Citizen's Hardy wins 2 Va. Press Association awards

Henrico Citizen Education Reporter Liana Hardy, a Report for America corps member, earned two awards for journalistic excellence at the Virginia Press Association's annual awards banquet, held April 12 in Richmond.

Hardy won second and third place awards in the Education Writing category for online-only publications in Virginia. Each entry included three examples of Hardy's work during the 2024 calendar year.

Her second-place entry, consisting of articles about how Montrose Elementary School earned full accreditation; a visit by Henrico firefighters to Highland Springs Elementary School; and an in-depth look at bullying in Henrico schools.

Judges wrote that Hardy's articles were "really impressive works on unique topics affecting the community."

Hardy's third-place entry included articles about a group of Freeman High School students who competed in a NASA challenge; the recess program at Short Pump Middle School; and the aftermath of a student stabbing at Henrico High School.

Of the three articles, a judge wrote: "I really like how well these stories convey student life."

Hardy joined the Citizen in July 2023 through its partnership with Report for America, which helps place full-time reporters with publications throughout the nation. She also earned two second-place awards from VPA last year.

The Citizen has earned 265 awards for excellence since its inception in 2001.