Oct. 22, 2021

National Scholastic Press Association announces the finalists in its 2021 Photo of the Year competition.

Winners in this and all Individual Award categories, as well as the NSPA Pacemaker Awards in Broadcast, Newspaper/Newsmagazine and Specialty Magazine, will be announced virtually at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021.

Finalists are alphabetical by state.

Register for the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention, presented virtually Nov. 1, 2021, to Jan. 15, 2022.

Enter the Best of Show competition for the fall virtual convention.

Register for the Philadelphia Storytelling Workshop.

NSPA’s first in-person Pacemaker Master Class will be presented Nov. 11-13, 2021, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.

Finalists for
2021 NSPA Individual Awards

Broadcast Story of the Year
Cartoon of the Year
Design of the Year
Digital Story of the Year
Photo of the Year
Story of the Year
Social Justice Reporting
Local Climate Change Reporting
Portfolio of the Year
Best Use of Social Media
COVID-19 Coverage
Junior high/middle school

Finalists for fall 2021
NSPA Pacemaker Awards

Broadcast
Newspaper/Newsmagazine
Specialty Magazine

“Vaccinated”
Magnolia Collins
Tiger News Online
Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock, Arkansas

“Parents protest in-person delays despite updates from administration”
Elliott Taylor
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois

“Flag Tug of War”
Cameron Rozek
Central Times
Naperville Central High School
Naperville, Illinois

“Sports Rally”
Claire Powell
The Tiger Print
Blue Valley High School
Overland Park, Kansas

“Academy Community Reflects on Culture of Sexual Assault”
William Park, Daniel Zhang
The Exonian
Phillips Exeter Academy
Exeter, New Hampshire

“Black Lives Matter: clearing the air”
Alice Adams
The Stinger
Emmaus High School
Emmaus, Pennsylvania

“I Want to Learn to Read”
Aric Shah
Featherduster
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

“Actions Speak Louder than Words”
Susanna Newsom
Carillon
The Episcopal School of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

“BLM Protest”
Landri Hargrove
The Rider Online
Legacy High School
Mansfield, Texas

“Putting Pen to Paper”
Kalea Lamphier
The Blaze
Indian Trail High School & Academy
Kenosha, Wisconsin

“Students Support Black Lives Matter Movement”
Kayla Alexandre
The Trinity Voice
Trinity Preparatory School
Winter Park, Florida

“Student-teacher relationships adapt with hybrid learning”
Elliott Taylor
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois

“Socially distanced study hall”
Danielle Pritchard
Central Times
Naperville Central High School
Naperville, Illinois

“Rain check”
Francis Hovland
Paragon
Munster High School
Munster, Indiana

“Show choir”
Jordyn Cimmiyotti
The Dragon
Johnston High School
Johnston, Iowa

“We march on”
Allison Mi
The Huron Emery
Ann Arbor Huron High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

“Bridging the virtual divide”
Essy Ingram
Odyssey
Francis Howell Central High School
Cottleville, Missouri

“Masked super hero”
Caleb Melville
The Shield Online
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

“Taking a closer look”
Madelynn Niles
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

“Jump for Joy”
Branden Svevo
The Lion
McKinney High School
McKinney, Texas

“Royal Palm Beach Swim Meet”
Lexi Critchett
The Muse
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida

“Trojans come up short in state championship”
Owen Aanestad
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

“Baseball”
Charlie Trent
The Tiger Print
Blue Valley High School
Overland Park, Kansas

“Flying High”
Lucy Hartman
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

“Wildcats claw past Jr. Jays”
Anna Burton
Prowler
Millard West High School
Omaha, Nebraska

“Hangin’ On”
Taylor Tiberg
Ledoian
Aledo High School
Aledo, Texas

“Leap of Faith”
Nicholas West
The Talon News
Argyle High School
Argyle, Texas

“Jump”
Nicholas West
The Talon News
Argyle High School
Argyle, Texas

“Snag the ball”
Blake Beaver
Bridgeland Student Media
Bridgeland High School
Cypress, Texas

“State Title Tough”
Katie Gerbasich
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School
Kingwood, Texas

“Celebrate”
Laney Turner
Regal Red
Maize High School
Maize, Kansas

“Soccer regional champs”
Ella Mills
The Tiger Print
Blue Valley High School
Overland Park, Kansas

“A Disagreement on the Field”
Rachel Sarff
The Express
Blue Valley Northwest High School
Overland Park, Kansas

“Family discussion”
Samantha Castille
FHCtoday
Francis Howell Central High School
Cottleville, Missouri

“Get Your Head In The Game”
Lainey Hogg
Pioneer
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood, Missouri

“Into the Sunset”
Olivia Estoppey
Legend
Wando High School
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

“For the Win”
James Ward
Ledoian
Aledo High School
Aledo, Texas

“Brotherly Celebration”
Ava Bathurst
Ledoian
Aledo High School
Aledo, Texas

“#StateChamps”
Rachael Barkoff
El Paisano
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

“Knights out, lights out”
Caleb Melville
The Knight
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

“Losing track of time”
Ethel Yagudayeva
The Union St. Journal
Cherry Creek High School
Greenwood Village, Colorado

“Fight Like A Woman”
Nick Beckman
HiLite
Carmel High School
Carmel, Indiana

“Art of the Body”
Grace Davis
The Express
Blue Valley Northwest High School
Overland Park, Kansas

“Wheel throwing”
Amelia Arrieta
The Teresian
St. Teresa’s Academy
Kansas City, Missouri

“Through the Lens”
Nicholas West
The Talon News
Argyle High School
Argyle, Texas

“The return to campus”
Anna McClellan
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

“Unmasking a new fashion statement”
Lilly Gorman
Coppell Student Media
Coppell High School
Coppell, Texas

“Playing with Pride”
Macie Gunn
Bridgeland Student Media
Bridgeland High School
Cypress, Texas

“Disguise”
Marina Qu
The Tartan
McLean High School
McLean, Virginia

“Dancer”
Marina Qu
The Tartan
McLean High School
McLean, Virginia