Lovett

ELKINS — Elkins High School senior student Kaelan Lovett will represent the state of West Virginia when he takes part in the Journalism Education Association’s National High School Journalism Convention this spring.

Lovett was recently selected as the 2024 West Virginia Student Journalist of the Year. He will be recognized at the JEA/National Scholastic Press Association National Spring Journalism Convention in Kansas City, Missouri on April 4-6. 

“First and foremost, I’m honored to be chosen as the West Virginia representative at the National Journalism Convention,” Lovett told The Inter-Mountain Wednesday.

“I think going to the convention is going to be a really exciting experience for me, and I’m really looking forward to showcasing just how far I have come as a journalist.”

Lovett works as a reporter for the school’s newspaper and online news site, and also serves as the technical director for Elkins High School’s broadcast news show. 

He moved from Texas to Elkins a year ago and has excelled in both his Journalism and Digital Media classes, said Andrew Carroll, who teaches both courses.

“Even though Kaelan just moved here from Texas last year and doesn’t have as much experience as other people may have, we felt it would be worthwhile for him to put together a portfolio to submit to the contest,” Carroll told The Inter-Mountain. “He’s just a great writer and great student all around – inquisitive and very thoughtful.”

Lovett earned the state’s top honor after submitting a portfolio for West Virginia’s high school journalism competition. His portfolio included a narrative about his experience as a journalist, as well as featured sections that included reporting and writing, editing, leadership, team building, web and social media design, and photo journalism.

“Essentially what he had in his portfolio was some writing, graphic design, photo essays, general news writing, and what he has accomplished serving as technical director of our broadcast news show that we just launched,” said Carroll. “What he does is really phenomenal. He’s focused and thoughtful, and not only wants to do well for himself, but really wants to make sure the whole production works really well.”

Students at EHS work on the school’s broadcast news show, school newspaper, and website in Carroll’s Journalism and Digital Media classes. Carroll said he plans on taking several of his students to the convention with Lovett. 

“I will take five or six students to the national high school journalism convention in Kansas City,” said Carroll. “Last spring we went to the convention in San Francisco and we have students who are getting really serious about journalism and working hard.”

Lovett is just the second student at Elkins High School to ever win the state high school journalism competition. He joins Sara Collins, who was named West Virginia’s best prep journalist in 2021.