NSPA names top newspapers, magazines

Pacemaker competition recognizes 19 winners

Nov. 15, 2025

NASHVILLE — Honoring the nation’s best, the National Scholastic Press Association has named 19 scholastic student newspapers, newsmagazines and specialty magazines published during the 2024-25 school year as winners in its prestigious Pacemaker competition.

NSPA Pacemaker winners were recognized Nov. 15, at the NSPA Awards Ceremony during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville.

“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.

Earlier this fall, 41 Pacemaker finalists, representing 12 states as well as the United Kingdom, were recognized. California set the pace with 12 finalists, followed by Texas with eight.

The high school newspapers/newsmagazines competed in two categories based on school enrollment — less than 1,800 students and 1,800 or more students. There are 34 high school newspaper/newsmagazine Pacemaker finalists.

Junior high/middle school newspapers/newsmagazines as well as specialty magazines competed in separate categories. There are three junior high/middle school Pacemaker finalists.

Specialty magazines provide in-depth, long-form stories focused on timely topics/issues relevant to a student audience. The content of a specialty magazine frequently focuses on a single topic/issue. A specialty magazine has its own identity and name and it is not a special edition of a newspaper/newsmagazine. Topical magazines such as sports, science, business or entertainment also compete in this category.

Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, observed that specialty magazines are growing in popularity in high schools across the country.

“With most news being delivered online, student journalists have been redefining their print newspaper,” Lundgren said. “More and more that means transitioning from a traditional newspaper format to a specialty magazine with in-depth reporting.”

Insights and observations from the judges about the Pacemaker winning publications will be posted after the Pacemaker winners are announced along with the names and professional bios of the judges. 

“In addition to demonstrating excellence in key areas including coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, the winning newspapers/newspapers took risks and served as a strong voice for its student audience,” Lundgren said. 

2025 Fall Convention Awards

Fall 2025 Pacemakers
Broadcast
Newspaper/Newsmagazine/ Specialty Magazine

2025 Individual Awards
Broadcast Story of the Year
Cartoon of the Year
Design of the Year
Digital Story of the Year
Photo of the Year
Story of the Year
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Fred Ross Systemic Change Student Journalism Competition
Local Climate Change Reporting
Portfolio of the Year
Best Use of Social Media

Nashville Best of Show
Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

Highlander
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California
Editor-in-chief: Daniella Smit
Adviser: Justin Raisner

El Estoque
Monta Vista High School
Cupertino, California
Editors-in-chief: Samika Bhatkar, Ananya Chaudhary, Kathryn Foo, Jami Lim, Alan Tai, Alyssa Yang
Advisers: Vennessa Nava, Julia Satterthwaite

The Town Crier
Paul Revere Middle School
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-chief: Noah Beroukhim
Adviser: Eric Wechsler

Bear Witness
Branham High School
San Jose, California
Editor-in-chief: Ava Stark
Adviser: Yale Wyatt

Winged Post
The Harker School
San Jose, California
Editors-in-chief: Katerina Matta, Victor Gong
Adviser: Whitney Huang

The Mirror
Van Nuys High School
Van Nuys, California
Editors-in-chief: Olamide Olumide, Madison Thacker
Adviser: Ron Goins

The Mix
Monarch High School
Louisville, Colorado
Editors-in-chief: Zoey Perrine, Brenna Severson
Adviser: Ben Reed

Eagle Eye News
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Parkland, Florida
Editors-in-chief: Grace Brill, Andie Korenge, Brynn Schwartz
Adviser: Melissa Falkowski

Odyssey
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia
Editor-in-chief: Wyatt J. Meyer
Adviser: David A. Ragsdale

U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois
Editors-in-chief: Jaya Alenghat, Chloë Alexander, Clare McRoberts
Adviser: Logan Aimone

The Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas
Editors-in-chief: Avery Anderson, Addie Moore, Conor Vogel, Larkin Brundige
Adviser: Dow Tate

The Communicator Magazine
Community High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Editors-in-chief: Piper Cooke, Clara Freeth, Gabe Deedler, Janaki Nallamothu, Lucia Page Sander
Adviser: Tracy Anderson

The Crane
Cranbrook Kingswood Middle School for Boys
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Editor-in-chief: Emerson Whittaker
Adviser: Christina Hammitt

Central Focus
Francis Howell Central High School
Cottleville, Missouri
Editor-in-chief: Birdie Brereton
Adviser: Matthew Schott

North Star
Francis Howell North High School
Saint Charles, Missouri
Editors-in-chief: Violet Newton, Michaela Manfull
Adviser: Aaron Manfull

Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri
Editors-in-chief: Arti Jain, Will Kodner, Lathan Levy, Emily Liu, Katie Myckatyn
Advisers: Abigail Eisenberg, Sarah Kirksey

Focus
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Dallas, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Arjun Poi, Joseph Sun
Adviser: Jenny Dial Creech

ReMarker
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Dallas, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Hilton Sampson
Adviser: Jenny Dial Creech

The Scroll
The American School in London Middle School
London, England
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Colin Bridgewater