NSPA names top news broadcasts

Pacemaker competition recognizes 17 finalists for excellence

Oct. 21, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS — The nation’s top scholastic broadcast news programs were recognized today by the National Scholastic Press Association, which announced the 17 finalists in its annual Pacemaker competition.

NSPA Pacemaker finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners announced for the first time at the NSPA Awards Ceremony online at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 13, as part of the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention, presented virtually. Convention registration is required to attend the online 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 award has a rich tradition and started just a few years after the organization was founded in 1921. The Pacemaker was added for broadcasting in 1996 to reflect its growing importance at the high school level.

Each school entered three programs from the 2020-21 school year. A team of three judges, all award-winning collegiate broadcast professors and media advisers, viewed each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.

“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, shows were divided into live and pre-recorded categories. The frequency of the broadcast was also considered with daily shows competing in a separate category with weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or less-frequently in another. 

The 17 Pacemaker finalists included schools representing six states. Texas led with eight broadcast programs named as finalists. California had three finalists. Overall, four of the finalists produced live broadcasts, and four aired daily shows. 

Of the 17 Pacemaker finalists, five will be named Pacemaker winners. There were approximately 50 entries.

“The pandemic posed a lot of challenges for student journalists especially at schools where many students were not on campus,” Lundgren said.  “The high-quality journalism these news shows provided, against all odds, is remarkable.” 

Finalists are alphabetical by state.

CHSTV Worldwide

Carlsbad High School

Carlsbad, California

Producer/editor:
Staff

Adviser:
Douglas Green

Mustang Morning News

Mira Costa High School

Manhattan Beach, California

Producer/editor:
Tolou Shams

Adviser:
Michael Hernandez

WCTV19 Unleashed

Whitney High School

Rocklin, California

Producer/editor:
Staff

Adviser:
Ben Barnholdt

CCNN: The Voyage

Christopher Columbus High School

Miami, Florida

Producers/editors:
Emilio Boutros, Christopher Gomez, Gianmarco Maestri

Advisers:
Omar Delgado, Christina Insua

Plymouth North News

Plymouth North High School

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Producer/editor:
Staff

Advisers:
Michelle Terry, Evan McNamara

HTV Magazine

Hillcrest High School

Springfield, Missouri

Producer/editor:
Staff

Adviser:
Dave Davis

MWHS Wildcat News

Millard West High School

Omaha, Nebraska

Producer/editor:
Edison Geiler

Adviser:
Mark Hilburn

RNE-TV

Richland Northeast High School

Columbia, South Carolina

Producers/editors:
Ebony Christie, Brennan Davis

Adviser:
Andrew Chambers

CPA Media Studio

Christ Presbyterian Academy

Nashville, Tennessee

Producers/editors:
Pierce DuRard, Samantha Hutts, Logan Reid, Madison Turner, Caroline Vaccaro

Adviser:
Michael Ellson

Hawk TV

Hebron High School

Carrollton, Texas

Producer/editor:
Haley Pacheco

Adviser:
Steven Jones

KCBY-TV

Coppell High School

Coppell, Texas

Producers/editors:
Hailey WIlkins, Juliana Thompson, Natalie Adams, Khushi Bansal

Adviser:
Irma Lazos-Kennedy

Coyote Nation TV

Heritage High School

Frisco, Texas

Producers/editors:
Isabelle Milford, Alysen Rose

Adviser:
Candace Bagwell

WTV Daily Update

Liberty High School

Frisco, Texas

Producers/editors:
Kirthi Gummadi, Alyssa Murphy, Cooper Ragle

Adviser:
Brian Higgins

HTN Daily

Rock Hill High School

Frisco, Texas

Producers/editors:
Grant Johnson, Anica Hankey

Adviser:
Margie Raper

WSMS TV News

Willow Springs Middle School

Lucas, Texas

Producer/editor:
Chloe Smith

Adviser:
Barbara Smith

Eagle Nation News

Prosper High School

Prosper, Texas

Producer/editor:
Julia Bisaillon

Advisers:
Michael Hatch, Natalie Merrill

VATV

Van Alstyne High School

Van Alstyne, Texas

Producers/editors:
Kate Carson, Margie Carson, Alli Cholette, Carson Cooper

Adviser:
Mark Campbell