DEADLINE EXTENSION FOR MEMBERSHIP
AND GOLD CIRCLE AWARDS ENTRY

COMPLETE YOUR ENROLLMENT BEFORE OCTOBER 26, 2026

CSPA membership enables student publications to demonstrate their excellence among their peers across the country in the prestigious Crown and Gold Circle awards.

Crowns are awarded by publication in six major categories, and Gold Circles are awarded to distinguish individual excellence in four major categories. 

CSPA offers a limited number of publication critiques as an optional add-on to your membership.

MEMBERSHIP FOR 2026-2027

Please note that CSPA's membership structure allows members to choose á la carte the services they prefer.

  • High school, middle school, and collegiate publications are eligible for CSPA membership.
    • Membership also includes access to the annual Crown finalist presentation.
    • The $55 membership fee may be applied as a discount to attend the fall conference or the spring convention.
  • A $55 membership fee is required for entry to CSPA awards programs. Publications may then choose which awards programs to enter for an additional fee.

    • A limited number of Publication Critiques will be offered for $195 per publication.
    • Entry to the Crown Awards can be added for $155.
    • Your first 30 Gold Circle Award entries can be added for $175.
      • Additional Gold Circle entries can be purchased in sets of five entries for $55.

  • The CSPA membership fee of $55 is redeemable as a one-time credit toward the entire registration fee of a future 2026-2027 CSPA event.*
  • Memberships must be renewed annually, with one membership per individual publication. When enrolling, please use the same email address that was provided for your publication membership. A new confirmation number will be provided each year.

*Members who have paid their membership dues in full should contact the CSPA office for instructions on redeeming their $55 event registration credit in the same membership year.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • Only CSPA members can participate in our contests. CSPA membership is required to purchase Publication Critiques and for entry into the Crown and Gold Circle Award Competitions.
  • Membership is per publication, not by school.
  • New and current members should use this site to enroll/renew for this year's membership.
  • All memberships will generate new, unique confirmation numbers to use during this membership year.
  • Avoid delays: please complete the online application FIRST (including electronic payment, if possible), then upload/send your materials immediately after.
  • All awards programs evaluate student-produced work completed in the PRIOR school year (2025-2026), while awards are presented DURING the membership year (2026-2027).

WHY JOIN CSPA?

STUDENT PUBLICATION CRITIQUES

A limited number of Publication Critiques will be available for purchase this year, performed by experienced advisers and student journalism professionals. More...

GOLD CIRCLE AWARDS:
RECOGNITION FOR INDIVIDUALS

Gold Circle Awards recognize individual achievement by students from any CSPA member in many categories. More...

CROWN AWARDS:
RECOGNITION FOR THE STAFF

Crown Awards recognize overall excellence in either print or digital student publications, chosen by a panel of judges working as a team. More...

Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) is an international student press association, founded in 1925, whose goal is to unite student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges, textbooks, critiques, and award programs.