RVC-Student-Journalists-Shine-Statewide.php

RVC Student Journalists Shine Statewide

• Students
• 12/18/2025

The Valley Forge staff at Rock Valley College celebrated a successful year at the Illinois Community College Journalism Association annual competition, earning multiple statewide awards that recognize excellence in student journalism.

Among the top honors, the publication received second place overall in the General Excellence category and third place overall for Best Student Media.

The ICCJA annual competition recognizes outstanding work by student journalists at Illinois community colleges in areas such as news writing, feature writing, photography, and multimedia storytelling. These honors are designed to promote high standards in student journalism while highlighting emerging talent across the state.

“This is a great step in showing how well our journalism students are doing as they begin their journey of working under the public eye,” said Jerry LaBuy, faculty adviser for The Valley Forge and academic chair of the Mass Communication Department. “We have a great team, site, and future here at The Valley Forge.”

Serving Rock Valley College and the Rock River Region since 1965, The Valley Forge has long been a campus staple. Originally published in print, the student-run news source has since shifted exclusively online, publishing stories throughout the academic year free of charge. The publication is staffed entirely by RVC students and operates out of the Mass Communication Department in the Educational Resource Center (ERC) on the main campus.

In addition to the team honors, individual students were recognized across several categories:

• Kay Watson – First place, Best Headline
• Isabella Lazansky – Second place, Best Headline
• Maya Johnson, 2025–2026 Editor-in-Chief – Second place, Best News Story

Johnson reflected on the collaborative process behind her award-winning piece and the support she received along the way.

“How do I make it as meaningful as possible? This came from a lot of support from my classmates and my former news writing teacher, Eric Wilson, who was always helpful when it came to forming ideas and who to get in contact with,” Johnson said. “Brainstorming with people who have the same interests as you is always a good starting point for me.”

Additional honorees included:

• Ryan McNeilly – Second place, Best Sports Feature
• Lauren Schaefer – Third place, Best Sports Feature

As editor-in-chief, Johnson hopes the staff’s success encourages more students to explore opportunities within the Mass Communication Department.

“In the Mass Communication Department at RVC, you are surrounded by support, not only from peers, but teachers and mentors as well,” she said. “Writing, revising, and interviewing is quite a process, and sometimes you have deadlines to meet. Never give up, and your story will be amazing and loved by others.”

For LaBuy, the most meaningful outcome is the potential to inspire future journalists. The achievements highlight the dedication, creativity, and talent of The Valley Forge staff, underscoring continued student success at Rock Valley College. 

 

 

“I hope this success inspires other students interested in journalism to get involved and be a part of what has been recognized as one of the best student news organizations in the state of Illinois."

Jerry LaBuy, faculty adviser for The Valley Forge