2026 Photo of the Year finalists
Sept. 10, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS — The National Scholastic Press Association has named 468 finalists in its popular Individual Awards competition.
The winners will be announced at the NSPA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando.
After the winners are announced on Nov. 21, a gallery of the winners and honorable mentions will be shared on this website allowing student journalists and advisers to see all of the entries recognized in the competition. Slide shows featuring the winners will also be available for classroom use.
Congratulations to the finalists in the following Photo of the Year contests —
News Photo
listed by school in alpha order
Gianna Bellinfantie
The Aerie
Atascocita High School, Humble, Texas
Student Life
Melanie Pedersen
Eastside
Cherry Hill High School East, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
No Kings Protest
Cooper Jones
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
ICE Out Walkout
Kate Jensen
Pioneer
Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Missouri
ICE Protest
Vincent Hsiao
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, Missouri
Through the Gate
Kinley Gigous
The Free Press
Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
ICE Walkout
Lizeth Rubi
The Lion
McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
Halloween Helper
Zaid Naqvi
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California
Students Walk Out in Protest Against ICE
Josie Mangine
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas
Cheering for Justice
Simon Vaang
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Sea of Symbols
Feature Photo
listed by school in alpha order
Sophia Puzon
The Crimson
Cypress Woods High School, Cypress, Texas
Feel the Beat
Jaylen Patel
Jabberwokk
Darlington School, Rome, Georgia
Confident Climber
Colin Wehrle
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Dragon Dance
Sydney Ortiz
The Pride
Kingwood Park High School, Kingwood, Texas
Tug-of-War
Nathan Kramer
The Talon
Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Firestarter Dance
Marilyn Rutschman
The Roar
Leander High School, Leander, Texas
Water
Riley Aguillard
The Lion
McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
Showin’ Senior Spirit
Gianna Fusco
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School, Oviedo, Florida
Drum Major
Brennan Scott
South Paw
Park Hill South High School, Riverside, Missouri
Focused Musician
Laine Edwards
Legend
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Chalk One Up
Sports Game/Action Photo
listed by school in alpha order
Max Heinemann
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, California
5 Meter Master
Natalie Johnson
Whigrean
Edina High School, Edina, Minnesota
Eye on the Ball
Ezra Victor
The Antler
Minnehaha Academy Upper School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Airborne
Emily Huynh
WordsWorth
Moorestown Friends School, Moorestown, New Jersey
Faculty Musical Chairs
Noemy Melchor
The Torch
Orange Glen High School, Escondido, California
Tag–You’re It
Finley Feagans
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas
Hooped Rivalry
Stella Mages
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School, Overland Park, Kansas
Peters Long Jump
Maddi Roof
The Lair
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, Kansas
Off the Block
Jacob Saldana
Shield
Thomas Downey High School, Modesto, California
Across the Sky
Laine Edwards
Tribal Tribune
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Sand Storm
Sports Feature Photo
listed by school in alpha order
Amelia Raziq
FHNtoday
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
Upset Celebration
Tricia Darcy
The Pride
Kingwood Park High School, Kingwood, Texas
Hard Landing
Braden Jones
Madisonian
Madison High School, Rexburg, Idaho
And the Juniors Win!
Miranda LaFratte
The Lion
McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
A Roaring Lion
Brian Mayer
The Northmen’s Log
Oak Park High School, Kansas City, Missouri
Basketball Scream
Josie Mangine
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas
1 V 1
Faith Sanchez
Shield
Thomas Downey High School, Modesto, California
Almost There!
Kaya Steele
Tribal Tribune
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
The Final Game
Jake Strelitz
El Paisano
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Celebration
Amir Torns
El Paisano
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
The Finish Line
Environmental Portrait
listed by school in alpha order
Emma Kull
FHNtoday
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
The Adviser
Will Olenick
The Dispatch
James Bowie High School, Austin, Texas
New Horizons
Brian Mayer
Cambia
Oak Park High School, Kansas City, Missouri
Improv Actor
Aidan Patterson
South Paw
Park Hill South High School, Riverside, Missouri
Tinkering With Time
Katie Mathews
Replay
Rouse High School, Leander, Texas
Slick Sleight Secrets
Ellie Moilanen
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas
Gracie Black
Ellie Moilanen
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas
Hanifa Gul Muhammad
Sacha Twemlow
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
The Big Picture
Asha Reynolds-Stewart
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Spectacular Shoes
Emily Pastva
Legend
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
She’s a Rainbow