Samantha Corza is a Certified Journalism Educator who teaches journalism and English at State College Area High School in State College, Pennsylvania, hometown of Penn State University. She advises State High Publications, an award-winning program spanning print and digital content, daily live broadcasts, and a nationally recognized yearbook. Her program is known for blending high standards with student ownership, emphasizing local journalism and apprenticeship-style learning. In 2026, Corza was named Pennsylvania’s Journalism Teacher of the Year. She serves on the board of the Pennsylvania School Press Association and has worked as a consultant with NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme, where she contributed to instructional design and assessment reform. Corza is drawn to WJMC because she believes student voices have the power to create real change– and what better place to do that than in Washington, D.C? When she’s not in the classroom or the newsroom, she can be found traveling, reading, or cheering on Penn State football.