NSPA announces winners
of fall 2025 Clips & Clicks contest

March 30, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — Congratulations to the winners of the Clips & Clicks contest for the fall 2025 semester — and to the NSPA-member student media outlets competing for this year’s Sweepstakes.

The competition, open to all NSPA members, honors current work among student journalists, and the fall-semester winners feature work produced from May 10, 2025 to Dec. 12, 2025.

There were approximately 700 submissions in the fall competition, for a decrease of 194 submissions over fall 2024. Judges were collegiate professors, student media advisers and professional journalists.

“The judges consistently said they were very impressed with the quality of the entries submitted,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. 

In all, 114 entries, approximately 16 percent of those entered, were recognized. The number of winners in each category was determined by the judges based on the quantity and quality of the entries. When calculating Sweepstakes, the following points are assigned —

First Place: 10
Second Place: 9
Third Place: 8
Fourth Place: 7
Fifth Place: 6
Honorable Mention: 5

The 2026 spring-semester contest encompasses work published/broadcast from Dec. 13, 2025 to May 8, 2026, in an NSPA-member broadcast, publication or website. The BetterBNC submission site opens in April with a contest deadline of May 8, 2026.

Fall 2025 leaders

Here are the top winners from the fall competition. Sweepstakes rankings are by NSPA-member student media outlets, not by school. When spring results are added, we’ll announce the winner of the Clips & Clicks Sweepstakes trophy.

First
How High School Teachers Are Using AI in the Classroom
Gus Creech, Rio Imanishi
Tower
Broadcast News
The Masters School
Dobbs Ferry, New York

Second
Ship Serves
Landon Byrom, Cali Swick
Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas

Third
Palo Alto Airport Day Connects the Community With Aviation
Alon Milman, Neel Satyavolu
InFocus
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

First
A Night of Culture
Natalie Garcia, Andrea Padron, Natalia Vargas
OLLA TV
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy
Miami, Florida

Second
Who’s Driving This Bus?
Madi Koepp, Bradston Swick
Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas

Third
Clash Royale Takeover
Ryan Lim, Josh Edghill
Tower Broadcast News
The Masters School
Dobbs Ferry, New York

Fourth
Matcha Magic
Valentina Brime, Valeria Rincon
OLLA TV
Our Lady of Lourdes Academy
Miami, Florida

Fifth
Students Reel In Sharks on a School Night
Rowan Sheng
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

First
Emerson Cheer
Cali Swick
Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas

Second
Girl’s Basketball
Colton Boston
Eagle Nation News
Prosper High School
Prosper, Texas

Third
Adapted Sports Kicks Off
Jean Madigan, Meredith McCue, Layla Scoll
Zephyrus
Edina High School
Edina, Minnesota

First
It’s Just a Scrap of Food
Bill Dang, Noor Khan, Melody Xu
InFocus
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

First
Don’t Worry, AI’s Got This
Bella Broce
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Second
This is Beyond Conservative and Liberal
Kiara Benoit
The Muse
Alexander W. Dreyfoos
School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida

Third
Under the Gun
Wyatt Meyer
Odyssey
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Fourth
Dancing Through Life
Jennifer Lin, Emily Yen
The Review
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Fifth
Edina Reflects on Annunciation Catholic Church Shooting
Leon Situ
Zephyrus
Edina High School
Edina, Minnesota

First
Breaking Down Breakouts
Jennifer Lin
The Review
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Second
Good Day at Good Dirt
Liza Larson
Odyssey
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Third
Dancin’ Around
Vedhasa Kallam
The Muse
Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida

Fourth
Confidence in Every Note
Daniel Jacob
The Communicator Magazine
Community High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fifth
Let’s Get Cooking
Lucy Swope
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

First
Loud and Proud
Olivia Wang
The Amplifier
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Second
Tis the Season of Excess
Shiori Chen, Isabelle Ling
Highlander
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Third
Fall 2025
Gigi Decesare
The Mane Idea
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

First
Creating a Home Away From Home
Claire Kornberg
Highlander
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Second
Decamped & Runaway
Olivia Hendershot
Illiad
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Third
Sporting Faith
Gigi Decesare
The Mane Idea
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

First
Let’s Goooo!!
Elise Brandon, Joel Depoty
Black & Gold
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Second
Line of Trust
Sloan Meyer
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Third
That’s Just the Beginning
Macy Williams
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School
Overland Park, Kansas

Fourth
Upping the Heat
Ellie Burgess
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Fifth
We Brighten: Fall Divider
Pasha Selig
Hestia’s Flame
The Archer School for Girls
Los Angeles, California

Honorable mention

Fresh Reset
Macy Williams
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School
Overland Park, Kansas

What’s on Your Screen?
Sophia Vignato, Taelim Yoon
Trojan Epic
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

Play Hard, Study Smart
Leilani Buysing, Addie DeVane, Lauren Kelly, Maria Moon
The Legend
McIntosh High School
Peachtree City, Georgia

We Did That
Ruthi Bosserdet
The Legend
McIntosh High School
Peachtree City, Georgia

The Pride and Spirit
Taelim Yoon
Trojan Epic
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

First
Bay Area Rape Crisis Centers
Jude Abrams-Scheppler
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Second
Inside the Apothocary
Kayla Huang
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Third
Honoring Veterans Day
Sophia Brockmeier
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Fourth
Memories Mapped Out
Bella Broce
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Fifth
2025 East Wrapped
Evelyn Bagley
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

First
Millions Protest Against Trump Policies
Shiori Chen
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Second
Avery Stephens
Gianna Fusco
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

Third
Transit Advocacy
Jeffrey Heng
The Spoke
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Fourth
Steps of Honor
Brooke Becker
Black & Gold
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Fifth
Fox 35 Interview
Gianna Fusco
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

First
Glow Show
Finley Feagans
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Second
Drumline
Julia Ross
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

Third
Get Loud or Go to Jail
Ellie Moilanen
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Fourth
Drum Major
Gianna Fusco
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

Fifth
Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
Garrett Arendt
wlhsNOW
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Honorable mention

Pressure Is On
Haylee Webster
Black & Gold
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor
Jackson Zimmerman
Epic
Legend High School
Parker, Colorado

Energy Downpour
Morgan Beedle
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Contemplation
Alex Flores
The Eyrie
Olathe South High School
Olathe, Kansas

Overtime Interview
Acovan Schild
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

First
Running Back Room Impresses in Win Over Steele
Joe Nogalski
Featherduster
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Second
Two Chaps Take on Texas Relays
Jakeman Strelitz
Featherduster
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Third
Splashin’ Around
Wesley Gilbert
wlhsNOW
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Fourth
Varsity Volleyball Advances to Area Championship
Jakeman Strelitz
Featherduster
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Fifth
Celebrating
Carson Thoendel
The Eyrie
Olathe South High School
Olathe, Kansas

Honorable mention

Cross Country Rain Finish
Malia Knight
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School
Overland Park, Kansas

Girls Field Hockey Falls 1-0 to Archbishop Mitty
Cindy Liang
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Two Chaps Take on Texas Relays
Jakeman Strelitz
Featherduster
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Flag Pull
Lauren Roberts
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Dribble to Success
Quinn Barton
The Rock
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

First
Hill Country Flooding Leaves Trail of Devastation
Eshna Das, Yutia Li
The Review
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Second
Shooting Incident Occurs at Evergreen High School
Dee Lee
The Rock
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Third
We Went to the The Philadelphia Three Kings Protest
Elias Kang, Mason Petkov
Eastside
Cherry Hill High School East
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Fourth
Iowa City Rallies Against ICE
Evelyn Kraber
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

Fifth
SEPTA Enacts Service Cuts, Judge Orders Reversal
Ashley Du, Tvisha Jani, Paige Vachris
The Spoke
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Honorable mention

The School Board’s New Reading List
Elizabeth Nation
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

A Deep Sense of Betrayal
Elise Andrade, Lucas Yuan
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

City Cracks Down on RVs
Leilani Chen
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Closure of Ridgetop Elementary Leaves Parents, Students “Heartbroken”
Elizabeth Nation
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

No More Kings
Michael Yi
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

First
The Life of Keith LaMar
Madilyn Shoop-Gardner, Caitlin Stehr
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Second
Work Hard, Play Hard
Annika Chu, Cindy Liang, Sofia Singer
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Third
Stop Ignoring the ‘Boy Problem’
Brian Kim, Dalia Sandberg, Evan Williams
The Review
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Fourth
Measuring Up to fantasy
Shiori Chen
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Fifth
Freshman Fights to First Place at National Jiu-Jitsu Championships
Jansher Malik
The Lancer Spirit
Londonderry High School
Londonderry, New Hampshire

Honorable mention

Surviving Suicide: The Attempt and the Aftermath
May Lin
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

Let’s Talk About It
Luciana Mendy
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

A Flutter of Hope
Claire Kornberg
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

The Silent Seasonal Slump
Charlotte English
Magpie
Logansport High School
Logansport, Indiana

Freshman Finds Her Voice
Maya Tackett
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

First
Powering the Offense
Michael Yi
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Second
Finishing His Game
Grace Pei
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Third
Leveling Up the Field
Xavier Bitter, Josh Sopha
The Eyrie
Olathe South High School
Olathe, Kansas

Fourth
Varsity Football Gears Up for ‘Battle of the Lakes’
Miles Strelitz
El Paisano
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Fifth
Family Tradition
Levi Robertson
Heritage
Shawnee Mission South High School
Overland Park, Kansas

Honorable mention

Thad Longmire’s Sports Journey
Shanza Sami, Colin Wehrle
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

Varsity Basketball Uses Balanced Attack to Trounce Rouse
Miles Strelitz
El Paisano
Westlake High School
Austin, Texas

Fieldless? Still Got Fitness
Elizabeth Nation
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

Transfer Triumph
Sofia Saucedo
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

Scots Conquer Cougars in Second Tournament Game
Lauren Roberts
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School
Belmont, California

First
Advanced Diploma Rewards Privileged, Harms the Rest
Staff
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Second
Student Journalists of Indiana Denounce Indiana University
Staff
Magpie
Logansport High School
Logansport, Indiana

Third
ICE Has No Place at Schools
Staff
wlhsNOW
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Fourth
Allow Crossdressing on Halloween
Broke Soderbery, Duke Tom, Livia Valentine, Rocco Vitale
Quad
Sacred Heart Schools
Atherton, California

Fifth
Educating Equally
Henry Timmer-Hackert
West Side Story Iowa City
West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

First
Screen Fiends
JoJo Barnard
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

Second
Human Artists Have Passion – AI Has None
Cheska Orias
The Pinion
McKinley High School
Honolulu, Hawaii

Third
An Open Letter to Mother Tongues
Lily Chen
The Spoke
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Fourth
Why WNBA Stars Deserve More Than Spare Change
Molly Bennett
The Trail
McIntosh High School
Peachtree City, Georgia

Fifth
“The Running Man” Is a Bold but Shallow Thrill Ride
Mallory Denis
Oviedo Now
Oviedo High School
Oviedo, Florida

Honorable mention

Social Media Glorifies, Misrepresents Mental Health Issues
Maia Wadhwani
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Class Explosion
Avni Bansal
Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Now Is Not the Time for a Rewrite
Arwen Pelletier
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

Stop Talking About American Eagle Jeans
Charlotte Burnap
The Oracle
The Archer School for Girls
Los Angeles, California

When a Minority Leader Stumbles, the Whole Community Pays the Price
Emma Lai
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa