NSPA names top news broadcasts

Pacemaker competition recognizes 18 finalists for excellence

Sept. 16, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — Honoring the nation’s best, the National Scholastic Press Association has named 18 scholastic news broadcasts as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition.

NSPA Pacemaker finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners announced for the first time on Nov. 21, at the NSPA Awards Ceremony during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando.

“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 award has a rich tradition and the association started presenting the award to high school newspapers a few years after the organization was founded in 1921. Throughout the years, yearbooks, magazines, online sites and broadcast programs were added to the competition.

The 18 Pacemaker finalists represent seven states. California and Florida set the pace with four finalists followed by California and Texas both with three. Six of the finalists will earn Pacemakers. Each school entered three programs from the 2025-26 school year. A team of three judges, collegiate broadcast professors and professionals in the broadcast industry, viewed each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses before selecting the finalists and Pacemakers.

“The winning entries stood out for not just their technical quality, but in the stories being covered,” Gary Lundgren, associate director and contest coordinator, said. “The writing, editing, hosting and the willingness to tackle relevant topics make these exceptional newscasts from start to finish.”

For judging, high school shows were divided into live and pre-recorded categories. The frequency of the broadcast was also considered. All middle school/junior high broadcasts competed in a separate category. Two junior high/middle school broadcasts were recognized.

“The quality of the broadcasts is incredible and gets stronger each year,” Lundgren said. “It is exciting to watch the growth in broadcast programs in high schools across the country.”

Please join us at the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention Nov. 19-22, 2026, in Orlando.

The convention offers hundreds of instructional sessions, keynote speakers from national newsmakers, dozens of media critiques, JEA’s popular on-site media contests and the announcement of NSPA Pacemaker winners. NSPA also offers a convention Best of Show competition that celebrates current student media work.

Good Morning John Burroughs
John Burroughs High School
Burbank, California
Producer/editor: Kyra Svab
Adviser: Ryanne Meschkat

CHSTV Live
Carlsbad High School
Carlsbad, California
Producers/editors: Staff
Adviser: Kurt Kohnen

Beyond DP
Dos Pueblos High School
Goleta, California
Producers/editors: Camilla Ronchietto, Erik San Juan, Townes Widger, Everett Womack
Advisers: Doug Caines, John Dent

Moore Morning Show
Moore Middle School
Redlands, California
Producers/editors: Felix Riesz, Sawyer Strout, Edina Zhang, Amy Zhou
Adviser: Kevin Simmons

KRAM
Rampart High School
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Producers/editors: Staff
Adviser: Patrick Moring

CCNN Live
Christopher Columbus High School
Miami, Florida
Producers/editors: Morgan Lewis, Brandon Rodriguez
Advisers: Joseph Busatto, Omar Delgado

The Voyage
Christopher Columbus High School
Miami, Florida
Producers/editors: Andres Rodriguez, Patricio Zaldivar
Advisers: Joseph Busatto, Omar Delgado

Raider305
Gulliver Preparatory School
Pinecrest, Florida
Producers/editors: Staff
Advisers: Zach Garrett, Mike Sylver, Erick Consuegra

DSOA Today
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida
Producers/editors: Morgan Bertisch, Nicolle Forestieri, Lauren Kelly
Adviser: Joe Raicovich

Code Blue News
Holbrook Middle High School
Holbrook, Massachusetts
Producers/editors: Zanayah Dasilva, Jaden Waweru, Emily Yip
Adviser: Zack Gorman

WTHS Media
Tupelo High School
Tupelo, Mississippi
Producers/editors: Louis Conley, Rylie Robinson, Abbey Sanders
Adviser: Katrina Berry-Ivy

HTV Magazine
Hillcrest High School
Springfield, Missouri
Producer/editor: Melody Rea
Adviser: Rae Snobl

Lincoln Live
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Gahanna, Ohio
Producers/editors: Isaiah Banks, Evelyn Cahill, Ethan LaCross, Parker Richard
Adviser: Mark Lowrie

ALTV News
Armand Larive Middle School
Hermiston, Oregon
Producers/editors: Alexxa Mendoza-Chavez, Kyle Quincena, Emily Ramirez-Garcia
Adviser: Robert Doherty

GHS Insider
Germantown High School
Germantown, Tennessee
Producers/editors: William Cobbins, Kailtyn Jeffries, Kyrah Sailes,Patricia Yelamo
Advisers: Hope Henager, Mallory Kenney, Leonid Mazor

KCBY
Coppell High School
Coppell, Texas
Producers/editors: Aaron Montes, Hemi Riojas, Anoushka Sharma
Advisers: Irma Lazos-Kennedy, Steven Jones

Hill Top News
Rock Hill High School
Frisco, Texas
Producers/editors: Cambria Hess, Chris Scamardo
Adviser: Tish Cama

Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas
Producers/editors: Colton Boston, Madison Koepp, Imogen Perez
Adviser: Michael Hatch