2025 Online Pacemakers
NSPA recognizes online excellence
Pacemaker competition recognizes 13 online news sites for excellence
April 26, 2025
SEATTLE — The nation’s top scholastic websites were recognized today by the National Scholastic Press Association, which announced 13 winners in its annual Pacemaker competition.
Pacemaker winners were announced for the first time on Saturday, April 26 at the convention’s awards ceremony.
“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” Executive Director Laura Widmer said. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”
The NSPA Pacemaker, one of the oldest awards for scholastic journalism, has a rich tradition. The association started presenting the prestigious award to high school newspapers soon after the organization was founded in 1921. Throughout the years, yearbooks, magazines, online sites, broadcast programs and innovation were added to the competition.
The online sites competed in two different categories based on school population. Two teams of three judges studied every entry, analyzing its strengths. The status of each entry was agreed upon by at least two of the three judges.
In this competition, only the online news product was judged. The news sites were either digital companions to print newspapers and newsmagazines or online-only products. In all, 71 sites were companions to print newspapers and newsmagazines and 54 were online-only products.
2025 Online Pacemakers
listed by state
M-A Chronicle
Menlo-Atherton High School
Atherton, California
Editors-in-Chief: Celine Chien, Ben Siegel
Adviser: John McBlair
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California
Editor-in-Chief: Jackson Sneeringer
Adviser: Justin Raisner
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School
Cupertino, California
Editors-in-Chief: Samika Bhatkar, Ananya Chaudhary, Kathryn Foo, Jami Lim, Alan Tai, Alyssa Yang
Advisers: Vennessa Nava, Julia Satterthwaite
The Mirror
Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, California
Editors-in-Chief: Olamide Olumide, Madison Thacker
Adviser: Ron Goins
The Standard
The American School in London
London, England
Editors-in-Chief: Sophia Bateman, Tara Behbehani
Adviser: Louisa Avery
Muse
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida
Editors-in-Chief: Ellie Symons, Aiden Velez
Adviser: Carly Gates
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia
Editors-in-Chief: Wyatt Meyer, Lea D’Angelo
Adviser: David Ragsdale
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois
Editors-in-Chief: Jaya Alenghat, Chloe Alexander, Clare McRoberts
Adviser: Logan Aimone
HiLite
Carmel High School
Carmel, Indiana
Editors-in-Chief: Ayaan Nadeem, Helena Wang
Adviser: Jim Streisel
The Gator
Brimmer and May School
Chestnut HIll, Massachusetts
Editor-in-Chief: Amelia Bowman
Adviser: David Cutler
FHN Today
Francis Howell North High School
Saint Charles, Missouri
Editor-in-Chief: Drew Johnson
Adviser: Aaron Manfull
Coppell Student Media
Coppell High School
Coppell, Texas
Editor-in-Chief: Sukirtha Muthiah
Adviser: Chase Wofford
Wingspan
Liberty High School
Frisco, Texas
Editors-in-Chief: Christine Han, Addyson Schick, Sarayu Bongale
Adviser: Brian Higgins