Walter Johnson High School senior Seyun Park has been named Maryland’s 2025 Journalist of the Year by the Maryland-DC Scholastic Press Association, according to Montgomery County Public Schools ( MCPS).
Park serves as editor-in-chief of The Pitch, the school’s award-winning student newspaper, and credits the publication with helping him grow over the past four years.
“The Pitch really means a lot to me,” Park said in a press release. “I’ve had the chance to grow into my role, and the people I’ve worked with and met here are the best part of it. It’s the sense of collaboration that truly makes this experience special.”
His interest in journalism began in elementary school when he started a class newspaper in fourth grade. As editor-in-chief, Park helped expand the newspaper’s digital presence, including leading a major redesign of its website.
“I’m really passionate about finding new ways to tell stories, whether through print, online content or social media,” he said in a press release. “And seeing the website recognized for the first time was one of my proudest moments.”
Park praised faculty advisor Wendy Borrelli for fostering a collaborative and empowering newsroom culture.
“What makes The Pitch so unique is Ms. Borrelli,” said Riley Berkowitz, a senior and first-year print news editor. “She sets the tone of working really hard but also respecting each other.”
Borrelli, who has advised The Pitch for more than a decade, said her greatest reward is helping students find their voice.
“I’m most proud of the growth of the program,” she said in a press release. “But more than that, I’m proud that we’ve created an environment where students feel empowered to express themselves and their ideas.”
Park’s leadership left a lasting mark, according to his peers.
“Seyun has always been determined to improve the paper every single year,” said Elli Karistinou in a press release, a senior and managing editor. “His hard work and dedication have really transformed The Pitch into what it is today.”
Park said he plans to continue journalism in college and hopes to attend law school in the future.
“I’ll definitely be involved in my college newspaper, and I plan to minor in journalism,” he said in a press release. “The skills I’ve learned in journalism — critical thinking, storytelling and collaboration — will serve me well no matter where I go.”
As for the future of The Pitch, Borrelli is confident the program will continue to thrive.
“We’re constantly evolving to keep up with the times,” she said in a press release. “But no matter how the field changes, our core values remain the same: providing students with the opportunity to share their voices and work together to create something meaningful.”
The honor marks not only a personal milestone for Park, but also reflects the strong journalism program at Walter Johnson High School, led by longtime advisor Wendy Borrelli.
Photo and video courtesy of MCPS
