KEMPA Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference
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KEMPA Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference: Connections
KEMPA’s goal is to support advisers and student journalists. By offering programs like our summer journalism camp, winter adviser’s retreat and fall student conference during the year, we can help build your program.
At our Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, at UW-Whitewater, we connect you and your students to professionals, advisers and other student journalists in our KEMPA community. We are looking forward to helping your staff build their skills, be inspired by winning contest entries, and celebrate last year’s accomplishments.
Our theme, CONNECTIONS, emphasizes the need to make connections within our publications, school communities and local scholastic press associations. Some sessions will focus on networking, interviewing, and community building
The opening session will begin at 9:30 a.m. with awards and announcements, followed by a keynote speaker author and journalist, Laura Beck from 10:00-10:30 a.m. Each of the two sessions will last 45 minutes, starting at 10:45, and 12:45. Advisers and presenters at 11:45 will then take part in the yearly KEMPA meeting, including awards presentations, elections, announcements, etc.
This event is available to 9-12 grade students interested in media and their advisers/teachers.
Thursday, October 17, 2024 | 9:00 am - 1:30 pm CST
To register for this event and secure your spot, click the link below and complete the online registration form before Friday, October 11, 2024. Our events tend to sell out quickly, so it's recommended to register as soon as possible. If the event is already sold out, you can choose to register for the waitlist at no charge. If a spot becomes available and you are next on the waitlist, you will receive an email notification. You will have three days (or less, as indicated in the email) to respond and accept the open spot.
We do NOT accept walk-up registrations at event check-in.
For the Students
- Workshops are designed for students in grades 9-12.
- Students' work will be discussed in assigned workshops.
- Workshops are limited, and student writers will be assigned in advance to the workshop in which their work is critiqued.
- Non-submitting participants may attend any session.
- Each submission will be carefully read and considered.
- A professional writer will make written comments on the original manuscript.
- The schedule designating the workshop assigned and meeting link will be available via the link in your registration confirmation, one day before the event.
Note: Because of the great number of entries in some categories such as poetry, our faculty cannot always discuss every work submitted.
For the Teachers
UW-Whitewater staff members and visiting writers will coordinate special teachers' writing workshops to be held concurrently with the students' workshop. Offerings are subject to interest and facilitator availability. Teachers who wish to submit their own work for consideration in a Teachers Writing Workshop should submit their work by the submission deadline.
Your online registration and payment are always safe and secure. We accept MasterCard and Visa credit card payments in our online registration system. We will NOT accept credit card payments over the phone. We will accept checks made out to "UW-Whitewater" and mailed to UW-Whitewater Camps and Conferences, 800 West Main Street, Room 2005 Roseman Hall, Whitewater WI 53190.
Confirmation Emails
Once you register, a confirmation email will be sent to your email account with details on how to submit and upload creative work. Contact cesevents@uww.edu if you do not receive this confirmation email. Please make sure you have a working email address on file with us to be able to receive important announcements and updates about this event.
Your online registration and payment are always safe and secure. We accept MasterCard and Visa credit card payments in our online registration system. We will NOT accept credit card payments over the phone. We will accept checks made out to "UW-Whitewater" and mailed to UW-Whitewater Camps and Conferences, 800 West Main Street, Room 2005 Roseman Hall, Whitewater WI 53190.
Confirmation Emails
Once you register to attend an event (including waitlisted), a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you registered with. Contact cesevents@uww.edu if you do not receive this confirmation email. You must have a working email address on file with us to be able to receive important announcements and updates about this event.
Cancellations and payments: All registrant accounts must be paid in full 21 days prior to the start of the event. Registrants with outstanding balances after payment is due in full are subject to being removed from the event roster without a refund. Please contact Continuing Education Services at cesevents@uww.edu prior to this deadline if extenuating circumstances prevent you from completing a payment.
Refunds: All summer camp events require a minimum of a $100 non-refundable deposit.
In the event of a cancellation, Continuing Education Services should be notified no later than 21 days before the start of the event to receive a refund, less the deposit. Cancellation requests received less than 21 days from the start of camp will receive a refund minus a 50% late cancellation fee. Cancellations due to medical reasons will receive a full refund, less the deposit if the cancellation is requested and medical documentation is provided prior to the start of the event. Valid medical cancellations must include a signed letter from a licensed physician to qualify. NO REFUNDS will be given for withdrawal due to early departures, disciplinary reasons, or no-shows after the camp has started.
All cancellation requests must be submitted to cesevents@uww.edu provide the registrant’s name, camp title, and medical documentation, if applicable. Refunds will be returned to the name and address of the payer.
We reserve the right to cancel any event for any reason; in such case, all fees paid will be refunded, or contact cesevents@uww.edu for alternate arrangements.
Cost Information
$25.00 Non-Member | Students and advisers without a KEMPA membership
$20.00 Member | Students and advisers with a KEMPA membership
No refunds are available for this event. All cancellation requests must be submitted to cesevents@uww.edu.
We reserve the right to cancel any event due to low enrollment; in this case, all fees paid will be refunded.
For participants who will be receiving a sponsorship to attend this event, please follow these steps to redeem your sponsorship:
- Register for the event and use the promo code provided by your sponsor during checkout.
- The sponsorship amount will be deducted from your invoice. Any remaining balance will be the participant's responsibility.
- If you need to cancel your registration, please note that the sponsorship funds will be returned to the supporting organization.
Please note that any qualifying discounts given by the event will not be applied after you have paid in full. Be sure to use the promo code during checkout to receive your discount. You will be charged if you do not qualify for the requested discount at the start of the event.
If a refund is issued due to overpayment on your account, a processing fee will be assessed.
If you have received an award or scholarship without a promo code or want to use two promo codes, please call Continuing Education Services at 262-472-3165 or email cesevents@uww.edu before registering to avoid overpayment fees.
Want to Sponsor a Registrant?
If you would like to sponsor a registrant and cover all or partial fees, you can request a promo code to give to your chosen registrant. Get more information about sponsoring a registrant.
Discounts available to KEMPA members.
$20 per student and adviser for KEMPA-member publications.
If you wish to become a regular member, use this KEMPA membership form 2023-2024 (membership: $60) and send it to Bob Kay at the address on the form.
Keynote Speaker
Laura Paisley Beck was a devoted high school yearbook editor back in the ’90’s at Sevastopol, High School, Door County, WI. She graduated from Carroll College in 1993 with a double major in Environmental Science and English, and a double minor in Communications and Biology. Her past includes serial entrepreneurship in which she wrote articles in exchange for advertising in numerous publications.
Additional Information
Check-in will take place outside the Hamilton Room outside the University Center between 9:00 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Advisers are asked to check-in their entire group by indicating their school name at check-in table.
Awards presentation for newspaper and yearbook competition/critiques will occur at 9:30 a.m.
As an important part of the Scholastic Journalism Conference, KEMPA will present awards to staff representatives or advisers, and both awards and critiques may be picked up at that time. School spirit and school pride in publications are encouraged by KEMPA. Be present; cheer on your school!
By registering for an event, you agree to our Registration Terms and Conditions. UW-Whitewater will hold all registrants responsible for their conduct. Serious misconduct or disruption will lead to immediate dismissal from event. Registrants dismissed from the event will not receive a refund. Please review the Terms and Conditions for more details.
Be aware that we recommend that all portable electronic devices be left at home, but ultimately it is your decision. We know that parents and children value the ability to be able to call each other at a moment's notice. For that reason, we do not prohibit cell phones at camp, but ask that cell phone use does not interfere with the event and other participants. Parents are responsible for setting clear guidelines for cell use with their child. We will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.
We receive many questions from registrants. We have prepared a page with answers to our frequently asked questions about registering and attending an event.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is committed to equal opportunity in its educational programs, activities and employment policies, for all persons, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, Vietnam-era veteran status, parental status and pregnancy.
If you have any disabling condition that requires special accommodations or attention, please advise us well in advance. We will make every effort to accommodate your special needs.
By registering for this event you understand that the University may take photographs and/or videos of event participants and activities. You will be required to agree at the time of registration that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater shall be the owner of and may use such photographs and/or videos relating to the promotion of future events. You will relinquish all rights that you may claim in relation to the use of said photographs and/or videos. Any media shared with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on social media or use of its hashtags grants the University use of media for any purpose.
Insurance
Registrants are encouraged to have their own health insurance as accident insurance provided by the University is limited. Each registrant will be covered by a limited accident insurance policy. The insurance includes primary coverage up to $10,000. Insurance does not cover pre-existing injuries and is for accidents only. The cost of insurance is included in the registration fee.
KEMPA Membership
If you wish to become a regular member, use this KEMPA membership form 2024-2025 (membership: $60) and send it to Bob Kay at the address on the form.
Advisers, please consider presenting at the conference. Your experience as an adviser is invaluable, so feel free to share a favorite lesson or activity with other students or advisers. We’d like sessions both for students and advisers. We welcome proposals that would focus on any aspect of journalism, including advising, photography, writing, newspaper, magazine, yearbook, online publishing, advertising, broadcast and more. Please use the following link to submit a proposal. You can choose to receive a modest presenter’s stipend or donate the stipend to KEMPA.
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-2024 Campers
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Event Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | Check In | University Center |
| 9:30 am | Welcome & Awards |
| 10:00 am | Keynote |
| 10:45 am | Session 1 |
| 11:30 am | LUNCH | Advisers and Presenters Annual KEMPA Meeting |
| 12:45 pm | Session 2 |
| 1:30 pm | Conference Concluded |
