A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ALAYSHA MAPLE FOR BEING NAMED THE 2025 DAILY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to honor Alaysha Maple, Next Gen News Editor and public safety and arts and entertainment reporter for the Sumter Item, upon her receipt of the 2025 Journalist of the Year award for daily newspapers, at the annual South Carolina Press Association awards ceremony held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Friday, March 6, 2026; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Press Association's annual news contest recognizes excellence in journalism produced during the previous year, and this recognition of Alaysha Maple marks the first time in the 132-year history of the family-owned newspaper that a Sumter Item reporter has received this prestigious honor. In addition, according to the association's records, Alaysha Maple also is the first Black woman to be named Journalist of the Year in the history of the awards; and

Whereas, a native of Sumter, Alaysha Maple is a 2021 graduate of College of Charleston, where she earned a bachelor of arts in communication. She joined the Sumter Item later that year as a multimedia reporter and has since been promoted to editor of the paper's Next Generation beat, where she leads Sumter's Next Generation series and coordinates student-focused field trips and community programming; and

Whereas, Alaysha Maple has distinguished herself through comprehensive coverage of crime, local government, investigative reporting, feature writing, and community events. Her work reflects diligent research, persistence, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring important stories receive sustained public attention, earning recognition for its fairness, accuracy, and impact; and

Whereas, her individual work that was awarded in the 2025 contest included two first-place honors for best series, with video editor Zac Hooks, for Past is Present, and best government beat reporting, as well as second-place award for best arts and entertainment reporting for a story on the Sumter Community Concert Band, and a third-place recognition for her obituary of Wilson Hall matriarch Sarah Witherspoon Nash Wilson. She has also contributed to staff honors for General Excellence and best special edition in Life is Good, both earning second place; and

Whereas, during the contest period, Alaysha Maple graduated from America's Newspapers' Executive Development Program and has participated in additional professional development cohorts, bringing enhanced expertise to her newsroom. She also mentors two USC Sumter student interns through a partnership supported by the Williams-Brice-Edwards Charitable Trust; and

Whereas, beyond her professional accomplishments, Alaysha Maple's dedication to mentorship, collaboration with students, and ability to build meaningful relationships across her community, from residents to business leaders to public officials, further distinguish her service; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives commend Alaysha Maple for her insightful reporting, articulate writing, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commend Alaysha Maple for being named as the 2025 Daily Journalist of the Year by the South Carolina Press Association.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Alaysha Maple.

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