Auburn, Maine, U.S.A. – Students from 20 countries and 19 U.S. states were recognized as winners in this year’s Youth Journalism International Excellence in Journalism Contest.
Listen to an audio recording of this article:
The 2026 contest, the 17th annual competition, recognized some of the great work done by the world’s best young reporters, editors, photographers, artists and cartoonists in dozens of categories ranging from editorials to multimedia news.
“All these entries give me hope,” said retired editor Frank Keegan, one of the judges.
The top winners in five categories receive engraved, crystal trophies. Every winner gets a custom-made certificate.
Earning the Educator of the Year award was Tom Hayes of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, who watched the May 2 awards ceremony online from the sidelines of his granddaughter’s soccer game.
“That’s pretty cool,” he said via Zoom. He called the prize exciting.
The judges said that “for more than two decades, Tom Hayes has guided a terrific journalism program” there that showed the ex-sports editor scored big as a teacher.
“His passion for responsible journalism has shaped the lives of scores of students who have discovered a passion for writing, photography, editing and more,” the judges said.
The Student Journalist of the Year, Sreehitha Gandluri, is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where she’s not only a fine journalist but is also a NCAA Division I fencer.
Gandluri “played a key role in organizing a forum in the university’s hometown on the future of journalism that showcased a handful of the state’s top journalists,” the judges said. “She also mentored many young reporters who rely on her experience, common sense and decency. She inspires her peers and remains a role model for anyone interested in pursuing every aspect of journalism.”
She said she felt “absolutely honored” and “very, very grateful” for the award.
In the other trophy categories, Kathryn Winters of Carlmont High School in Belmont, California won the Frank Keegan Award for News, for her piece “West Coast states break with CDC on guidelines.”
Gemma Christie, a first-year student at Durham University in the United Kingdom, earned the Jacinta Marie Bunnell Award for Commentary for a piece in which she explored her multi-racial heritage.
“It was a very difficult thing for me to write. But it was also very cathartic,” Christie said.
Two students from New Jersey won the First Amendment Award for pressing for student press rights at their high school. The award is presented in partnership with the First Amendment Museum in Augusta, Maine.
Andrew Hum and Kim Hong of Holmdel High School, wrote about their experience for the Student Press Law Center in a piece headlined “Speak up: If we can do it, so can you.”
“This is such an honor,” Hum said. “This is definitely a shock. I’m so happy.”
Competition for the awards is heavy as students demonstrate a lively interest in journalism around the globe.
Mitch Eden, a retired journalism teacher and one of the judges, said he felt inspired “to see these young journalists tackling everything from global democracy and political polarization to the hyper-local ‘battles’ of school logos and college advising.”
Contestants aged 19 and under submitted work published or broadcast in English during the calendar year 2025.
An international panel of about three dozen judges evaluated hundreds of entries.
The nonprofit Youth Journalism International has been educating the next generation of news professionals since 1994. It is a 501(c)(3) educational public charity. Its website can be found at youthjournalism.org.
Lia Arnold, a Reporter with Youth Journalism International, recorded the audio for this article.
A complete list of winners, with comments from judges in italics is below the recording of the ceremony:
STUDENT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Sreehitha Gandluri, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
In recognition of her superb work and growing leadership, judges chose Sarah Gandluri as this year’s Student Journalist of the Year. A second-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gandluri played a key role in organizing a forum in the university’s hometown on the future of journalism that showcased a handful of the state’s top journalists. She also mentored many young reporters who rely on her experience, common sense and decency. She inspires her peers and remains a role model for anyone interested in pursuing every aspect of journalism.
Finalists:
May Lin of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
May is an excellent multimedia journalist who understands, as she put it, that the profession “is not just about writing stories or sharing news, it is about speaking up and advocating for the people who are often unable to speak up for themselves.” And that is exactly what May does. She has the talent and dedication to make a real difference in the lives of many who need her to give them a voice.
Peter Atchley of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
As the managing editor of a fine student paper, Peter has done what any great editor should: he has the trust of his staff. His adviser told us that “younger staffers seek him out for guidance; editors rely on him for clarity and follow-through; and peers respect his ability to balance empathy with accountability. He leads not through his title, but through consistency, ethical grounding, and a genuine commitment to building others’ capacity.” That’s what you want. Peter offers it.
JOURNALISM EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Winner: Tom Hayes of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana
For more than two decades, Tom Hayes has guided a terrific journalism program at Indianapolis’ Ben Davis High School. He is a former award-winning sports editor who proved an even better teacher. His passion for responsible journalism has shaped the lives of scores of students who have discovered a passion for writing, photography, editing and more. We’re thrilled to offer our thanks to him for his contributions.
Finalists:
Susan Sutton of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California
David Ragsdale of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Alexa Gutterman of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York
Year after year, we see the hard work and dedication of these teachers in the incredible work that their students produce. Congratulations and thank you! You are needed now more than ever.
THE FRANK KEEGAN AWARD FOR NEWS
Winner: Kathryn Winters of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “West Coast states break with CDC on guidelines.”
This is an excellent, beautifully illustrated summary of a very complicated situation. It did need more from the anti-vax people, and their responses to being confronted with the facts. Republicans slaughtered more Americans in 2020 than all of our other enemies did in combat since 1865. They killed the most police officers and first responders in history. Nobody is holding them accountable. Our professional intelligence people have tracked origin of all the deadly Covid-19 misinformation on the internet and uttered by Trump back to Moscow. Good work on a tough story, Katheryn. Now somebody needs to push this to the next level. Don’t worry, the adult “professional” mass news media have not done much, either.
Finalists:
Mariana Prieto of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York, for “Funding Wars: How Defunding Ivy League Schools Impact Future Students”
This is a good, concise summary of a fundamental attack on American greatness, but it did not break any new ground. Needs quotes and more from the other side. Also, this attack, as are they all, really, is another Putin effort to drag America down. Our universities are the best in the world and attract the best and brightest from around the world. Check how many of our Nobel winners are immigrants or children of immigrants. Russia’s entire education system sucks. Russia cannot be great, so Putin tears us down.
Marium Zahra of Young Women’s STEAM Research and Preparatory Academy, El Paso, Texas, for “Students of Color Want Cops Out of Their Schools.”
Good job telling one side. But the thing we have learned in the last decade is: the mask is off. Racist, bigoted, misogynist, homophobic enemies of America don’t bother to hide it anymore. That makes it even more important to seek them out and question them, hold their lies up against the facts.
Isabelle Ling of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “North Beach fights for affordable housing amid delayed historic status consideration.”
Excellent graphics. Exploring this intractable issue is difficult, and you did some good work. Publishing a recording of the interview is a great idea. Exploring the tradeoffs and inherent conflicts of “good causes” (such as historic preservation and affordable housing) is good. One thing needed in all of these affordable housing articles (and America is dealing with this in almost every community) is an example of actual costs (land, permitting construction, etc.) per square foot. Ask who wants to volunteer to invest $500,000 in a home that would have to rent for $500 a month. The numbers just don’t work.
Ariam Tedla of High School for Math, Science and Engineering at City College, New York, New York, for “A Digital Divide: How New York’s Electronics Ban Exposed Journalistic Homogeneity.”
No greater long-term crisis threatens America and the world. This article has great stats and graphics. No doubt the digital divide disenfranchises and suppresses a large and important fraction of humanity. It distorts our frame of reference. The problem is presented well, but as with everyone trying to deal with this, workable solutions are hard to find.
THE JACINTA MARIE BUNNELL AWARD FOR COMMENTARY
Winner: Gemma Christie of Durham University, Durham, England, for “What does it mean to be of mixed race? Cape Town got me thinking about my life.”
An airport employee in Cape Town looked at Gemma’s passport, noticed she had a Chinese mother and English father, and welcomed her to “the land of the mixed.” It was an innocent, friendly comment. But it got Gemma thinking about her roots and experiences. She wrote a thoughtful, important piece that explored her own uncomfortable memories, ultimately feeling a “sense of empowerment in my own race and identity” that she’d never explored before. It is a perfect example of a young person using their voice to understand their world – and to help make it better.
Finalist: Zoey Huie of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York, for “The Wickedness of Body Shaming That Fans Don’t Understand.”
This entry tackles the toxic nature of celebrity culture with refreshing bluntness. By using the specific examples of the “Wicked” actresses and the late Chadwick Boseman, the writer exposes the “messy gray area” between genuine fan concern and invasive body shaming. It’s a passionate plea for the humanity of public figures that will resonate with any young reader.
FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD
Winner: Andrew Hum and Kim Hong of Holmdel High School, Holmdel, New Jersey, for “Speak up: If we can do it, so can you,” published by the Student Press Law Center.
Two juniors at Holmdel High School in Holmdel, New Jersey discovered that a school policy for student journalism was not just outdated. It didn’t comply with a 2021 state law. As they put it, “Sometimes, change doesn’t happen until someone asks the question: ‘Why is it still this way?’ We asked that same question when we discovered that our district’s student publications policy hadn’t been updated since 2012.” And then they pushed to ensure that authorities took action to protect student journalism. That’s what it’s all about. Andrew and Kim are solid defenders of the First Amendment.
ENTERPRISE REPORTING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Kornelia Tomaszewicz of Secondary School Bacho Kiro, Pavlikeni, Bulgaria, for “Bulgaria considers grading student behavior – and fines for parents.”
This was a really interesting read on a timely topic. The article had compelling stats up at the top and fantastic use of perspective (comparing the proposed fine to average wages). It did a good job advancing the story, noting that there are next steps that haven’t been taken to implement the proposal, while outlining what the best next steps should be. Great use of quotes, effectively weaving throughout quotes from students, parents and teachers to show many different perspectives. An interesting read that adds to building attention on the topics of student bullying, falling student achievement and smart-phone use. Overall, a strong piece!
ENTERPRISE REPORTING BY A TEAM
First Place: Liya Taylor, Mzée Pavlić, Sylvia Robinson, Grady Dunston and Lea D’Angelo of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Behind the Buzz.”
Great, attention-grabbing lede that starts with evocative imagery and ties immediately into anecdotes from affected students. It uses effective supporting data from reputable sources. It has a simple and strong call to action for society and for individual schools that could make a difference on this issue.
Second Place: Ryder Popovich and Lily Johnston of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “The gift of giving.”
News about positive action is inspiring to people, and this team effort offered loads of inspiration! We appreciated how comprehensive the report was, as it outlined many efforts in many different areas. Most importantly, it offered many ways for readers to get involved themselves. The potential ripple effects of this kind of reporting are so important to the local community and could have an impact for years to come.
Honorable Mention:
Janie Ripps, Kimberly Sanabria-Amaya and Lea D’Angelo of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Under the gun.”
This piece is so well-reported in terms of the background of gun legislation. It’s also very well-sourced. The reporters could have taken it up a notch with a stronger call to action and more focus on specific laws that are still in effect or are set to take effect.
FEATURE WRITING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Agnew Kim of Daegu International School, Daegu, South Korea for “The art of uncertainty.”
Ms. Kim is a fantastic journalist. Using both traditional and multimedia styles she explains and exhibits the media universe of Generation Z. She advances the idea that their language, media choices and world views are based on an absurdist view of life that values randomness over order and pessimism about the state of politics and government. She notes the similarity of this outlook to the Dadaists of the early 20th century with their artistic critique of the culture and crises of their society.
Using multimedia Ms. Kim wraps the reader/viewer around chunks of advertising, visual art and TV news that shakes us into an awareness of Gen Z’s dismal view of the future and a dislike of the world they have inherited. This style, called “corecore” is a lens into a kind of satire at the images that surround us.
What is not dismal or dark is that the author represents a window into the future of storytelling in journalism. Her insights are powerful. We look forward to seeing through that window.
Second Place: Emilia Sim of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California for “Treatment or trauma: The dark reality of the troubled teen industry”
Ms. Sim’s feature takes on a deeply troubling subject with the care and rigor it demands. Featuring personal accounts from survivors and parents alongside expert analysis from a youth psychology professor, Ms. Sim sheds light on an industry that systematically exploits desperate families while causing lasting harm to the very adolescents it claims to heal. Rather than simply cataloguing abuses, the article moves through the full arc of the experience — entry, isolation, consequence, and the painful work of recovery afterward — giving readers a genuine sense of what these young people endure. The inclusion of advocacy efforts and recent legislative progress at the end gave us a sense of hope. Well done!
Honorable Mention:
Elly Zhang of Bellaire High School, Bellaire, Texas for “‘Only dead fish go with the flow.”
Ms. Zhang’s profile of junior Evelin Kung is a lively and inspiring read about a young leader who has quietly reshaped what Scouting America looks like from the inside. The writer skillfully lets her subject’s personality and leadership style emerge naturally through quotes and anecdotes. The piece goes beyond a simple achievement story, touching meaningfully on questions of identity and representation along the way.
Claire Kornberg of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California for “A flutter of hope.”
A wonderful feature on the western monarch butterfly’s struggle for survival. Drawing on scientists, conservationists, and population data, Ms. Kornberg expertly weaves together the three interlocking threats of habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change without losing the reader in complexity.
FEATURE WRITING BY A TEAM
First Place: Ayana Ganjoo and Madilyn Shoop-Gardner of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Unseen stories: the psychology of cults.”
EXCELLENT and beautifully done
Second Place: Alan Zhang andEthan Xue of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Traditional dance allows cultural identity to flourish.”
Well written
Honorable Mention:
Sachin Chandran, Annie Guo and Malar Ragurama of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “They feel it, too.”
An empathetic story about teachers’ mental health. Well written and compelling.
IN-DEPTH REPORTING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First place: Kathryn Winters of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Editing humanity: A double-edged sword.”
Winters’ story stands out for its excellent explanatory journalism and detailed handling of a complex scientific topic. The writer successfully breaks down the science behind CRISPR gene editing while also exploring the profound ethical questions it raises for society. The narrative structure is compelling, beginning with the story of a newborn treated with experimental gene therapy before widening into a broader discussion about biotechnology and its implications.
Also, the piece demonstrates strong reporting and sourcing, incorporating expert voices and scientific context to help readers understand both the promise and risks of gene editing. The writing is clear, engaging and accessible despite the technical subject matter, showing a high level of journalistic maturity.
Additionally, the story is enhanced by effective visuals and explanatory elements, which support reader understanding and create a polished multimedia presentation. The balance between storytelling, scientific explanation and ethical debate ultimately makes this piece the most complete and impactful entry in the category.
Second place: Liza Larson of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Understanding Safety.”
Larson’s story offers a timely and highly relevant examination of school safety, a subject that continues to affect communities across the United States. The article effectively connects national conversations about school shootings to the local realities faced by students and administrators at Clarke Central High School.
The reporting is thorough and well-structured, incorporating interviews with administrators, teachers and security personnel to present multiple perspectives on campus safety measures. The writer also integrates data, charts and visuals that help readers understand trends in security incidents and the policies being implemented to prevent violence.
The story’s strength lies in its clear structure and strong use of sources, which give readers a comprehensive view of how safety policies work in practice. Its careful presentation and strong community relevance make it an outstanding example of local accountability journalism.
Honorable mentions
Christopher Long of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Disintegrating Support: Teachers are experiencing burnout due to district oversight, large class sizes, student disrespect and AI Usage.”
The reporter deserves recognition for tackling an important education issue affecting teachers nationwide: burnout and declining classroom conditions. The article highlights systemic pressures such as large class sizes, administrative oversight, student behavior and the influence of new technologies like AI.
The reporting demonstrates strong awareness of the broader education landscape while grounding the issue in real experiences from teachers and students. The piece effectively communicates urgency and social impact, making it a compelling contribution to education reporting.
Luciana Mendy of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Let’s Talk About It: Uneducated sexually active teens risk pregnancy.”
This story addresses a sensitive but critically important public health topic: sexual education among teenagers. The writer approaches the issue responsibly, emphasizing the consequences of inadequate sexual health education while highlighting the need for awareness and prevention. The piece is notable for its clear messaging and relevance to young audiences, helping readers understand the social and health implications of misinformation and lack of education on sexual health. Its courage in addressing a difficult topic and its educational value make it worthy of recognition.
Shanish Fernando of Stafford International School, Colombo 7, Colombo, Sri Lanka, for “Sri Lankan school focuses on special needs students.”
Fernando’s story provides a thoughtful and compassionate look at special education in Sri Lanka, highlighting both the challenges faced by students with disabilities and the efforts of educators working to support them. The article draws attention to issues of awareness, resources and inclusion in education systems.
Through interviews with teachers and students, the writer effectively humanizes the subject while placing it within a broader social context. The story’s international perspective and focus on marginalized communities gives it strong public interest value and global relevance.
IN DEPTH REPORTING BY A TEAM
First Place: Meher Sareen and Inez Stephenson of The American School in London for “‘A vicious cycle:’ Community shares experiences with anxiety disorders.”
This story turns a common but often flattened topic into something vivid, specific and deeply reported, using honest voices to show how anxiety shapes daily life and how school culture can intensify it.
NEWS WRITING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Inez Stephenson of The American School in London for “Community discusses phone policy research, inaccurate presentation.”
A great look at an issue that impacts students with admirable skepticism and independent research about some of the findings used to justify a new policy.
Second Place: Libby Marsh of Shawnee Mission East High School in Prairie Village, Kansa, for “What’s the Tea?”
An engaging and entertaining examination of something important to the student body that gets at issues of privacy, the risks and rewards of new technology and how we use it.
Honorable Mention:
Angela Jia of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, for “Teachers’ union, Archdiocese at negotiation standstill.”
This story went deep on something most students don’t think about enough – the labor of their teachers, how they’re compensated, and the complex system that governs these things.
Claire Kornberg of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Proposition 50 authorizes changes to California’s congressional maps.”
A look beyond the school campus that serves as a good explainer of a complex political issue with plenty of voices of both those engaged in the process and impacted by it.
Kairylle De Sagon of Alabel National Science High School, Alabel, Philippines, for “Hikes Over Risks: Hitchhiking cases continue despite preventive measures; students cite financial concerns, convenience as reasons why.”
A valuable story about issues of safety and affordability for students concerned about both.
NEWS WRITING BY A TEAM
First place: Shanish Fernando and Dulmini Mayadunna of Sri Lanka, for “Devastated by Cyclone Ditwah, Sri Lanka is recovering.”
In the immediate aftermath of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah across Sri Lanka, communities, charities, and organizations quickly stepped in to help, showing strong national solidarity as people worked together to support those affected and begin rebuilding. The news article balances the tragedy with hope. It doesn’t just focus on the damage but also highlights how people came together to help each other. That sense of unity and resilience makes the story feel powerful and human.
Second Place: Noah Haynes of Copenhagen, Denmark and Lina Marie Schulenkorf of Dresden, Germany, for “EU states call Trump tariffs ‘unacceptable,’ vow to react.”
This story shows how young journalists are stepping up to cover major international issues with clarity and with the timeliness these issues deserve. Strong geopolitical relevance with direct quotes and balanced reporting on international trade policy. Clear stakes for global economy and politics.
Honorable mention:
Dorothy Quanteh of Maryland, Samantha Esquivel of Matamoros, Mexico; Lina Marie Schulenkorf of Dresden, Germany and Aniva Vyas of Michigan, U.S.A. for “Penguins, crabs and lobsters, oh my! ‘No Kings’ protests mix worries with whimsy.”
What stood out is how creative and playful the protests were: people dressed up as penguins, crabs, lobsters and more while holding signs and chanting. Even though the message was serious, the atmosphere mixed protest with humor, making the events feel both powerful and approachable. This mix makes the protests feel more relatable, especially for young people.
Maya Dutt and Aviv Matas of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Community responds to Trump’s immigration policies.”
In the wake of widespread fear and disruption caused by increased ICE raids, a truly inspiring narrative is emerging that highlights proactive measures being taken by local authorities to protect their students. This particular story serves as a powerful testament to how school and district administrators are not merely complying with policy, but are actively and stepping up to serve as a vital line of defense.
Isabelle Ling and Kiana Chen of Carlmont High School, Belmont, CA, for “Redwood LIFE redesign calls for a compromise between residential and economic growth.”
This story shows a real local conversation between residents and developers where both sides are trying to find common ground. It doesn’t just report one perspective but captures everyday people engaging thoughtfully in shaping the future of their own neighborhood. That kind of community‑level storytelling helps make big planning issues feel relatable and important.
MULTI-MEDIA NEWS REPORTING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Nanaka Takahashi of Keio Girls Senior High School, Tokyo, Japan, for “Futuristic ideas on display at Expo in Osaka.”
Nanaka was the only entrant who truly embraced the multi-media aspect of this category – submitting her work in three different formats: article, audio and video. She had great access to the event, took lovely photos and filmed super shots for the different platforms. She embedded everything into one webpage which also worked well. Her spelling, grammar and punctuation were all top notch and her digital video was well crafted. She also interviewed a senior person at the event and gathered quotes which added value to the story.
Second Place: Noah Haynes of the European School Copenhagen, for “Denmark grapples with hybrid war.”
This is a well-filmed, well-written piece of video journalism. We were impressed with the credible voices you gathered – they were ambitious, and all added something new and important to the story. Your voice over was clear and concise and you wrote well into the different clips. This is a complex story, but it was well-told.
Honorable Mention
Lilly Traylor of The Episcopal School of Dallas, Dallas, Texas, for “Hegseth’s security slip exposes U.S. military war plans in Yemen.”
This is an incredibly mature piece of writing. Lily’s article is clear yet full of detail and contains many different voices. Her image at the top is well-crafted and engaging. She has taken on a very complicated subject and gathered multiple angles on it yet never lost the thread.
Grisell Salinas of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “Airport Government Shutdown” and “Gun Violence.”
Griselle’s two reports show that she has a bright future in TV reporting. She has taken on two interesting news stories and found ways to illustrate them well. With her police interview she had great access to a really credible voice. Her own voice is clear and confident and she looks very smart on screen.
MULTI-MEDIA NEWS REPORTING BY A TEAM
First Place: Veritas News Staff, Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York, for “Senior dues spark conversation at Cardozo.”
This entry deployed a strong broadcast-style approach, highlighting a compelling issue affecting students on campus: senior dues and the financial burden they impose. It moves from introduction to interviews, to context, and to resolution. The entry also contains news value in terms of and relevance. The camera presence and voice-over are clear and controlled, like those of professional newscasters. The report is also engaging, with well-selected interviews that are edited and that offer a range of perspectives. This entry stands out as a powerful example of journalism in motion.
Second Place Ahmed Elkhamisy of Mansoura, Egypt and Akhona Alwar of South Africa, for “Heartwrenching stories from Cape Town’s District Six.”
This entry explores District Six, one of the most painful legacies of apartheid in Cape Town, through empathetic, human-interest reporting. The piece focuses on voices that are often overlooked, capturing themes of loss, memory and resilience with care and intention. While the entry is more text than multimedia, the writing is evocative, well-structured, and its impact is profound. It’s a powerful historical and social context that gives voice to the voiceless.
Honorable Mention
Ethan Xue and Malar Raguraman of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Feedback on advisory changes.”
This short entry, with small infographics, highlights an important school-level issue, focusing on advisory policy changes and their impact on the student community. The entry does a good job of capturing students’ perspectives and institutional responses.
MULTIMEDIA FEATURE REPORTING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Sofiia Yakymenko of the Istituto d’Istruzione Superiore “G.Veronese – G. Marconi,” Chioggia, Italy, for “Surviving Sarajevo: a journey toward understanding war.”
This is exceptional journalism. It’s beyond student level. Unlike many student podcasts that feel conversational or loosely structured, this piece is tightly produced, intentional, and emotionally immersive. The audio storytelling is deliberate, and pacing, tone, and transitions are carefully handled. The voice delivery carries emotional weight without being performative, which is incredibly difficult to achieve. This is what audio journalism should do: make listeners feel like you are inside the story, not just hearing about it. Another commendable aspect is its editorial maturity – knowing what questions to ask and structuring a narrative that builds meaning rather than just information.
Second Place: Rachel Hong, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Hidden costs of school spirit: How expenses limit equity in extracurriculars.”
This feature story is excellent, elevated by data analysis (we particularly love that she surveyed 120 fellow students) and strong reporting. It uses clear sourcing, especially the effective use of student voice and lived experiences. The framing is balanced, analytical and not accusatory. The topic is also important, a much-needed conversation about how access to capital poses a challenge to school participation, particularly when it comes to engaging in extracurricular activities. In the U.S., extracurricular participation is deeply stratified by income, with low-income students affected at a higher rate, according to research. It’s serious, solution-oriented and policy-relevant journalism that raises awareness of an issue people rarely talk about.
Honorable Mention
May Lin of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “The art of preservation: Arrowsmithing.”
This entry highlights the significance of arrowsmithing preservation and, most importantly, cultural heritage, drawing attention to a subject often overlooked, especially in this tech-laden age. The entry draws our attention with genuine curiosity while delivering value and giving readers a crash course on craft preservation. This deserves an recognition because of how it elevates an underrepresented story, using data and audio with intention.
Noah Haynes of European School Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, for “Inside the careful restoration of a beloved Danish landmark.”
This entry combines excellent attention to detail and process to highlight the restoration of a cherished Danish landmark, weaving together elements of architecture, history and narrative. We love that the video is well produced, in a narrative and documentary journalism style, and that it interviews sources that fit the subject. The piece creates an immersive experience, guided by the author’s calm, observational tone.
Julia Campbell of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “For the Love of Mahj.”
This entry is unconventional in its use of Instagram carousels, which is interesting and well-designed. It highlights the vibrant culture and community of Mahjong, brought to life with storytelling. The subject of the piece feels both engaging and accessible, especially for younger audiences, which is important for new age journalism: the need to meet audiences across different platforms, like Instagram, in this context.
MULTIMEDIA FEATURE REPORTING BY A TEAM
First Place: Abigail Holloway and Lea D’Angelo of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Inkspired: tattooing in Athens.”
The photographs were colorful, engaging and really impressive. There were a great range of interviews with real people, including embedded audio from contributors. The interactive map was a great idea and worked really well. The students found a really interesting story in that tattoo parlors used to be banned. They looked at the history and developed a timeline to help demonstrate it, as well as looking ahead to the future. It was comprehensive, imaginative and professional.
Second Place: May Lin, Addya Agarwal, Chloe Chu and Anna Ypodimatopoulou of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Soundtrack of Spring: Celebrate the Music 2025.”
This had some great photos, a really well filmed and edited ‘highlights’ video embedded in the article along with audio recorded on the day of performances. The quality was very high. They covered a range of different angles, spoke to a variety of people – including the mayor – and showed a really good command of journalistic writing. Well done.
Honorable Mention:
Veritas News Staff of Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, Bayside, New York, for “Cardozo students are multilingual and multitalented.”
Veritas did a well filmed and edited video report into multilingualism and shone a light on an interesting issue. The voice over was clear and professional.
Sanjeet Jayaseelan, Ethan Xue, Parth Dhaulakhandi of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “School groups holiday traditions.”
The reporters had a lot of fun speaking to people about their holiday traditions and employed some creative techniques which worked well for the social media space.
PROFILE WRITING
First Place: Josephine Yein Lee, Chadwick International School, Incheon, South Korea, for “Two secrets from a successful life, a Korean story”
Extremely moving story. We loved the way the author structured the story, showing the reader how much Cho’s sponsor changed his life but also the whole world. We were extremely moved by Cho meeting Edna Nelson for the first time and realizing she gave to him without having much for herself all that time. What a beautiful relationship and profile on selflessness and giving back.
Second Place: Charlotte Wissel of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Brooklyn Adams.”
Compassionate and engaging profile of a young woman’s struggle to regain her sense of self at a challenging wilderness camp. We loved how the author structured this story, establishing the stakes immediately as we see the subject hospitalized. We also loved the through line of Noah Kahan’s music, and the way the profile ended with hope.
Honorable Mention:
Isaac Samek of Geffen Academy, Los Angeles, California, for “Before Sunrise: Behind the scenes with the kitchen team that feeds hundreds.”
Wonderful opening and closing. We loved the clean yet engaging writing, and the way this writer gave a perspective into everything that goes on behind the scenes for something so many of us take for granted. The early mornings, attention to detail, people management, and even budgeting through economic instability – this was a really impressive and thoughtfully presented profile.
Christopher Long of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “The Adventures of Miller.”
Fascinating opportunity to learn more about the subject’s life before coaching, and the way the writer interviewed people with different perspectives – his wife, and one of the students he coaches. We also appreciated the descriptive details, like the green Ford Econoline and the Elvis impersonation.
Mason Rafferty of Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, for “Public Speaking Enthusiast: Meet Vivan Evans.”
Engaging opening and thoughtfully written throughout. We loved getting perspective from the subject on the ways public speaking impacted her life, and from her students on the ways Ms. Evans impacted their lives.
PROFILE WRITING BY A TEAM
First place: Lila Ackerman and Lujayn Eljamal of New Paltz High School, New Paltz, New York, for “The Stories We Don’t See.”
The opening line is incredibly powerful: “Everyone has a story, right?” The authors did a great job incorporating quotes and sharing interesting pieces of Krista and Kevin’s lives.
TECH JOURNALISM
First Place: Micaela Yarbro of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, Massachusetts, for “Dealing With the Reality of AI.”
A well-balanced piece that brings in multiple perspectives without oversimplifying the issue.
Second Place: Cerina Aristide of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, Massachusetts, for “Looking at Limiting Social Media.”
A thoughtful and nuanced look at a complex issue.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Newman of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, Massachusetts, “Black Friday Gives Way to Cyber Monday”
A clear and informative piece with solid reporting and an interesting perspective.
TRAVEL WRITING BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Gemma Christie, Durham University, Durham, England, for “Enjoying the seashore by watching the penguins play.”
When we close our eyes, we can picture ourselves peacefully with the penguins, thanks to the detailed descriptions.
Second Place: Lia Arnold, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, for “A Swiss town where locals trust strangers.”
We appreciated the brief yet impactful and worthwhile message regarding trust and honesty.
Honorable Mention:
Leihani Lawrence of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, Harwich, Massachusetts, for “Students embrace the wonder of travel.”
This had the valuable message encouraging youth to start traveling to see that there are other ways people live.
Noah Haynes of European School Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, for “Helsinki: a small city with vintage style and tasty food.”
There were honest and detailed descriptions of the food, including criticisms.
Manuel Bernardo Tavares Moreira Belo Carmona of St. Peter’s Catholic School, Guildford, England, for “Carols, cozy cafes and Christmas tree farms make a festive English holiday.”
We enjoyed learning something about the town’s history and the culture.
TRAVEL WRITING BY A TEAM
First Place: Ahmed Elkhamisy of Egypt; Akhona Alwar of South Africa; Anjola Fashawe of London; Annamika Konkola of Oregon, U.S.; Anya Farooqui of Pakistan; Dorothy Quanteh of Maryland, U.S.; Gemma Christie of England, Shiara Naveen of Massachusetts, U.S.;Lina Marie Schulenkorf of Germany and Tahiry Andrianotahiana of Madagascar of Youth Journalism International for “2025 Global Conference in Cape Town: We opened up the world for one another.”
We loved the mix of multimedia (videos/photo) with thoughtful, in-depth snapshots of the many aspects of South Africa, digging deep into issues like climate, human rights and the simple joys of visiting a new country. There was also a sense that the team really worked together to highlight different perspectives, creating one cohesive snapshot made up of many different voices. Excellent reporting all around. We sense there are many future journalism changemakers in this team!
Second Place Malorie Voris, Souleyman China and April Rosales of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “Fall Break Travels.”
We enjoyed the mix of perspectives and were impressed by the design/layout of the story as well.
COLUMNS
First Place: Larissa Ayoub of Università Degli Studi di Genova, of Genova, Italy and Beirut, Lebanon, for “Sweet memories of a beloved Lebanese hometown.”
This piece beautifully wove together different elements in a cohesive and impactful way. The author clearly illustrates the sharp juxtaposition of fond childhood memories tied to Houla, Lebanon, and the current reality that this town has been destroyed by a foreign military. Ayoub does a stunning job in anthropomorphizing the town of Houla and expressing her desire to live up to the ideals she sees there.
Second Place: May Lin of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Breaking the ice: Is blood thicker than water in Asian American families?”
We loved the structure of this article, grappling with a common idiom as a way to explore its personal and cultural meanings. This is an extraordinary example of great column writing in how it takes a concept that is connected to the author and explores and expands the ways that it impacts others. The author tackles the very difficult subject of whether people are more beholden to their family or upbringing versus the choices they can and will make with their life. Lin handles this in a masterful way.
EDITORIALS
First Place: Scot Scoop, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Selective empathy is weakening our bonds.”
This is a sophisticated, deeply human piece of writing. It takes a complex psychological concept – selective empathy – and applies it perfectly to the teenage experience. By connecting the “me first” mentality of social media to the way we treat a missing classmate, the writer moves beyond simple opinion and offers a genuine cultural critique. The call to “slow down” is a powerful, necessary message for today’s youth.
Second Place: Southwest Shadow, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada, for “Poisoning Our Country.”
This editorial is a masterclass in combining national stakes with local impact. It doesn’t just decry federal policy; it uses specific data about the Las Vegas workforce and the local sheriff’s stance to show exactly how these “distant” political moves affect the student’s own neighbors. It is courageous, well-researched, and effectively uses the “us vs. them” narrative to challenge the reader’s perspective.
Honorable Mention:
The Crusader, Archbishop Riordan High School, San Franciso, California, for “The Crusader bids farewell to beloved logo.”
This is exactly what a staff editorial should be: the “voice” of the program standing up for its identity. The writing is poised and respectful of the administration, yet firm in explaining why a logo is more than just marketing—it’s a vessel for school history and student ownership. It captures a specific moment of transition with grace and professional maturity.
Scott Scoop, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Media bias erodes American democracy.”
A timely and well-structured argument. The use of the University of Rochester study regarding 1.8 million headlines provides a level of empirical weight that elevates this above a standard opinion piece. It successfully challenges the reader to move outside of their own echo chambers and reclaim their role as thoughtful consumers of news.
FIRST-PERSON ESSAY
First Place: Nazanin Boniadi of Kabul, Afghanistan, for “In Afghanistan, girls lives are ‘full of despair.’”
This piece provides a vulnerable glimpse of the lives of girls in Afghanistan, focusing on the impact of extreme limits on education, employment, and self-expression. It’s a brave account of a very difficult and personal subject.
Second Place: Carlos Fra-Nero of Central Maine Community College, Auburn, Maine, for “Living the lobster life.”
Descriptive and precise, this author tackles what it is like to trap lobsters in Maine, USA. Through this detailed “day in the life of” account, we learned about the lobster trade as well as the benefits of learning it for youth participants of a mentorship program.
Honorable Mention
Manon Boulanger of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “My year in America.”
We love the consistently authentic voice that this author employs in this piece. We can feel the growing pains she felt while learning about a new culture as if we experienced it ourselves.
Kateryna Kalyta of KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium, for “Europe Day 2025: sharing Ukraine’s story at the heart of Europe.”
A short but well-written piece, this reflection makes the case for the importance of sharing one’s perspective of the world and advocating for peace and solidarity. We can tell the author grew significantly from this experience in activism.
OPINION WRITING
First Place: So Eun Kang of Beachwood High School, Beachwood, Ohio, for “Narcan Can Save Lives.”
This is perhaps the best piece in this category in several years. The writing is fantastic, and the writer does a great job weaving in narrative, statistics, background story, and their legwork in running down information. Truly outstanding.
Second Place: Paloma Wilkinson of Stuyvesant High School, New York, New York, for “Reimagining Grand Army Plaza.”
This included some very effective writing grounded in history and the author’s own experience. It is difficult to write about something that means a lot to you, but Paloma did great work to convey the importance of the plaza to her without losing the effectiveness of the work.
Honorable Mention:
Raj Chamria of The American School, London, for “US Must Address Rising Tariffs.”
The author did a solid job of mixing in numbers but never lost the point of the piece. Tariffs can be a complex topic, but the author did a very nice job of briefly addressing what they are and how they can affect the economy.
Emma Luu of Pine Creek High School, Colorado Springs, Colorado, for “The Blame Game.”
This was a fascinating piece on an interesting subject that has importance in modern day society. Emma deserves a lot of credit for going out on a limb and addressing a unique subject. Her writing was very solid.
OPINION WRITING BY A TEAM
First Place: Chibuike Chukwuka of The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and Dominic Crown of Lagos, Nigeria, for “Nigeria celebrates its faltering democracy.”
This piece, written by two reporters who deeply care about their country, clearly conveys their thoughts and concerns.
GENERAL REVIEWS
First Place: Lina Marie Schulenkorf of Dresden, Germany, for “It’s got mulled wine and lederhosen – so is Chicago’s Christkindlmarket for real?”
The piece’s sense of humor makes it stand out among all the entries, and we believe its portrayal of homesickness will resonate with many immigrants in the world, especially coming from an immigrant writer. Through this piece, readers can sense both the writer’s personality and the atmosphere of the holiday season in her hometown.
Second place: Gemma Christie of Durham University, Durham, England, for “Meghan’s beautiful show may be organic, but it’s also a bit fake.”
Gemma’s review of Meghan’s show offers an honest, sharp perspective from an audience member and successfully sparked my interest in watching it. Among all the entries, its depth and writing stand out.
Honorable mention: Ann Tsyhanok of Kyiv, Ukraine, for “Art imitates life in wartime Ukraine.”
Thank you to Ann for documenting the exhibition and exploring how war shapes art and how art, in turn, reflects on war. This paragraph is truly heart-wrenching: “I thought that one of them may have wanted to be an artist, someone else wanted to have a family, but we will never know that. The dreams of these soldiers will never come true.”
GENERAL REVIEWS BY A TEAM
First place: Gemma Christie of Durham University, Durham, England; Anjola Fashawe of London and Akhona Alwar of South Africa for “Food, glorious food! Cape Town is delicious.”
The review thoughtfully described dishes from around the world – Malay, traditional South African, Ethiopian, and many others – showcasing the diverse food culture in Cape Town. This was a phenomenal review that would make any reader want to eat the delicious food found in the city!
BOOK REVIEWS
First place: Aviv Matas of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “’Sunrise on the Reaping’ displays tragedy, despair.”
Matas illustrates a poignant perspective on the value of this novel. We appreciate the author’s ability to provide an overview without rehashing the plot, and also relating it to the previous installments in the series.
Second place: Anya Farooqui of Karachi Grammar School, Karachi, Pakistan for “Absorbing important apartheid history in a book about District Six.”
In a world saturated with the Latest Popular Read, it is always appreciated when a reviewer brings an “older” book back into discourse (something nearly half of the entrants did this year). Farooqui’s use of outside sources is an interesting boon to this review, and adds value in teaching a bit of history itself.
Honorable mention:
Emma Chang of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Michelle Obama turns fashion into a language with her new book.”
A review written so well that it intrigues a reader who would typically not read a sartorial book.
Grace Skinner of Cape Tech Regional Technical High School for “Latest Hunger Games Book Thrills.”
Another great analysis on the value of this prequel to readers today, beyond simply adding context.
MUSIC REVIEWS
First place: Lia Arnold of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, for “Deadbeat is alive and well, for the most part.”
This piece displays a healthy musical vocabulary that feels professional and authoritative. Connecting the artist to the broader social/pop context is always a smart move, but critiquing whether the artist or the context is/are heading in a good direction is a step up from there, and the writer has the critical thinking skills to stick the landing.
Second Place: Emlyn McKinney of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Review: Neon Grey Midnight Green.”
Using illustrative, well-chosen language, this review effectively packs a lot of description into a small package.
Honorable Mention:
Maya Dutt of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Sol ChYld doesn’t ‘fake the funk.’
Madison Hodge of Bullitt East High School, Mt. Washington, Kentucky, for “Man’s Best Friend Album Review.”
THEATER AND FILM REVIEWS
First Place: Lucas Allison of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “Welcome to America” and “One Battle After Another is One of the Year’s Best Films.”
Lucas tackled two important films with an intelligence worthy of both. He astutely walks the reader through the plotting, themes, performances, cinematography, and contexts of the 2025 Best Picture-nominee The Brutalist and the Best Picture-winning One Battle After Another. Lucas is clearly drawn to worthy subject matter and approaches it with deserving thoughtfulness.
Second Place: Kirianna Finn of Cape Cod Regional and Technical High School for “Death of a Unicorn Weirdly Works.”
The mark of a great review is how the critic’s positive or negative assessment can move its reader to act. Death of a Unicorn on its surface does not seem like a movie that we would find ourselves drawn to watch. After reading Kirianna’s insightful assessment of the movie, we want to seek the film out. She goes beyond focusing on just the big stars and special effects to consider the importance of the soundtrack and character development. Well done, Kirianna!
Honorable Mentions:
Raj Chamria of The American School in London, London, UK, for “Happy Gilmore 2 adopts more serious tone, emphasizes value of family.”
Ayra Ansari of The American School in London, London, UK, for “Superman confronts power, propaganda through action, parallels real world events.”
Raj and Ayra took two films that on first blush could be lighter popcorn movies and approached them with depth. They both see the bigger picture with these movies. We particularly love that Raj, a sports editor, chose to review a sports-related film.
FEATURE PHOTOS
First place: Tyler Russell of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Refining the Notes.”
Excellent composition and timing!
Honorable mention:
Brylee Beauchamp of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “Elf.”
Campbell Alldredge of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “String Screams.”
Zac Russell of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Squabbled Up.”
Avra Welling of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Backstage Magic.”
NEWS PHOTOS
First place: Will Griffith of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Violent Bubbles.”
Will captured a moment in time that demands our attention. While using his camera lens to focus on a small group of protesters and lowering his angle upward we feel both the isolation and hope.
Second place: Kaliegh Marsala of Ritenour High School, St. Louis, Missouri, for “Long Lines.”
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
First Place: Jonah Berg of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, for “A season of firsts: Football scores first CCS title.”
Jonah had great timing. The ball is in a perfect spot. This shows some excellent positioning, editing, and knowing when to click the shutter.
Second Place: Cris Castanda of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “Soccer fun.”
Cris has excellent timing to capture the right moment of celebration. Tough to pick between first and second.
Honorable Mention:
Addie Clark of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “United Under One Flag.”
Marvin Wong of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, for “Riordan basketball captures Open Division.”
Sylvie DeGalan of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Driving Off the Wall.”
They all had great positioning and timing
PHOTO ESSAY, BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: – Noah Haynes of the European School Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark, for “Behind the scenes at the Tivoli Flower Festival.”
Noah’s images rose to the top with his visuals of an intricate and intimate affair of flowers. Well done and great storytelling.
Second Place: Addie Clark of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “EGGciting Celebration.”
This was just a delightful photo essay, joyful and inviting the viewer to share that joy.
Honorable Mention:
Lucas Allison of Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, for “BD Reconstruction.”
Beautiful images
PHOTO ESSAY, BY A TEAM
First Place: Elly Zhang, Keith Luo and Skylar Lew of Bellaire High School, Bellaire, Texas, for “A show for the soul.”
A strong, immersive piece that feels intentional from start to finish. The sequencing works well, and the quieter, behind-the-scenes moments give it real depth.
Second Place: Katherine Baez Orellana, Brisia Castillo, Ashling Greene and Joshua Lee of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, for “Lindland Theatre takes center stage after transformative renovations.”’
A clear and well-structured story that shows the impact of a local event in an effective, informative, and consistent way.
Honorable Mention:
Sylvie DeGalan and Paige Bean of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “A night to remember.”A fun and energetic look at a school event, with several strong moments, capturing the atmosphere well.
SPORTS FEATURE STORY
First place: Michael Yi of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Powering the Offense.”
A two-word lede with an exclamation point creates instant interest. Staccato second paragraph keeps the momentum going in this tale of the bonding and blocking of the Shawnee Mission East High football team’s offensive line, which the writer describes as a “five-man synchronized storm.”
The junior, assistant print editor uses one game, from the first play touchdown to the last-second winning field goal, to show how intra-line competition and off-field coalescing breeds camaraderie and on-field cohesiveness for the four seniors who welcomed one sophomore to their winning unit.
Second place: Grace Pei of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Finishing his Game.”
This piece begins with Shawnee Mission East High’s quarterback Jack Reeves being surprisingly congratulated during class by his teammates after accepting and offer to play at the University of Kansas. The writer then uses flashbacks to four games to profile the passer: two victories followed first by a raucous bus ride to Johnny’s Tavern where the team “devoured 10 pizzas, hundreds of fries and 200 wings,” then a loss of his homecoming king bid (although his girlfriend was homecoming queen!); and two losses: the first in which he suffered a season-ending injury prompting exemplary off-field leadership, then the 2025 finale, after which friend and also-injured teammate Brock Rider said, “The only person I was thinking of hugging was [Reeves], and the only person he was thinking of hugging was me.”
Honorable mention:
Aryana Wilson of Ritenour High School, St. Louis, Missouri, for “Where have all the seniors gone? Numbers Drop in Fall Sports.”
The writer tells how she’s going to attempt answer that question in the first paragraph, noting, “… some think it is normal and something to ignore, while others believe there may be something deeper to it.”
The junior and content editor-in-chief, covers her bases by tapping into the expertise of Ritenour High’s athletic director, two coaches and two senior athletes, one who opted to play the senior season, and one who didn’t.
Sanjeet Jayaseelan of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Game Review: Varsity boys water polo suffers narrow defeat of 11-13 against Gunn Titans.”
Sanjeet Jayaseelan is only a sophomore, and “is excited to bring a new perspective as a reporter,” according to The Epitaph, adding “He hopes to improve his writing skills… and hone his skills when interviewing.”
His effort describing this water polo game indicate he is serious about working on those goals.
SPORTS FEATURE BY A TEAM
First Place: Selina Wang and Maya Dutt of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “A snapshot into the life of capturing sports media.”
The writers find a smart, original way into sports coverage, using vivid detail and strong character reporting to show the skill, discipline and creative eye behind the images audiences usually take for granted.
Second Place: Natasha Bandil, Ethan Xue, Henry Hu and Chloe Wang of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for“Varsity boys water polo tackles higher league.”
These journalists take a familiar team story and sharpen it with clear reporting on adversity, showing how players and coaches are adjusting to tougher competition, shifting expectations and a new emphasis on teamwork and growth.
SPORTS NEWS STORY
First Place: Kye Streetman of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Lighting up Death Valley.”
A thorough story which provides the reader with a deep understanding of the many layers related to the news. We liked that you introduced a potential negative that the reader may wonder about (budget!) and addressed that in your story. We loved that quotes were reserved to get wide-ranging points of view from perhaps not the most conventional subjects, including a student and the volleyball coach.
Second place: Liya Taylor, Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “Athens made, Athens bound.”
Excellent use of quotes – including the subject and the family, which supports the writer’s premise about the essential role family played in this decision. Through research and supporting facts, the story helped the reader understand the significance of the decision. The slide show was insightful and properly merged visuals with text.
Honorable mention:
Victoria Berton of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, for “On to the playoffs.”
The writer made the story easy to follow by the way she laid out the journey to this unprecedented spot. There was a smart use of quotes from both players and coaches.
Isla Giron of University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, for “F1 driver disappoints fans with slide off Australian Grand Prix racetrack.”
The story is nicely structured and really brings the reader “along for the ride,” describing the moment-by-moment timeline.
MULTIMEDIA SPORTS TEAM REPORTING
First Place: Liya Taylor, Kye Streetman, Dream Freeman, Merren Hines, Lea D’Angelo, David Wang, Jay Braswell and Sylvia Robinson of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “The Glory of ’85.”
The reporters tell the story of a high school football team that turned disappointment into victory. The article captures that classic comeback energy and how a tough loss can actually push people to do something great. It’s simple but powerful: resilience, teamwork and not giving up.
Second Place:
Liya Taylor, Jay Braswell, Sylvia Robinson and Lea D’Angelo, Merren Hines, Kye Streetman, Wyatt Meyer, David Wang, Aza Khan of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia, for “59th Classic City Championship Package.”
The use of multimedia elements made the whole event feel alive. You get the players’ mindset, the hype from cheerleaders, and even the band’s perspective, so it feels like a full school experience, not just a scoreboard. It’s engaging, easy to follow, and really captures that “big game day” energy.
SPORTS OPINION
First Place: Ayaan Omer of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “College athletes should have paid salaries.”
The reporter uses data and logic to present a cogent argument on an important topic in college sports.
Second Place: Liya Taylor of Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georia, for “Liya’s Lineup: WNBA.”
A thoughtful opinion piece counter to the conventional wisdom.
Honorable mention:
Dominic Crown of Lagos, Nigeria, for “Setting a world chess record to help African children.
The young reporter presented how an amazing world record was topped by the generous charitable effort.
CARTOONS
First Place: Carter Hunt of Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada, for “Preparing to Drive.”
Humor, relatable, vibrant colors and action depiction.
Second Place: Jade Wu of Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, for “Interrupted Liberty.”
Serious topic with poignant rendering of censorship.
Honorable Mention:
Andy Fisher of Ritenour High School, St. Louis, Missouri, for “Cell Phone Ban.”
Melodrama is hilarious, accessible topic.
ILLUSTRATIONS
First Place: Milana Yarychkivskiy of Sächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra zu Meißen school, Germany, for “Can the world hear the cries of Gaza’s children?”This piece is striking. It reminds us of the horrors of civil war depicted in the famous painting Guernica by Picasso, which we’ve always said is, “a painting you can hear.” The artist uses stark and bold black and white lines to create a similar, sad feeling in this editorial piece. What’s more, is that a young student made this, not an adult. The work depicts horrible grief, sorrow, and heaviness. You can feel it. Well done to the artist, and please keep making drawings.
Second Place Elodie Cockerell of the Watford Grammar School for Girls, Hertfordshire, England, for “Being an American is my Birthright”
This traditional illustration uses ink, one of the best mediums for editorial illustration. We’re so happy to see students using traditional media in this way. Stark, bold black shapes create mysterious profiles in front of the well-known Lincoln Memorial. This is an illustration that depicts classic American symbolism and makes the viewer look closely at who is in shadow. Well done, young inker!
Honorable Mentions
Francesca Lorusso of Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, for “Tea Illustration.”
Nice clean design and bright colors. This piece has nice movement and flow to it. We would have liked to see the article that accompanied it.
Freddie Michalchuk of Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, for “The Rise of AI.”
Strong composition that goes together well with the subject matter – powerful and a little scary. It made us want to read the story.
Lilly Traylor of The Episcopal School of Dallas, Dallas, Texas, for “Traditions that tie us together in unity across cultures.”
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AN INDIVIDUAL
First Place: Anneliz Tavarez Munoz of Ritenour High School, St. Louis, Missouri, for “’Easy A’ movie poster recreation.”
Visually interesting, and a great idea to parody a popular movie poster!
Second place: Alyssa Huang, Branson High School, Ross, California, for “Boys Basketball Set to Finish Strong.”
Nice action shots!
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY A TEAM
First Place: Henry Hu and Malar Raguraman of Homestead High School, Cupertino, California, for “Band marches in internationally televised 136th Rose Parade.”
The illustration is phenomenally incorporated into the layout and highlights different parts of the band in action. Impressive!
A map of all trophy winners since 2010. Click on it to zoom in!:
