly supported scholastic journalism.
This award, named in honor of former University of South Carolina Director of Scholastic Media Leslie Dennis, is presented to an individual or organization that has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to promoting diversity, inclusivity and multicultural awareness through scholastic media. Anyone active in SIPA may nominate an individual or organization for this award.