By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief

Senior Advocate Editor-in-Chief Ella Franzman was recently named the New England Scholastic Press Association’s 2025 Connecticut High School Journalist of the Year.

Franzman was one of 17 students named to NESPA’s All-New England Journalism Team. The goal of NESPA, which based out of Boston University’s College of Communications, is to promote all forms of student Journalism, such as student newspapers, broadcast programs, yearbooks, and magazines.

Franzman was chosen out of a group of other aspiring journalists across Connecticut and New England for this esteemed award. Franzman has been passionate about Journalism, especially Sports Journalism, for as long as she can remember. Her love for sports was nurtured through years of watching games with her family. 

“I think I’ve always kind of known that I wanted to work in sports for my future,” Franzman said. “When I was younger I was always watching sports with my dad or grandfather so it’s always been in my life. But, I really knew about my passion for Journalism after my freshman year, after taking Journalism 1.”

Taking Journalism 1 at Law allowed Franzman to explore the field in depth as she found a way to combine her love for sports with her newfound passion for Journalism. 

As Editor-in-Chief of The Advocate, Franzman has had a chance to develop her skills beyond writing. Her leadership within the newspaper has made a significant impact, always guiding fellow writers to strive for excellence. 

Franzman has utilized her time in high school to grow her Sports Broadcasting and Journalism career. She remembers some of her most exciting moments announcing school events. 

“Being able to announce the Thanksgiving Day football games have been an amazing part of my career so far,” Franzman said. 

When Franzman was recognized by by NESAP for her accomplishments, she was beyond thrilled. 

“I feel so, so, honored,” Franzman said. “I know that a lot of other amazing journalists from Connecticut applied so I am not only grateful to have been named Connecticut High School Journalist of the Year but also to be awarded as the only Connecticut Journalist on the All-New England Team is truly an incredible honor.”

The process of applying for the recognition she received was no small feat. Franzman poured hours of effort, working on her application with guidance from Law’s journalism teacher, Mr. Kulenych. The process required submitting transcript and letters of recommendation, writing a personalized essay, and creating an online portfolio showcasing her four years of work at Jonathan Law. 

Journalism teacher Mr. Kulenych praised Franzman for her hard work and dedication.

“Ella contributes to The Advocate not only with the content she creates but more importantly, with the leadership she shows in and out of class,” Kulenych said. “If something needs to get done, I know that Ella will get it done effectively and in a timely fashion.”

Franzman’s future in Journalism continues this fall. She will attend Syracuse University, where she will study Broadcast and Digital Journalism at the renowned Newhouse Communications School. 

“I’m super excited to be attending Syracuse – the program they have at the Newhouse Communications School is just so prestigious, so I’m super excited to get to campus in the fall,” she said.

Her ultimate goal is to become a sideline reporter for the NFL, and she is determined to make that dream a reality. 

As Franzman prepares to leave Jonathan Law and start the next chapter of her journey, her dedication to journalism and her future is unmistakable. She has already built a strong foundation and is eager to take her skills to college and beyond.

Whether she’s covering a football game or editing an article, Franzman’s enthusiasm for journalism continues to shine through in everything she does.

“Ella has excelled as a student journalist because of her work ethic and the dedication she puts into all of her content,” Kulenych said. “Whether she is writing an article, editing a video news story, managing a social media account, or creating graphics, she works so hard to make the final product look professional. She is always looking for new projects, always coming up with new ideas, and her enthusiasm for journalism is a great example for the other students in the class. Syracuse is getting a future journalism star and I can’t wait to see how her journalism journey continues.”