Joliet Central High School Students Honored at IHSA Journalism Sectional Awards, Alexa Encarnacion Hernandez & Lilith Ventura Qualify for State

Joliet Central High School is proud to announce that two student journalists have advanced to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Journalism Finals after outstanding performances at the sectional competition held on April 5.

Alexa Encarnacion Hernandez earned 1st Place in Headline Writing, and Lilith Ventura secured 3rd Place in Feature Writing, each qualifying for the highly competitive state finals. Their success highlights the strength and dedication of Joliet Central’s journalism program, which continues to foster excellence in student media and writing.

"I'm incredibly proud of Alexa and Lilith," said Journalism Advisor Kelly Halusek. "Their achievements reflect not only their talent and hard work but also their deep commitment to telling impactful stories. Watching them grow as writers and thinkers has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job."

The IHSA State Journalism Finals will take place later this month, where students from across Illinois will showcase their journalistic skills in a range of categories.