Downes named JEA Yearbook Adviser of the Year

Kansas City, Mo. (Dec. 3, 2007) – Mary Kay Downes, adviser at Chantilly High School in Chantilly, Va., has been named the 2007 JEA Yearbook Adviser of the Year.

Downes is the yearbook adviser and English department chair at Chantilly High. She is the president of the Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association. Her career honors include the CSPA Gold Key, the NSPA Pioneer Award, VAJTA Douglas Freeman Award, 2000 JEA Special Recognition Adviser and 2001 JEA Distinguished Adviser.

JEA named three Distinguished Advisers, including Dow Tate, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kan., who is a Walsworth customer. Kathy Habiger, Mill Valley High School, Shawnee, Kan., and Margaret Sorrows, Bryant High School in Bryant, Ark., also were named as Distinguished Advisers.

Nancy Smith, Lafayette High School, Wildwood, Mo., and Mitch Ziegler, Redondo Union High School, Redondo Beach, Calif., were honored as Special Recognition Advisers.

H.L. Hall, a JEA past president, and Linda Putney, JEA executive director, surprised and honored Downes in a special ceremony at Chantilly High School Dec. 3.

Downes will be recognized during the adviser luncheon at the 2008 JEA/NSPA Spring National Journalism Convention, April 17-20 in Anaheim, Calif. She will receive $1,000 for the yearbook programs at their schools or to fund scholarships to summer workshops. JEA also will pay their travel and hotel expenses to the convention.

Walsworth Publishing Company and several other yearbook publishers underwrite the award.