In a bustling newsroom, she hops from table to table helping staff members with their stories. She collaborates with the advisor and edits every story that comes her way. On top of that, she still manages to keep up with all of her schoolwork.
Senior Elizabeth “Lizzie” Sosa is more than just the Editor in Chief for The Lancer Spirit, she has proven to be a leader in scholastic press as she has been selected as the 2025 New Hampshire Journalist of the Year. She will be representing the state in the national Journalism Education Association contest in March. Sosa will compete against other student journalists who won for their respective state in the national journalist of the year competition, where winners will receive scholarships of up to $4,000.
“It’s a great honor to be able to be recognized and represent the state,” Sosa said. “It’s important, especially for young people, to be confident in standing up for certain issues that they care about. I think that this association and their journalist of the year competition is important for bringing awareness to all of that, and it kind of gives kids an outlet to stand up and have a voice for things that they care about.”
Sosa has had a lot of experience with publications, as she was first a part of the yearbook in her sophomore year. Needing help, she reached out to her freshman English teacher and journalism advisor, Mary DeWinkeleer for help.
“Sophomore year, I came to her because I had to write a story for the yearbook and I didn’t know what I was doing at all,” Sosa said. “Within that time period, I realized that I actually liked writing a lot more. I loved yearbook and I loved designing all that stuff, but I had a bigger calling for writing.”
DeWinkeleer saw her passion for writing, and the next year, Sosa had the ability to skip Journalism One where she would be a reporter, to Journalism Two where she could be an editor. Since this was all new to Sosa, DeWinkeleer helped transition her from yearbook to journalism.
“I went to her and she walked me through it and she gave me the AP style book,” Sosa said. “She gave me everything I needed to learn and I don’t think that I could have done this without her.” DeWinkeleer was “over the moon” when she found out Sosa won New Hampshire Journalist of the year, as she has been “such a great leader” for the rest of the staff.
“I was so excited for Lizzie, and it just feels like all her hard work has been recognized,” DeWinkeleer said. “To have Lizzie be the one to represent New Hampshire, I think, is just perfect. She’s just been hardworking and kind and has tried to bring our publication to the next level, which is always my hope is that every year it just gets a little better.”
DeWinkeleer thinks that Sosa’s good attention to detail and her love for journalism is what put her above the other applicants.
“She puts a lot into her work and I think her leadership on staff came out in her essays and just what she put forth in her body of work,” DeWinkeleer said. “I think they recognized that she is special and that she is a good writer, but also a good leader, so I think she just stood out a little bit.”
DeWinkeleer had known Sosa all four years of high school, and they’ve created a tight bond.
“I’ve known Lizzie since she was a freshman, and so she’s very special to me,” DeWinkeleer said, tearing up. “I’ve known her for so long now and to watch her grow into this amazing young woman and that she’s going to be studying [journalism] in college and it just makes me so happy for her and proud of her.”
DeWinkeleer is not the only person Sosa has made a big impact on. Senior and Assistant Editor in Chief Morgan Laczynski works side-by-side with Sosa.
“She’s definitely my partner in crime,” Laczynski said. “Having her as Editor in Chief fits her perfectly just because she’s always on task and she always knows what needs to get done.”
Laczynski has been working alongside Sosa all year, and acknowledges how much Sosa “deserves” this honor.
“She’s worked so hard for the past couple of years,” Laczynski said. “Wanting to do this for her future, being a journalist as her career, is definitely a big achievement for her. She is just always very determined to get things done and she’s always on task. I just think that all of this really made her stand out.”
One piece of advice Sosa gives to future aspiring journalists wanting to apply for NH Journalist of the year:
“I would just make sure that what you’re sending in to be looked at is something you’re truly proud of, and just be yourself and try your best,” Sosa said. “Be yourself and go for it, don’t be scared.”
