Camps and Conferences

KEMPA Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference

KEMPA Fall Scholastic Journalism Conference: Power of the Press

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. 16, 2025, 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, Power of the Press emphasizes the need for media to protect the institution of journalism, continuing our mission to defend the public’s right to inquiry and free speech.

The opening session will begin at 9:30 a.m. with awards and announcements, followed by the keynote speaker, reporter Andie Bernhardt, from 10:00-10:30 a.m. Each of the two sessions will last 45 minutes, starting at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Advisers and presenters will then take part in the annual KEMPA meeting, including awards presentations, elections, and announcements, during lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.

This event is available to 9-12 grade students interested in media and their advisers/teachers.

Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 9:00 am - 1:30 pm CST


Registration

Register

Registration opens July 20, 2024

To register for this event and secure your spot, click the link above and complete the online registration form before Thursday, June 12, 2025. 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.

$25.00    Non-Member |  Students and advisers without a KEMPA membership

$20.00    Member | Students and advisers with a KEMPA membership

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 2124 Andersen Library, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Preparing for the Event

Before attending camp, it is important to download and read the information provided above, which will be available approximately three weeks prior to the start of camp. This information will include:

  • Medication Requirements: If you will be taking medication at camp, you will need to complete the medication requirements section. This will ensure that the camp staff is aware of any medication you are taking and can administer it properly. 
  • Parking Details: The information will include parking details, so you know where to park when you arrive at camp.
  • Check-in and Out Times with Locations: The confirmed check-in and out times with locations will be provided, so you know when and where to arrive and depart from camp.
  • Confirmed Daily Schedule: The confirmed daily schedule will be provided, so you know what activities are planned for each day. 
  • Mailing Address for Camper Mail: The mailing address for camper mail will be provided, so you can receive mail while at camp.
  • What to Bring: The information will include a list of items you should bring to camp, so you can be prepared for your stay.
  • Other Important Information: The information will include other important details you need to know before attending camp.

If any medical information changes, it is your responsibility to notify Continuing Education Services at cesevents@uww.edu.

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! 

Conference Schedule :

  • 9:00-9:30 check in
  • 9:30-10:00 awards (30m)
  • 10:00-10:30 keynote (30m)
  • 10:45-11:30 session 1 (45m)
  • 11:45-12:35 lunch/annual meeting (start meeting by 12:00–75m)
  • 12:45-1:30 session 2 (45m) 

We receive many questions from registrants. We have prepared a page with answers to our frequently asked questions about registering and attending an event.

Keynote Speaker

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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