UA Scholastic Media Director Wins National Award

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Meredith Cummings,  director of scholastic media at The University of Alabama, has been named the 2014 James Frederick Paschal Award recipient.

The national award, given by the Columbia Scholastic Press Advisers Association, or CSPAA, honors state or regional school press association officials who have distinguished themselves in the field.

“When I first found out, I thought, ‘Wow, the list of people who have won this before me is impressive,’” Cummings said. “I’m honored to be among such a list of trailblazers, many of whom are my mentors. More than anything, this is an honor for our state and a testament to the great work the students in our state are doing. They make me look good.”

Cummings has served as director of ASPA since 2008 and also serves as director of the National Elementary Schools Press Association. She is also an instructor in the department of journalism, where ASPA and NESPA are housed.

“In her tenure at the head of ASPA, Meredith has Tweeted, Facebooked, blogged, wrote, photographed, videoed, Vined, Instragrammed and organized non-stop — not to better herself, but to better the state of Alabama for high school and elementary journalists,” said Erin Coggins, past adviser board president of ASPA, in a press release from CSPAA.

Cummings will receive the award at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s annual convention in March.