Recent national accolades for student and professional journalists throw a timely spotlight on summer journalism opportunities for Oregon high school students.

Journalism’s most prestigious awards were announced April 10, with Pulitzer Prizes going to industry giants such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, as well as to writers in small towns in the Midwest and Appalachia.

Days earlier, a group of high school journalists in Kansas gained national attention for their investigative work leading to the resignation of their newly hired principal. After students at Pittsburg High School dug into the background of the new principal and found discrepancies in her education and work credentials, the woman resigned from the $93,000-a-year job.

What better inspiration could there be for Oregon teens to learn more about journalism and related fields at residential camps on two college campuses? Two of our PWA partners in the communications industry are taking applications.

Next Generation Storytelling is a summer residential program at the University of Oregon in Eugene that aims to develop students’ critical thinking, leadership, entrepreneurial and communications skills. The June 25-30 program will focus on emerging technology and media and introduce students to journalism, media studies, advertising, and public relations, according to the UO’s School of Journalism and Communication.

The application deadline is April 14. Find details here.

The High School Journalism Institute is an all-expenses paid program that will take place July 17-22 on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis.

The institute is a partnership among Oregon State, Oregonian Media Group (publisher of The Oregonian and OregonLive) and other Oregon media organizations. The program is open to students in Oregon as well as those in Southwest Washington.

According to program director Molly Young, students selected to attend this year’s institute will spend the week reporting, writing and taking photos alongside professional reporters, editors and photographers – and they will receive college credit for their work.

Application deadline is May 15. Find more information here.