Elena Gilbertson Hall, editor-in-chief of ODYSSEY Media Group at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, has been named the 2020 Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the Journalism Education Association. The award recognizes the top high school senior journalist in the state.

ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in-Chief Elena Gilbertson Hall takes photos in Downtown Athens during the MLK Day Parade on Jan. 20. Photo by Jason Thrasher

Mackenzie Caudill, senior copy editor at Clarke Central’s ODYSSEY Media Group, was the runner-up in the competition.

The winners were selected from a pool of 13 candidates, each with portfolios packed with academic achievements and journalism accolades. Portfolios were scored in the following categories: candidate background; news gathering; writing; editing; design; multimedia broadcast; photojournalism; web; law and ethics; leadership and team building; news literacy; entrepreneurship; and candidate reflection.

One contest judge praised Gilbertson Hall’s work as impressive and thorough, noting: “There's so much versitility to Ms. Gilbertson Hall's work that she can ultimately go in many different directions as a journalist. She does a wonderful job writing, designing and broadcasting. Usually there's one area that each one of us excels in journalistically, for Ms. Gilbertson Hall, she's got many.”

Gilbertson Hall began her scholastic journalism journey in fifth grade, when she founded a news publication at her elementary school. In middle school, she was editor-in-chief of Clarke Middle School News. She joined the ODYSSEY Media Group as a news staff member in her freshman year, worked her way up to managing editor as a junior, and took the reins as editor-in-chief during her senior year.

“The one thing that ties all of my journalistic experiences together is a willingness to dive into the unknown,'“ Gilbertson Hall wrote in a self-analytical essay. “All of the experiences that shaped me the most came out of a decision to push myself outside of my comfort zone.”

“I've been able to witness how she communicates with stakeholders, connects with peers across academic track and grade level, and how she executes collaborative work for four years,” said adviser David Ragsdale, CJE. “Elena has more than earned a spot on the ODYSSEY's all-time Mount Rushmore.”

Gilbertson Hall will receive a plaque and a $100 prize. She also moves on to represent the state in the Journalism Education Association's National Journalist of the Year competition.

In addition to the senior Georgia Champion Journalist of the Year, GSPA honors the top high school junior journalist in the state. Owen Donnelly, digital editor for Clarke Central’s ODYSSEY Media Group, was selected as the Georgia Junior Champion winner. Sadie Rawlings, co-association editor for The Bird Feed at South Forsyth High School, was the runner-up.