Two Houston Students Join National Scholastic Press Team
Local students are among ten kids selected nationwide to report on news and interview public figures this year.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Pre-Teens
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Two students from Houston have been named to the prestigious Scholastic Kids Press team, joining a select group of only 10 young reporters nationwide. These local students will spend the coming year interviewing public figures and writing news stories for a national youth audience.
Why it matters
Programs like these encourage middle-schoolers to engage with literacy and journalism, potentially inspiring local children to discover new topics and pursue their own reading goals. By participating, these students gain experience in communication while sharing their unique perspectives with peers across the country.
Kush Kalra and 11-year-old Julia Gondorchin are the two Houston-based students selected for the 10-person national team. These reporters were chosen from a competitive pool following teacher encouragement and a formal application process.
The players
Kush Kalra
A returning student reporter from Houston who previously interviewed filmmaker James Cameron for the program.
Julia Gondorchin
An 11-year-old student from Houston selected as one of the 10 national Scholastic Kids Press reporters.
Scholastic Kids Press
A national journalism program that recruits and trains students to report on news for a youth audience.
The details
The Scholastic Kids Press program functions by pairing young reporters with opportunities to interview influential public figures and industry experts. Participants apply to the program, often after being encouraged by their teachers to pursue their interest in writing and reporting. Once selected, these students produce news stories that aim to provide information and inspiration to other children throughout the country.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: Announcement of the Scholastic Kids Press cohort.
The Home Front
This development aligns with broader efforts to improve media literacy among pre-teens by giving them active roles in the news-gathering process. It follows the established pattern of the Scholastic Kids Press program in elevating student voices to foster a culture of lifelong learning.
If you have a child interested in journalism, use this as an opportunity to look up the application requirements for the program for future cycles. Encourage your student to reach out to their teachers if they have a passion for reporting or interviewing to help them prepare for similar extracurricular opportunities.
The takeaway
Participation in youth journalism offers kids a unique way to gain confidence and share their voices with a national audience. For students interested in building their own reading or writing skills, consider starting a shared-reading project, similar to Julia Gondorchin's engagement with expansive literature like The Lord of the Rings.
Further reading
To learn more about fostering reading habits and media engagement in middle schoolers, visit the Pre-Teens section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPRC.
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