Sept. 7, 2023
MINNEAPOLIS — Honoring the nation’s best, the National Scholastic Press Association has named 20 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. 4, at the NSPA Awards Ceremony during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Boston.
“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 20 Pacemaker finalists represent 11 states. Texas and Florida set the pace with five finalists each followed by Missouri with two. A single middle school broadcast was recognized.
Each school entered three programs from the 2022-23 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.
“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.”
Finalists are alphabetical by state.
3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, awards ceremony
Winners announced —
Individual Awards
Broadcast Pacemaker
Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker
Specialty Magazine Pacemaker
Boston Best of Show
Enter Best of Show
at the fall convention.
listed by state
CCNN Live
Christopher Columbus High School
Miami, Florida
Producer/Editor:
Daniel Rossi-Montero
Advisers: Omar Delgado, Christina Insua
OLLA TV
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy
Miami, Florida
Producers/Editors:
Sarah Chavez, Elena Fallow,
Gabriella Mallafre, Ana Perez
Adviser: Elizabeth Perez
The Odyssey
Somerset Academy Prep
Miami, Florida
Producers/Editors:
Staff
Adviser: Natacha Delgado
Monthly Mane
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida
Producers/Editors:
Delaney Warner, Lillian Wray
Adviser: Kevin Patterson
Raider305
Gulliver Preparatory School
Pinecrest, Florida
Producers/Editors:
Bibi Eichenberg, Camila Figueroa, Desmond Howard, Amelie Santini, Ava Seymour
Advisers: Zach Garrett, Mike Sylver
The OneMaize Show
Maize Career Academy
Maize, Kansas
Producers/Editors:
Sarah Conner, Melanie Coombs, Jaden Hutton, Chance Koopmann, Stahley Sears, Lakin Zamorano
Advisers: Jodee Johnson, Spencer O’Daniel,
Knight Life
Sandwich High School
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Producers/Editors:
Emma Abramson, Nick Weeks
Advisers: Dan Riley, John Stone
DTV News
Davison High School
Davison, Michigan
Producer/Editor:
Jack Blascyk
Advisers: Amy Lesko, Randy Scott
HTV Magazine
Hillcrest High School
Springfield, Missouri
Producer/Editor:
Lauren Jackson
Adviser: Dave Davis
FHNtoday TV
Francis Howell North High School
St. Charles, Missouri
Producers/Editors: Madelyn Clark, Marina Williams
Adviser: Aaron Manfull
Tower Broadcast News
The Masters School
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Producers/Editors:
Carol Queiroz, Hanna Schiciano
Advisers: David Becker, Ellen Cowhey
Lincoln Live
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Gahanna, Ohio
Producers/Editors:
Rei Tedoco, Jillian Sanders
Adviser: Mark Lowrie
RNE-TV
Richland Northeast High School
Columbia, South Carolina
Producers/Editors:
Jazmin Fletcher, Lillian Mirosavich, Sam Weiss
Adviser:
Andrew Chambers
CPA Media Studio
Christ Presbyterian Academy
Nashville, Tennessee
Producers/Editors:
Staff
Adviser: Michael Ellson
KCBY Weekly
Coppell High School
Coppell, Texas
Producers/Editors:
Lauren Beach, Anita Goodwin,
Betsy Krenek, Mau Sigler
Adviser: Irma Lazos-Kennedy
Coyote Nation TV
Heritage High School
Frisco, Texas
Producer/Editor: Katelyn Mimms
Adviser: Candace Bagwell
Hill Top News
Rock Hill High School
Frisco, Texas
Producers/Editors: Connor Fuxa, Kyla Lewis
Adviser: Margie Raper
WSMS News
Willow Springs Middle School
Lucas, Texas
Producers/Editors: Reid Boardman,
Cora Craver, Chayse Hunkhe, Cade Lynch, Madison Mehia
Adviser: Barbara Smith
Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas
Producers/Editors: Grace Esquibel,
Landry Long, Madeleine Wentz
Adviser: Michael Hatch