Isabella Luzarrago, a senior from Millard North High School, has been named the 2021 Nebraska High School Journalist of the Year.

She currently serves as the Editor-in-chief of the Hoofbeat Newspaper. She is also a writer and podcaster for Girls in Journalism and a contributing writer to Keke Magazine.  Isa is a national qualifier in Speech and Debate, as well as an All-American with the National Speech and Debate Association. She was a team captain for Millard North’s Cross Country team and vice-president of the school’s Spanish Honor Society.  Isa is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was a participant in the Northwestern Medill Journalism Institute in 2020 and in the Kansas University Jayhawk Media Workshop in 2019.  You can view her online portfolio at: isaluzarragaforjoy.com

Isa’s journalism adviser is JEA Member Sarah Crotzer.

The Nebraska Runner Up in the Student Journalist of the Year competition is Madelyn A. Ames from Lincoln Pius X High School.  Honorable Mention Awards were granted to Edison M. Geiler of Millard West High Schooland Alayna Kustka of Papillion-La Vista South High School.