The North Carolina Scholastic Media Association has announced that Wakefield High School journalist Caroline Rhoad is the 2026 Rachel Rivers-Coffey North Carolina High School Journalist of the Year.
Rhoad is co-editor-in-chief of the Wakefield High School newspaper, The Howler.
Alternates for Journalist of the Year are Julia Farris of Fred T. Foard High in Newton, Paige Levine of West Brunswick High in Shallotte, and Maya Swaggerty of J.H. Rose High in Greenville.
NCPF will award a $3,000 scholarship to Rhoad. The three alternates will each receive $1,000.
The foundation will also award the winners’ journalism programs. The Journalist of the Year’s program will receive $500, and the three alternates’ programs will each receive $250.
The scholarships and awards will be presented June 16-18 during the N.C. Scholastic Media Institute.
https://ncsma.unc.edu/ncsma-news/
