Diamond Awards Student Reporter
The Diamond Awards Student Reporter award category recognizes students who have an interest in journalism, film or digital marketing. Up to two students will be selected as the Diamond Awards Student Reporters, and are eligible to advance to the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, AKA The Jimmy Awards. This is an opportunity to showcase student creativity and skills in event coverage, visual storytelling, video editing, videography, photography, and/or social media.
If selected as a national winner for the Jimmy Awards, students will receive an all-expense paid trip to NYC to work directly with the Jimmy Awards Digital team, June 21-23, 2026.
For full details on the Jimmy Awards Student Reporter search, please visit: https://www.jimmyawards.com/participation/student-reporter-search/
Eligible Students:
- Must be enrolled in a school that is participating in the Dimond Awards.
- Students may be in the cast of the musical, but not in a Leading Role.
- Must be in grades 9-12.
- Must be available to attend The Diamond Awards (May 21-23, 2026), as well as The Jimmy Awards in New York City (June 21-23, 2026), should they be selected at the national level.
To Register:
Students must register themselves for this category by November 21, 2025 by completing this form.
Selection Process: The Diamond Awards will use a 2-step process to select the Student Reporter winners.
We want to see your personality shine in your videos! Show us how you would use your unique perspective to build interest in and awareness of the Diamond Awards.
The students determined by the submissions board to have the best camera presence, creativity, adherence to the stated guidelines, and other similar criteria, will be chosen as the Diamond Awards Student Reporters. The submission board’s determination will not be subject to review.
1. Video 1:
- After registering, students will be emailed instructions to create a video in the style of an Instagram Reel/TikTok video, and submit to the Diamond Awards by December 23, 2025.
- The top Student Reporters will be announced January 30, 2026, to advance to Video 2.
2. Video 2:
- In February, Student Reporters will receive additional training from local media professionals.
- Students will create and submit a draft video using the Jimmy Awards guidelines, due March 23. Feedback will be provided.
- The final video is due to the Diamond Awards by April 6.
- Selected Student Reporters [HM4] will be invited to work with the Diamond Awards team to provide coverage of the Diamond Awards rehearsal process and show.
- Student Reporter winners will be announced at the Diamond Awards show, and will be eligible to advance to the national program, the Jimmy Awards.
Timeline:
- November 23: Deadline to register for the Student Reporter award category
- December 23: 1st Video Due! Submit your 1st video using the instructions sent by The Diamond Awards
- January 30: Top Student Reporters announced
- February TBD: hands-on training from media professionals to prepare for Video 2
- March 23: Draft of 2nd video due (this is the video that may be submitted to the Jimmy Awards)
- April 6: Final 2nd video due
- May 21-23: The Diamond Awards – Top Student Reporters will assist with coverage for this event & winners will be announced.
- June 21-23: The Jimmy Awards