The Online Publication of SIPA

SchoPress
The Online Publication of SIPA

SchoPress
The Online Publication of SIPA

SchoPress

How you can be a SIPA student leader

SIPA student and adult officers in Nashville, Tennessee.
SIPA’s 2025 student officers celebrate their successful session on leadership at the National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville: Student president Noah Iverson; scholastic programs manager Amy Smedberg; student member-at-large Abigail Sanders; committee chair David Ragsdale; student vice-president Samaya Ellis; student member-at-large Jolen Mckenzie; scholastic programs director Nina Brook; Dean Tom Reichert of the College of Information and Communications.

Why you should be a student officer

Holding student office in SIPA allows you to demonstrate your journalistic and leadership skills on a regional level. You will work to improve SIPA’s programs, including the convention, contests and evaluations. You will be a full member of SIPA’s executive committee, helping shape and lead the mission of our organization. SIPA student officers present sessions at their state press association meetings, SIPA’s regional convention and the National High School Journalism Convention. You play a visible role helping host the annual Spring Convention. In summer, SIPA student officers who wish to attend receive a full scholarship for the program cost at the annual Carolina Journalism Institute camp.

How to be a student officer

Student officers are elected at each annual convention to serve a term of one year. Student officers are president, vice president and two members-at-large. SIPA’s officers are rising juniors and seniors from different schools. Each media staff at the SIPA Spring Convention gets one vote for each office and the outcome is determined by a plurality vote. Candidates for student president make a short speech at the convention’s opening session.

Student officers will serve as members of the Executive Committee alongside their advisers. Their purpose in this role is to represent the student voice of SIPA. This position offers a meaningful leadership development opportunity and the chance to positively influence the direction of the organization.

Officer expectations:

  • The president shall preside at the business sessions of the annual convention serve as a member of the Executive Committee, and serve as a liaison between students and the Advisory Council.
  • The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president and serve in the same liaison capacity as the president.
  • Over the course of the year, officers will work closely with the Scholastic Media Programs Manager and are required to attend virtual student officer meetings dedicated to planning and brainstorming.
  • Student officers are expected to virtually attend and contribute to as many as three Executive Committee meetings during their term.
  • All officers will support convention planning by giving feedback on the theme, sessions, socials, and T-shirt design, etc.
  • Officers will have the opportunity to co-present a session with the Scholastic Media Programs Coordinator and other officers on behalf of SIPA at the convention and other scholastic media conferences.
  • Other projects will be assigned based on interest and skillset, such as social media content creation, blog contributions, promotional material design, etc.

2027-2028 Election Information:

Students interested in running for office should submit candidate form by February 15 to be on the 2027 Convention ballot.