Bowling Green, Ky. - Three Kentucky journalism teachers are the first recipients of the James L. Highland High School Media Adviser of the Year Award.

Gina Aldridge of Radcliff, Jill Lewis of Corbin and Gail McCrady of Leitchfield were recognized Friday during Western Kentucky University's Mark of Excellence Awards Day ceremonies.

The award was created to recognize high school media teachers in Kentucky for their journalistic achievements and to honor to teachers who, like Highland, advocate on behalf of their students' First Amendment rights. Highland, vice president for campus chapter affairs for the Society of Professional Journalists, is news/editorial sequence coordinator at Western and a veteran newspaperman.

Aldridge is in her sixth year of teaching at North Hardin High School in Radcliff. She's been the Trojan Triumph newspaper adviser and an active member of the Kentucky High School Media Institute and the Kentucky High School Journalism Association, serving on the advisory board for both organizations.

The Trojan Triumph has won numerous state high school journalism awards.

"She is one of those people who makes the principal's job and the superintendent's job easy," Hardin County school superintendent Richard Hughes said. "She is the kind of person who is appreciated and respected by the students, her fellow staff members, the parents and the community."

Lewis is in her ninth year of teaching at Corbin High School where she advises both the award-winning student yearbook and newspaper, the Paw's Print.

Lewis, a Western alum, is active professionally, having been selected to attend the Al Neuharth Freedom Forum for high school journalism teachers and students in November 2001. She has also presented sessions at Western's Journalism Scholars Day and at the Kentucky High School Journalism Associations annual conference and adviser workshop.

Her 12 years in the professional world of newspaper and public relations have prepared her well and her student publications reflect that professionalism, regularly winning state awards.

Her students love her, admire her and work tirelessly for her.

"It is phenomenal the way she imparts this knowledge to her students and then hooks them with her excitement," Corbin principal Joyce Phillips said. "I have watched this happen over the years and still continue to be amazed and impressed."

McCrady, also a Western alum, is in her sixth year at Grayson County High School where she advises the award-winning radio, TV and newspaper program and teaches English, social studies and humanities.

McCrady has more than 10 years of professional journalism experience and a passion she obviously brings to her work.

"She loves her job, and her students can't imagine a day without her," Grayson County High School assistant principal John Skaggs said. "She adds spark and creativity to young minds."

The annual adviser of the year contest is sponsored by Western's School of Journalism and Broadcasting and the Kentucky High School Media Institute. For information about the contest, contact Jackie Bretz, KHSMI director, or Pam Johnson, director of the School of Journalism & Broadcasting, at (270) 745-4143.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Jackie Bretz at (270) 745-6407.