Student Journalist of the Year Indiana High School Press Association March 16, 2004 By Dennis Cripe _____________________________      WarrenCentral High School’s Chelsea Schneider is “the total package” when it comes to her leadership and impact on her school, her community and her fellow newspaper staff members. Her quest has lead to the highest individual state-wide honor a high school journalism student can earn.      Serving as the editor of her nationally recognized newspaper, the Owl, Schneider has filled her four-year high school career working on her community TV show, reporting for an eastside newspaper, directing a public relations campaign and helping out at Riley Hospital. Her adviser, Mark Haab, considers himself lucky. “I can’t imagine another adviser more fortunate than I have been to have worked with an editor of her caliber.”      Because of her leadership both in her school and in her community, Schneider was named the Indiana High School Press Association’s “Journalist of the Year” this week. As Indiana’s representative, Schneider’s portfolio will be considered in the Journalism Education Association’s search for the National High School Journalist of the Year to be announced this spring.      “She will leave the Warren community a better place. Her vision for design, coverage and community will be with us for a long time,” said Haab, who added that Schneider “has a way of supporting everyone so they feel like an important part of the overall package.”      Haab pointed out that Schneider is as comfortable interviewing the major as she is interviewing a student. She’s very coachable. She is always looking to improve her skills,” Haab said.      The “Journalist of the Year” program reflects the highest individual award given by the IHSPA, according to Dennis Cripe, director. “Indiana is blessed with strong journalism programs. Our student publications are among the best in the nation and that’s why our individual winners often do quite well in national competition,” Cripe said.      Last year, Connersville’s Ashley Gross represented Indiana in the JEA competition and finished in the top four nationally. Gross is completing her freshman year at Ball State. Schneider plans to major in journalism either at Franklin College or Ball State.      Begun by the JEA in 1984, the Journalist of the Year program offers Sister Rita Jeanne scholarships of $5,000 to the national winner and $2,000 to the four runners up. Gross will receive a $500 scholarship for representing Indiana. JEA will announce the national winners at their spring convention April 13 and profile the winners at: www.jea.org. Chelsea will also be profiled on the IHSPA website at: psj.franklincollege.edu/ihspa.