Two Houston Students Join National Youth Press Team
Local students are set to interview public figures as part of a national journalism program for children.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Pre-Teens
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Two Houston students, 11-year-old Julia Gondorchin and returning reporter Kush Kalra, have been named to the Scholastic Kids Press team. They are among only 10 student reporters nationwide selected to interview public figures and cover news for a national audience.
Why it matters
Programs like Scholastic Kids Press encourage youth engagement with literacy and journalism. By interviewing prominent figures, these students gain experience in research and storytelling, which helps inspire other children to read and think critically about current events.
Official roster data identifies two Houston students among the 10 total Scholastic Kids Press reporters selected nationwide. While the program requires an application process supported by teachers, the exact schedule and subjects of their upcoming interviews remain to be determined.
The players
Kush Kalra
A returning Scholastic Kids Press reporter from Houston who has previously interviewed filmmaker James Cameron.
Julia Gondorchin
An 11-year-old Houston student and first-time member of the Scholastic Kids Press program who enjoys literature.
The details
The program recruits young reporters who apply after receiving encouragement from their teachers. Once selected, these students engage in professional-level journalism by preparing for and conducting interviews with influential public figures. Their work is then published to share ideas and perspectives with a national readership of peers.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: The students are announced as part of the new national reporting team.
Health Landscape
The Scholastic Kids Press program represents a long-standing initiative to boost childhood literacy and media engagement. It sits within a broader landscape of educational extracurriculars that prioritize student-led research and critical communication skills.
Engaging with literature, as seen in the participants' interest in books like The Lord of the Rings, is a key component of cognitive development and stress reduction in pre-teens. Encouraging children to pursue extracurricular interests can help improve their confidence and social communication skills.
The takeaway
Empowering youth to share their voice can significantly boost their academic engagement and reading habits. Parents can help by asking children to share what they are currently reading or by discussing the news with them to build their critical thinking skills.
Further reading
To learn more about fostering curiosity and reading habits in this age group, visit our Pre-Teens section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPRC.
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