Since 2022, the PNA Foundation joined forces with The Lenfest Institute and AT&T to sponsor a Diverse Student Journalist Awards program as part of the Student Keystone Media Awards. In our continuing efforts to recognize, improve and impact diversity, equity and inclusion, this special award honors talented college and high school student journalists, of diverse backgrounds, for outstanding contributions to their newsrooms. Our hope is that the $500 cash award as well as the special recognition will encourage their continued studies and future careers in journalism.
View the list of past Diversity Champion Award Winners.
High School Diversity Champion Award
2026 High School Diversity Champion Award
sponsored by AT&T
Tanner Cohagan
State College Area High School – Lions’ Digest
This special award recognizes a talented high school student journalist, of a diverse background, for outstanding contributions to their newsroom. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, factors such as: ancestry, color, disability or handicap, race, religious creed, sexual orientation and economic status. Entry should include three examples of work produced and published in 2025. Entries could include stories, photos, videos, special projects, use of various platforms and other examples of the journalist’s impact on their newsroom. Entries can also be submitted in other contest categories. Entries will be judged together for overall excellence. A nominating letter (unlimited word count) from the school’s faculty news adviser is required. There is no limit on the number of entries from any news organization or journalist; however, no more than one award will be given each year. The winner will receive a framed certificate and a $500 cash award, sponsored by AT&T
From the nomination letter submitted by Hannah Shumsky, Co-Adviser, Lions’ Digest.
“As a professional with a communications background, I see all of the skills communications students need to
thrive in Tanner: kindness, personality, dedication to the field, creativity, and resiliency. If Tanner did not
initiate the conversations about what podcasting would look like for Lions’ Digest, I doubt we would have any
podcasting branch at all today. Tanner’s work is a reflection of his own creativity and calling to be a storyteller,
but his influence is present in the students he inspired to take on podcasting and other multimedia forms.”
College Diversity Champion Award
This special award recognizes a talented college student journalist, of a diverse background, for outstanding contributions to their newsroom. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, factors such as: ancestry, color, disability or handicap, race, religious creed, sexual orientation, age, veteran status and economic status. Entry should include three examples of work produced and published in 2025. Entries could include stories, photos, videos, special projects, use of various platforms and other examples of a journalist’s impact on their newsroom. Entries also can be submitted in other contest categories. Entries will be judged together for overall excellence. A nominating letter (unlimited words) from a faculty news adviser/supervising editor is required. There is no limit on the number of entries from any news organization or journalist; however, no more than one award will be given each year. The winner will receive a framed certificate and a $500 cash award, sponsored by The Lenfest Institute.
2026 College Diversity Champion Award
sponsored by The Lenfest Institute
Hannah Pajtis
St. Joseph’s University – The Hawk
From the nomination letter submitted by Shenid Bhayroo, Adviser, The Hawk.
“As her adviser and instructor, I have observed Hannah’s progression from news reporter, to news
editor, to field reporter on a study abroad program, to features editor, and finally to EIC. All the while
Hannah has demonstrated her keen sense for news, and the outsize role journalism fulfils in our
country, and our world.”