Last week, Harker was among 16 high schools named 2025 winners of the First Amendment Press Freedom Award by the Journalism Education Association (JEA), making this Harker’s fourth consecutive year receiving the award. This award recognizes high schools that teach and protect rights guaranteed by the First Amendment and support student-run media where all content decisions are determined by students.

To apply for the award, school media advisers, student editors and an administrator provided responses to questionnaires across two rounds. Winners are chosen by representatives from the JEA, National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society. Harker will be one of 21 schools honored (including the additional five winners for the Press Freedom Commendation) in April at the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle.