The publisher of one of the state's newest weekly newspapers has been named the Nebraska Press Women Communicator of Achievement, according to Ruth Brown, NPW COA director.

LuAnn Schindler, who publishes the Summerland Advocate Messenger in northeast Nebraska, received the award at the NPW fall conference, Saturday, Oct. 9, in Grand Island. The award recognizes achievement in the communications profession, service to the community and industry and leadership in the organization.

A native of Clay Center, Schindler got hooked on journalism at her high school career day. She then earned an education degree in journalism, English and communication arts at Hastings College and did post-graduate work at Northwestern University.

Schindler taught high school at Lutheran High School Northeast in Norfolk and St. Mary's in O'Neill and before becoming managing editor at the Clearwater Record--Ewing News.

All of this time she was also

employed as a regional correspondent

for the Norfolk Daily

News and wrote for an online

writing magazine.

In 2019, Schindler launched

the Summerland Advocate Messenger,

a printed weekly newspaper

that is also delivered on the

web and through Facebook, Instagram,

TikTok and Twitter. The

paper covers Clearwater, Ewing,

Orchard, Page and Royal. Schindler

and her husband Scott also

founded ColdType Publishing,

the parent company that provides

commercial printing and graphic

design services.

A member of NPW for seven years, Schindler served on the board of directors for five years, editing the newsletter and assisting with the high school communications contest. In addition, Schindler won numerous awards in the NPW and National Federation of Press Women communications contests, as well as in the Nebraska Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest.

"I have big shoes to fill," Schindler said. "Past Nebraska COA are the best of the best in print and on-air. I am humbled to be recognized by my peers, especially since I'm simply doing what I love - writing about and recording the history of the people in our communities."

Schindler will represent Nebraskaat the 2022 NFPW COA competition this June in Fargo, North Dakota.