Chelsi Moy and Kurt Wilson are national champs

Rocky Boy High School senior Eric Schildt looks over an information booklet from the University of Montana given out by UM recruiters. Photo by KURT WILSON of the Missoulian

I’m proud to announce that Missoulian reporter Chelsi Moy and photography editor Kurt Wilson have won first place in the 2009 National Awards for Education Reporting, the most prestigious national competition for education writing.

Sponsored by Education Writers of America, the contest honors the best education reporting in the print and broadcast media and is the only independent contest of its kind in the United States.

A total of 334 entries were judged in this year’s contest. First Prize winners receive a cash prize of $150 and a plaque.

Chelsi and Kurt won first place in the “feature, news feature or issue package” category for a spectacular story and photographs about the University of Montana’s efforts to recruit Native American high school students on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation.

Over the course of three days, they spent time with students and teachers at Rocky Boy and Box Elder high schools – at school and in their homes – to explore why so many Native students are reluctant to attend college in Missoula. Then, as UM officials arrived for their annual recruiting visit at the schools, they documented that interaction. The result was an incredible, up-close look at reservation life, the hopes and dreams of Native high-schoolers, and UM’s continued work to bring more Native students to Missoula for college.

In words and a package of stunning photographs, they provided Missoulian readers with a moving and intimate portrait of life on one Montana Indian reservation. It was significant work, one I’m thrilled to see at the top of the Education Writers’ list of award winners.

Contest judging was conducted independently, under the direction of Adrianne Flynn of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland. This year’s panel of distinguished judges were Sandy Banisky of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland; Patrick Boyle of Youth Today; Tamara Henry of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland; Eric Kelderman of the Chronicle of Higher Education; Susan Kopen of WBAL; Howard Libet, of Center Maryland; Ylan Mui of the Washington Post; Deb Nelson of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism; Frank Quine of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland; and Molly Rath of Baltimore Public Schools.

Congratulations, Chelsi and Kurt! We are proud of you.

Sherry Devlin

UM President George Dennison watches from the back of the room during a class presentation at Rocky Boy High School last week. Photo by KURT WILSON of the Missoulian