The Blaze Copy Editor | 2025 WI Student Journalist of the Year
This portfolio is a space designed to help showcase my work and my behind the scenes efforts into making my publications classes worth it. As a second year journalism student, I’ve been working since day one to make sure people’s voices are heard and stories go deeper than just the surface. My hope is that my pieces of work show how truly hard I’ve worked to dig into the heart of each and every narrative.​
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As I continue to follow my path, I want to reach new milestones and set higher standards for myself. My goal is to one day become a journalism teacher so I can show the newer generation just how important it is to have your voice be heard and recognized.
Ava Smith
2025 Wisconsin Student Journalist of the Year Portfolio
Photo by Talon Larson | Click my picture to view my Blaze profile
So far...
Publication and Staff Awards
2023
National Scholastic Press Association
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First Class with Three Marks of Distinction
Quill & Scroll
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First Place Headline Writing & Design/Class A - Isabella Waldschmidt
Walsworth Caught Our Eye Gallery
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"Let's Be Real" - Isabella Waldschmidt
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Possibilities Vol. 10
Kettle Moraine Press Association
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All KEMPA
2024
National Scholastic Press Association
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All-American with Four Marks of Distinction
Quill & Scroll​
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Third Place - Design - Student Life Spread/Class A - Juliana Mora & Andrea Lepley
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Honorable Mention - Photography - Feature/Student Life Photo/Class A - Talon Larson
Kettle Moraine Press Association
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All KEMPA
Individual Awards
2024
Quill & Scroll
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First Place Writing - Alternative Story Form/Class A - Ava Smith
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Third Place - Writing - Beginning Writer/Class A - Ava Smith
Kettle Moraine Press Association Individual Awards​
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Excellent News Photo - Ava Smith
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Honorable Mention Sports Photo - Ava Smith
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Superior Personality Profile - Ava Smith
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Best of Show People Spread - Ava Smith
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Honorable Mention Sports Spread - Ava Smith
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Excellent Student Life Feature Writing - Ava Smith
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Excellent Student Life Spread - Ava Smith
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2025
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JEA Wisconsin Student Journalist of the Year
What My Staff Says
“Ava is so helpful and kind to the yearbook staff and others around her. She is always smiling and lighting up the mood.”
- Autumn Bradley, staff reporter
“Ava is a kind, wonderful and passionate person on work nights. No matter what it takes, she will always fight to make sure that everyone is OK and that everyone has been helped. I’m not surprised, because that’s just the person Ava is.”
- Dayon McKnight, staff reporter
“Ava always manages to balance her responsibilities with such delicateness that I only hope one day I can achieve. I will always appreciate and remember everything she has done for the yearbook this year and for me as a person. I’m so happy I was able to work with her this year and she has made this one of the best years I’ve had in school by far.”
- Kyle Tiebout, staff reporter
“Ava is the only reason I ever feel confident about writing stories, even if the deadline is close or I’m stuck on something, she is always quick to lend a helping hand. She is also just a very kindhearted person and always keeps me motivated even when I feel I haven’t done much. I am very thankful to have Ava to be there to always help in times of need.”
- Ariana Sanders, staff reporter
“Ava has always been a super great, dependable friend for me to talk to about whatever I needed. She’s always eager and ready to help out with yearbook stuff and so much more. I couldn’t express how much she has impacted my life and the life of others around her.”
- Zander Colon, staff reporter
"Ava’s ability to spin words into gold and assist wherever needed has been extremely valuable to our staff. She is extremely friendly to the staff members and is great at forming a healthy, productive environment for our publication to thrive."
-Talon Larson, design editor