AUSTIN (KXAN) – In a surprise ceremony on Thursday, The Texas Association of Journalism Educators named McCallum High School senior Alice Scott Texas Journalist of the Year.
Scott is the co-editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Shield. Scott has also been published in the Austin-American Statesman, PBS NewsHour and the On Our Minds podcast – all while finishing high school.
“Please keep doing what you are doing – powerful and truthful storytelling, which makes people think and react. I’m so excited to see what you are going to do in your bright future,” one judge wrote about Scott’s work.
Scott began telling stories at an early age, joining her mother at scholastic journalism conventions when she was in 6th grade.
The senior, who is juggling classwork, college admissions letters, and leading her student newspaper, has covered the impact of laws aimed at the transgender community and, recently, the ongoing court battle over the state’s book rating law.
Scott will represent Texas and vie for the title of national Journalist of the Year in April at the nation’s largest gathering of scholastic journalists.