By Sharon Stevens Education Reporter

St. Charles, MO (KSDK) - A local student brings home a big win and a first for the St. Louis area.

Kelsey Bell, 18, is a student at Francis Howell North High School in St. Charles. She's the first 2012 National High School Student Journalist of the Year from the St. Louis area, and the second ever from Missouri.

The first Missouri winner was Lauren Miller from Mexico, Missouri. She won in 2004.

Bell won just two weeks ago when the Journalism Education Association named her the winner. She beat out 36 other students from across the United States.

Up until the point when her named was called, bell didn't think she had much of a chance.

She is the editor of the North Star Magazine at her school, and contest judges gave her high marks for her portfolio. She was cited for her storytelling, design, and computer abilities.

Most of her work is done in a basement-level classroom designed for communications students.

Bell's teacher school journalism advisor, Aaron Manfull, says he's very proud of her.

Writing for the North Star wasn't Bell's dream but she always loved to write and that goes back to elementary school.

And then there's the family influence; Bell's sister held the same position at the school a few years ago.

Bell will receive a $5,000 scholarship. She hopes to attend either Indiana University or Ohio University in the fall.

KSDK