A Damascus High School senior has been named Maryland’s top student journalist for 2026. Mia Dove, editor-in-chief and marketing manager of The Buzz, was selected as the 2026 Maryland Student Journalist of the Year by a panel of journalism educators, according to the Maryland-DC Scholastic Press Association.
MCPS shared that as editor-in-chief of the school’s student-run news site, Dove has spent the past three years shaping its voice while mentoring younger writers and helping expand its reach. Her journalism teacher, Caitlin Patrick, described her as a student who leads with both initiative and heart.
As part of the recognition, Dove will receive $500 toward her college studies and will go on to represent Maryland in the national Journalist of the Year competition organized by the Journalism Education Association.
Her work can be viewed through The Buzz, where she has contributed reporting and leadership throughout her time at Damascus. The Maryland-DC Scholastic Press Association noted that applications for the 2027 Maryland Student Journalist of the Year will open in December for current high school juniors.
