Reporter Anne Gelhaus won a 2004 John Swett Award for Media Excellence in the category of "contribution by an individual, based on continuous coverage of schools/education issues" in the weekly/semi-weekly newspapers division. Gelhaus also writes for the Resident's sister papers Almaden Resident and Rose Garden Resident.

Amy Wicks, a former Willow Glen reporter, won in the category of "contribution by an individual for a feature story." Her award-winning cover story, "Vibe Zone," which ran in the paper on Feb. 18, 2004, was about the music program at Willow Glen High School.

The Willow Glen Resident as a newspaper received a Certificate of Merit in the category of "contribution by a publication for editorials."

According to a John Swett Awards brochure from the teachers association, "These awards ... are CTA's highest honor for media professionals, herald outstanding coverage of issues that touched California's schools, community colleges and state universities.

"Thanks to CTA members interacting with the media, vital school issues make it from the classroom to the newsroom, allowing the public and its elected representatives to make informed decisions about quality education and its future. This link between teachers and the media is strengthened by the rule in this competition requiring local chapters of CTA to nominate works by media professionals for the contest."

Marlene Mattoon, president of the San Jose Teachers Association, nominated those entries for John Swett awards.

The newspaper will receive a plaque for the award at a June 11 California Teachers Association luncheon in Los Angeles.

Some of the Resident's sister newspapers were also honored by the association: The Cupertino Courier won in the category of "contribution by a publication for continuous coverage" and received a Certificate of Merit for a feature story written by I-chun Che; Almaden Resident writer Anne Ward Ernst received a Certificate of Merit for "contribution by an individual based on continuous coverage of schools/education issues."