Jaya Alenghat is a member of the Class of 2025 and is an editor-in-chief for the U-High Midway. She joined the Midway as a sophomore in the 2022-23 school year and previously served as an assistant editor and the city life editor. Outside of school, she enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her friends, family and dog.
Awards:
2025 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle: Photo slideshow, first place (with Jaya Alenghat, Taariq Ahmed, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), Eclipse Excitement
2025 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle: Breaking news (with Jaya Alenghat, Chloë Alexander, Mia Lipson), third place, Pro-Palestine encampment faces opposition yet stands with goals
2025 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle: Single subject news or feature package, single-page design, third place, “Cicadapalooza”
2025 Scholastic Press Association of Chicago, sports feature, excellent
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, photo gallery or photo slideshow (with Chloë Alexander, Mia Lipson, Olin Nafziger), After 8 days, UChicago pro-Palestine encampment removed on morning of May 7
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, single-page story package, City Life Cicadapalooza
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, centerspread story package (with Clare McRoberts, Milo Platz-Walker, Taariq Ahmed, Skye Freeman, Naomi Benton, Lila Coyne, Sygne Stole), Addicted to the Algorithm
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, multimedia story package (with Taariq Ahmed, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), Eclipse excitement: Lab community gathers to celebrate unique celestial event
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, news story (with Taariq Ahmed, Clare McRoberts), Lab adapts to reality of tighter budget
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Third place, alternative storytelling (with Jaya Alenghat, Ari Novak, Lucy Shirrell, Declan Smith), In-Depth Midway 100
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Third place, headline (with Naomi Benton)
2024 National Scholastic Press Association Design of the Year: Newspaper Page/Spread, first place
2024 National Scholastic Press Association Digital Story of the Year: Photo Slideshow (with Olin Nafziger, Chloë Alexander, Mia Lipson), second place
2024 National Scholastic Press Association Digital Story of the Year: Photo Slideshow (with Taariq Ahmed, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), honorable mention
2024 National Scholastic Press Association Best Use of Social Media: Social Media Reporting (with Chloë Alexander, Clare McRoberts, Skye Freeman), fourth place
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, sports feature, Coaching with care: Tyrone Mason
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, sports commentary, A new White Sox stadium would be beneficial but nonessential
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, sports feature, Muslim student athletes navigate fasting during Ramadan while maintaining physical endurance
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, multimedia story package (with Haley Maharry, Chloë Alexander, Clare McRoberts, Olin Nafziger), Mocktail Mania: Fruity, fizzy drinks offer nonalchoholic, fun beverage option
2024 Scholastic Press Association of Chicago, sports news story: excellent
2024 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award: Certificate of merit, sports features, “Muslim student athletes navigate fasting during Ramadan while maintaining physical endurance”
2023 Journalism Education Association National Student Media Contests, Boston convention: Excellent, news writing
