2025 Reporting on Systemic Change finalists
Sept. 11, 2025
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. 15, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville.
After the winners are announced on Nov. 15, 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.
The Foundation for Systemic Change has joined NSPA in creating the Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition.
The competition is named for Fred Ross, a renowned advocate and organizer who trained and mentored leaders like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to become iconic grassroots organizers.
Eligible coverage focuses on the systemic change taking place in school and local communities to address today’s complex challenges including climate change, violence and hate, polarization, racial inequalities, LGBTQ+ issues, threatened democracy and other complex issues.
The first-place winner earns $1,000, and the second and third place winners $500 and $200 respectively. Team reporting is permitted, and the cash prize will be divided among the names on the entry form.
Published stories from all platforms including print, broadcast or mixed media are eligible and should be accompanied by sidebars, graphics and data.
Congratulations to the finalists in the following contest —
Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition
Fred Ross Systemic Change Journalism Competition
listed by state
Peter Radosh
The Prospector
Prospect High School, Mount Prospect, Illinois
Disruptive Empathy
Aurora Gilbertson
On the Record
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Dreams of Tomorrow
Joanna Lee
On the Record
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Out of Sight, Out of Line
Luke Boggs
On the Record
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Tools of Transformation
Maggie Stone
On the Record
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Public Funding, Private Interests
Donya Ihmoud
FHCtoday
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
Finding Refuge
Rooke Wiser
Tower
The Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, New York
Student Journalism Under Attack
Lillian Gray
The Shield
McCallum High School, Austin, Texas
Texans Fight for the Future Direction of Its Public Schools
Ela Patel-Euler
The Highlander
McLean High School, McLean, Virginia
Activists for Armenia
Sophia Bateman, Tara Behbehani
The Standard
The American School in London, London, United Kingdom
Lads’ Lunch Seeks to Redefine Manliness Through Conversation