Director's Note — Sept. 9, 2026
IHSPA Executive Director Ryan Gunterman, MJE
Harvey Contest, Hoosier Star, and 2026-2027 Membership Renewal
Dear journalism family,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! I have just three important notes about IHSPA participation and deadlines for our state’s top contests:
• Please review the spreadsheet on the IHSPA Membership page to check your status for 2026-2027. If you do not see your school it means this form has not been completed for the 2026-2027 school year. Many have submitted their membership dues but not this form. Please do so ASAP!
• There is a free option for entering the Hoosier Star contest! Current members may submit their student media outlet for the award at no cost, but they will NOT receive a final ranking or judge feedback. Those wanting the expert evaluation along with their Hoosier Star entry must pay the $60 fee for the service. Please visit our Student Media Feedback page for full details.
• The yearbook Hoosier Star deadline is Oct. 1.
• The Harvey contest deadline has been extended to Oct. 1 (shocking, I know). Please consider entering student work, especially if you will attend the state convention Friday, Jan. 29. The event’s planning committee is making changes to the awards program to better recognize and celebrate your students’ accomplishments!
As always, thanks for all you do!
According to the Indiana Department of Education, the following courses may be counted as an ELA, communications, or elective credit toward the new diploma. Please reference the DOE’s companion document for further information.