Columbia Scholastic Press Association

Gold Circle Awards are offered to recognize superior work by student journalists usually as individuals but sometimes as an entire staff working with either print or online media. These media are published in schools or colleges throughout the United States and in overseas schools following an American plan of education.

Presently, 75 different categories of entry are provided with detailed information given here. Recognition is given by various certificates of award. Secondary schools are judged separately from colleges and universities so that each student’s work is evaluated against others produced in similar circumstances.

Judges are experienced journalists and educators familiar with the context surrounding student journalism as produced in schools and colleges.

In recent years, more than 13,000 entries have been submitted for this annual competition and about 1,000 awards were given in the various categories. The complete archive of the awards is given here. Awards are announced and presented at the Association's annual convention in March in New York City.

Gold Circle Awards were first given in 1984 but follow a long tradition of CSPA awards for individual achievement by student editors.

Download Forms

Click to download the Gold Circle form for Middle Schools and High Schools.



Click to download the Gold Circle form for Colleges and Universities.