2009 Elizabeth B. Dickey Distinguished Service Award Recipients

Monica Hill
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, N.C.)

Hill is often described as “soft-spoken,” but as one adviser who works closely with her said, “Don’t let that fool you. Advisers, students, administrators and legislators underestimate her at their own peril. She is what the poet Stephen Vincent Benet described as ‘velvet sheathing the steel demurely.’”

Supreme professionalism, one of the hallmarks of her success, is a trait many attribute to Hill.

SIPA director Karen Flowers said, “She is wise beyond her years. When I have a problem, or need a good listener who will give me sound advice, I always call her. I respect her judgment, her tact and her diplomacy.”

Hill is a loyal SIPA board member, faithfully attending each fall board meeting and coming to SIPA conventions in March. She often has had to sacrifice personal plans to make room for SIPA commitments.

She has worked extensively to make the Quiz Bowl a huge success and was chair of a task force the director appointed. She is a competition judge and a speaker.

During board meetings she listens much more than she talks. Those comments she does make are always consensus-building and thought provoking.

Those who work with her as director of the scholastic media in one of our SIPA states know they are fortunate. As one colleague said: “Saying you are from our state in any national or regional journalism circle automatically evokes a comment about how lucky we are to have her as our state director.”

She has earned the respect of her co-workers and colleagues in her state, in our region and in the national organizations of JEA, NSPA, CSPA and AEJMC, in part because she has the wisdom to always be herself. And being herself is more than enough. In fact, being herself is quite impressive.

Stella McCombs
Stratford HS (Goose Creek, S.C.)

Jake Palenske
NCompass Media (McKinney, Texas)

In a relatively brief tenure with SIPA organization, Palenske has brought energy and sense of commitment to both SIPA and the Carolina Journalism Institute.

From the beginning, this individual has never said “No” to any request:

• Will you teach two sessions of Desktop Publishing instead of one?
• Will you create a video to open the convention?
• How about one to open CJI?
• Will you sell yourself at the auction?

His spirit is contagious. As one adviser says: “He is addicting! He infuses your kids with the desire to go to the moon, and then you hope you can make it happen! The year I bought him at the auction was the best stimulus package ever! SIPA and CJI have a major friend in this hyper individual because he is a MAKE-IT-HAPPEN kind of guy. With him, you know the show will go on.”

Another adviser who purchased him during an auction said: “The thing about him is once you buy him, there isn't an expiration date. I call, text, or e-mail him at all times of the day or night with sometimes the most inane journalism questions, and he is always quick to respond. His ideas and advice are almost as limitless as his generous spirit.”

As a consultant to the SIPA Board, Palenske has contributed new ideas on how to market the organization and volunteered his services to help follow through on these ideas. He pushes the board to consider new ways to provide services to our membership and brings an enthusiasm to all of our discussions.

Palenske may be among the youngest to ever receive the coveted DSA but he certainly meets all of the qualifications and more as a friend of scholastic journalism.