Citizen's Hardy wins 2 Virginia Press Association awards for writing

Henrico Citizen education reporter and Report for America corps member Liana Hardy earned two second-place awards for education writing in the 2023 Virginia Press Association News and Advertising Contest. Awards were presented during the VPA’s annual conference May 4 in Charlottesville.

Hardy earned second place in the Education Writing competition for online-only publications and second place in the Education Writing (Open) competition, which was open to all VPA-member publications, regardless of size or platform. Both entries included packages of three unrelated articles.

Of Hardy’s Education Writing (Open) entry, a judge wrote: “Any other year this would have been a first place entry.”

The three-article entry included articles about the opening in August 2023 of the Henrico Schools Regency Center, an adult education facility created in former storefront locations at Regency mall; an in-depth look at the new weapons scanners implemented by the school system that same month; and a preview of the heated race for the Three Chopt District seat on the Henrico School Board last November.

Of her Education Writing (Online) entry, a judge wrote that it was a “package of well-written stories on issues many schools face but some papers have yet to explore. Stories were relatable and well told.”

The three-article entry included articles about the Henrico Schools Summer Building Trades Program; a student discussion at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ “Diversity Dialogue Day;” and a town-hall meeting held by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin at Crestview Elementary School.

Hardy is in her first year as the Citizen’s education reporter, a position made possible through the publication’s partnership with Report for America, which helps providing funding for it. Financial contributions from Citizen readers and supporters also help fund the position.

Hardy is a graduate of Georgetown University and a native of Arlington, Virginia.