The Garden State Scholastic Press Association, in conjunction with the New Jersey Press Foundation, is proud to announce this year’s scholarship winners.  The students received their awards at the annual GSSPA Spring Advisers Conference.

Zahara Chowdhury
Winner of the 2026 Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship

Lyndhurst High School ~ The Lighthouse ~ Adviser Tanya Pastor

“As journalists, the pursuers of truth, we must always be equipped to fight oppression. I was able to express my First Amendment rights through advocacy, assisting those who exercise their right to free speech in countries where it’s seen as a threat. I converted my subversion into activism. During my journey, I strive to help others also mend the division within their South Asian-American identities, and to lean into the hyphen in the term, not the split.” ~ Zahara Chowdhury

Alexandra Lourenço
Winner of the 2026 Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship

Lyndhurst High School ~ The Lighthouse ~ Adviser Tanya Pastor

“Storytelling is part of my culture, and telling an authentic story is the reason why I joined
my school’s journalism program. I quickly discovered that I enjoyed uncovering others’ stories more than telling my own, which led me to become co-editor-in-chief of the newspaper. … The opportunity to truly connect with people has been a passion of mine that journalism has allowed me to fulfill. One of the largest parts of being a journalist is being able to speak with others.” ~ Alexandra Lourenço