During the school year, students may find her meandering to a design class or hanging out with high school journalism students in the summer. But today, Cheryl Pell will receive national recognition for the activities that come naturally to her.
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and its scholastic journalism division will honor Pell with the Journalism Educator of the Year award in San Francisco, Calif., at its 89th annual convention.
The association, which is located in South Carolina, promotes standards and research for journalism education and other media-related communications.
It has honored someone who is devoted to scholastic journalism each year since 1998, according to its Web site.
"I'm honored that people would think that I'm worthy for this (award)," Pell said. "But there are so many people in this field that are talented."
Pell has been the director of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association, or MIPA, an annual journalism program she has helped organize at MSU, since 1987.
She works to organize contests and conferences for high school journalism students, as well as high school newspaper advisers and future journalism teachers.
Although she is modest when talking about her recognition, some say she was one of the most qualified for the award.
"I'm glad she's getting attention for this because she'd like to keep this hidden when she deserves this recognition," said Betsy Pollard Rau, director of the summer MIPA workshop.
Others say Pell is one of the most dedicated and that the award is well-deserved.
"Cheryl is a pleasure to work with and is a staple in scholastic journalism," Penney Aiken, a criminal justice senior who took one of Pell's classes, said in an e-mail. "I can think of no other who is more deserving of this award because her dedication is second to none, and she cares more about the people she works with and helps than anyone else."
Jane Briggs-Bunting, director of the School of Journalism and president of the State News Board of Directors, has known Pell for more than 20 years and said her work in scholastic journalism has enhanced MSU's journalism program.
"What (the award) does is it recognizes the extraordinary work (Pell) has done with the school of journalism," she said. "Cheryl is a pint-size dynamo. She's always full of energy, and aside from this award, she's made great contributions to the school of journalism — she's a great teacher, students love her, and (she's) a real great citizen to the college and university."
Pell has also won the Pioneer Award from the National Scholastic Press Association, and in 1998 she won the James F. Paschal Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.
"All of the people on our floor (at the journalism school) adore Cheryl," Amy Brandt, a psychology sophomore who works in Pell's office, said in an e-mail. "Many will just stop in our office to say hi to her or to chat. Her door is always open, and I think that is what people like most."
