NSPA names individual, staff Best of Show winners

Nov. 15, 2025

NASHVILLE – Associated Collegiate Press presented Best of Show awards at the conclusion of the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention, Nov. 15, 2025, in Nashville.

The Best of Show competition honored current student work in two categories posted below —

Individual Recognition

Staff Recognition

See the winners below:

See the fall 2025 awards

Best of Show
Bonnie Kim, Sophie Lee
DISTV
Daegu International School
Yoon Again Protest

Second Place
Noah Jahn
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
Northwest Suburbs Filled with Protestors, Then Ice Agents

Third Place
Alexis Barker
BTV
Wichita Southeast High School
Graduation Manipulation

Fourth Place
Gus Creech, Rio Imanishi
Tower
The Masters School
How High School Teachers Are – and Aren’t – Using AI in the Classroom

Fifth Place
Sophia Johnson, Vanessa Ng
FHNtodayTV
Francis Howell North High School
Missouri Cell Phone Ban Changes Communication in Public Schools

Sixth Place
Danny Indelicato, Christian Santangelo, Brooke Sprung
Flyers News
Lindbergh High School
State Cell Phone Policy

Seventh Place
Izabel Marques, Christopher-Dominic Schrader
KRAM
Rampart High School
Teachers Strike In District 11

Eighth Place
Danny Indelicato, Christian Santangelo
Flyers News
Lindbergh High School
CNA Story

Ninth Place
Garrett Arendt, Clara Wood
wlhsNOW
West Linn High School
Painting for Purpose

Tenth Place
Chloe Miller, Xochitl Jolalpa, Sophia Salts
DPNews
Dos Pueblos High School
All Booked Up

Best of Show
Bonnie Kim, Sophie Lee
DISTV
Daegu International School
Brewing History at Mido Teahouse

Second Place
Chloe Sales
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School
Specialty Nails Bring Joy to Clients

Third Place
Micah Barnhart, Tyler McCutchen, Zenia Potter
DPNews
Dos Pueblos High School
How a Danish Baker Is Redefining Local Bread

Fourth Place
Kaitlyn Bridges, Cami Young
Channel 97 News
Oakville High School
Student Creates Documentary About Theater Production

Fifth Place
Devan Patel, William Sun
Tower
The Masters School
Follett Hall Opening: Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future

Sixth Place
Danny Indelicato
Flyers News
Lindbergh High School
Battle of the Bands

Seventh Place
Ashton Belding, Verner Guzman, Erik San Juan, Caden Walsh
DPNews
Dos Pueblos High School
Santa Barbara’s History Takes the Stage at the Arlington Theatre

Eighth Place
Josh Edghill, Ryan Lim
Tower
The Masters School
Clash Royale Takeover

Ninth Place
Ben Haberberger
Flyers News
Lindbergh High School
Soul on Fire

Tenth Place
Morgan Szpunar
KRAM
Rampart High School
Gabby Melecio 1000 Digs

Best of Show
Lia Payne
Poverello
Saint Francis High School

Second Place
Janaki Nallamothu
The Communicator
Community High School

Third Place
Eashaan Patel
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School

Fourth Place
Stella Palm
KnightMedia
Prospect High School

Fifth Place
Peter Atchley
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School

Sixth Place
Neena Atkins
Tower
The Masters School

Seventh Place
Lea D’Angelo
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School

Eighth Place
Tanushri Rajesh
Poverello
Saint Francis High School

Ninth Place
Vincent Hsiao
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School

Tenth Place
Ava Theriault
Legend
Wando High School

Best of Show
Margo McDaniel
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Octopus & Colors

Second Place
Olivia Hendershot
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Sirens & Sculptors

Third Place
Olivia Hendershot
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Curiosity & Metal Head

Best of Show
Gabe Deedler
The Communicator
Community High School
Cancel Cancel Culture

Second Place
Bri Taliaferro
North Star
Francis Howell North High School
Morning Energy

Third Place
Isaac Lothrop
The Panther Press
Strath Haven High School
September Front Page

Fourth Place
Libby Marsh
The Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Don’t Worry, AI’s Got This

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

Sixth Place
Mika Glasgow
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
Remembering Ms. Thomann

Seventh Place
Bridget Hekker
Legend
Wando High School
A Move Across the Globe

Eighth Place
Liza Larson
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Between the Ropes

Ninth Place
Tricia Darcy
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School
Gen-Z

Tenth Place
Margaret Myckatyn
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
More Than a Dance

Best of Show
Clara Breneman
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
East Is Beast

Second Place
Grace Deschane
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Road to Repeat

Third Place
Grace Lankford, Lilly Mullins, Audrey Scarpace, Laurel Wetherington
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Foodie

Fourth Place
Isabella Christ, Annabel Hallquest, Kiarra Kramer, Elizabeth Mountford, Anna Waters
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Summer Recap

Fifth Place
Kate Basler, Quinn Hope, Sarah Prior, Jamie Sensmeyer
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Marching Band

Sixth Place
Maria Gonzalez, Huntly Poole, Hannah Whitaker
Legend
Wando High School
Our Turn to Take Over

Seventh Place
Rylie Dolan
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Pitch Perfect

Eighth Place
Grace Breed, Kai Harcharic, Sarah Studer, Natalie Williams
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Real Life Learning

Ninth Place
Ellie Cohoon, Danny Indelicato, Anna Waters
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Election

Tenth Place
Eliza Bierman
Legend
Wando High School
More Than a Label

Best of Show
Zac Russell
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Squabbled Up

Second Place
Josie Mangine
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Lancer Day Pep Rally

Third Place
Ellie Moilanen
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Get Loud or Go to Jail

Fourth Place
Kinley Lord
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
Dropper

Fifth Place
Tricia Darcy
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School
Total Domination

Sixth Place
Everett Lemon
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
Halftime Queen

Seventh Place
Sydney Hodge
The Trojan
Caney Valley High School
Tiny Pink Pep

Eighth Place
Sophia Dolloff
Legend
Wando High School
Flippin’ Out

Ninth Place
Natasha Huie
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
A Principal’s Promise

Tenth Place
Claire Brightwell
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School
Pep Assembly Game

Best of Show
Taylor Griffin
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School
Softball Reaction

Second Place
Max Heinemann
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
Locked In

Third Place
Colin Daugherty
Epic
Legend High School
Hit for the Win

Fourth Place
Cindy Liang
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Cindy Liang

Fifth Place
Evan Hildner
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
No You Don’t

Sixth Place
Grace Murphy
Legend
Wando High School
Flyin’

Seventh Place
Mary-Hunter McCaslin
Legend
Wando High School
Youthful Pride

Eighth Place
Addie Clark
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Defense Dominance

Ninth Place
Philip Shen
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Chew Breaks Free

Tenth Place
Madison Duffy
Excalibur
Crown Point High School
Fight It Out

Best of Show
Sylvia Oglesbay
Zephyrus
Edina High School
Life After Annunciation

Second Place
Bella Dodig, Lee Monistere
The Review
St. John’s School
It Will Never Be the Same

Third Place
Tessa Trylovich
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
E-Bike Safety Raises Concerns

Fourth Place
Libby Marsh
The Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Banned But Needed

Fifth Place
Dashel Chun
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
New Phone Policy Takes Effect

Sixth Place
Daniel Jacob, Alden Koschmann, Amelia Sandstrom
The Communicator
Community High School
CHS Under Construction

Seventh Place
Zoe Lobato
FHNtodayTV
Francis Howell North High School
St. Louis Protesters Brave Rain to Join The ‘No Kings’ March

Eighth Place
Sarina Feng
The Falconer
Torrey Pines High School
Blood Cancer Awareness, Student Visionaries Program

Ninth Place
Alyssa Kowols
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
District Shifts Graduation to NOW Arena

Tenth Place
Sage Gilliland
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
Pride Flag Prohibited From Flying at Village Hall, AH Board Rules

Best of Show
Sydney Ortiz
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School
Wilson Family Leaves Legacy on Kingwood Park Community

Second Place
Christopher Long
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
The Adventures of Miller

Third Place
Anna Gray
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
Battling Diet Culture

Fourth Place
Sophia Brockmeier
The Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Don’t Worry, AI’s Got This

Fifth Place
Liza Larson
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Understanding Safety

Sixth Place
Claire Zhang
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Mending Hearts

Seventh Place
Meg Imherr
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
Students Initiate Impact

Eighth Place
Lynn-Clara Tun
Zephyrus
Edina High School
Edina Girls’ Tennis Wins State Individual Doubles Tournament

Ninth Place
Sarah George
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
Young Minds Spark Success

Tenth Place
Claire Zhou
The Falconer
Torrey Pines High School
What’s In Your Bag: Student Athletes

Best of Show
Dashel Chun, Lucas Lai, Mirai Matsuzawa
The Campanile
Palo Alto High School
Progress to Pushback

Second Place
Jules Youn
Jets Flyover
Daegu International School
Western-Focused Education Sidelines Korean History and Culture

Third Place
Piper Cooke, Janaki Nallamothu
The Communicator
Community High School
It Was 17 Degrees

Fourth Place
Sage Gilliland
KnightMedia
Prospect High School
Ice Influx Shakes Community Immigrants

Fifth Place
Tor Barreno, Azariah Charles, Anna Kremnev, Ben Mason
Tower
The Masters School
Masters Welcomes International Students

Sixth Place
Alex Kagoshima
Tower
The Masters School
DHS Plan Sparks International Students’ Concerns

Seventh Place
Elaina Barreto
Tower
The Masters School
Portals Home Exhibit Opens Outside Student Life Office

Eighth Place
Riley Jensen
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School
Unlocking the Door to a New Home

Ninth Place
Adah Hamman
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
CCHS Hispanic Heritage Festival

Tenth Place
Edie Ash, Sasha Barkan, Senya Kero, Kye Streetman
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Crafting Success

Best of Show
Blue Streak News
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Second Place
Flyers News
Lindbergh High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Third Place
GHS Insider
Germantown High School
Germantown, Tennessee

Fourth Place
MHS1
McKinney High School
McKinney, Texas

Fifth Place
NHS News
Noblesville High School
Noblesville, Indiana

Sixth Place
Beyond DP
Dos Pueblos High School
Goleta, California

Seventh Place
KCBY
Coppell High School
Coppell, Texas

Eighth Place
JNN
Joseph Gregori High School
Modesto, California

Ninth Place
WTHS Media
Tupelo High School
Tupelo, Mississippi

Tenth Place
Cougar Roundup
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Shawnee, Kansas

Best of Show
Hive Vision
Bryant Junior High School
Bryant, Arkansas

Best of Show
Voice
Community High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Second Place
Odyssey
James Bowie High School
Austin, Texas

Third Place
Reflections
Gulliver Preparatory School
Miami, Florida

Fourth Place
The Tartan
McLean High School
McLean, Virginia

Fifth Place
Melodrama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Sixth Place
Iliad
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Seventh Place
Labyrinth
Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock, Arkansas

Eighth Place
Inkslinger
Darlington School
Rome, Georgia

Ninth Place
The Dreamcatcher
Westwood High School
Austin, Texas

Tenth Place
Burn
Marian High School
Omaha, Nebraska

Best of Show
The Review
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas

Second Place
The Harbinger
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Third Place
ReMarker
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Dallas, Texas

Fourth Place
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois

Fifth Place
The Standard
The American School in London
London, United Kingdom

Sixth Place
The Oracle
Henry M. Gunn High School
Palo Alto, California

Seventh Place
The Panther Press
Strath Haven High School
Wallingford, Pennsylvania

Eighth Place
The Southerner
Midtown High School
Atlanta, Georgia

Ninth Place
The Network
Marian High School
Omaha, Nebraska

Tenth Place
Crier
Munster High School
Munster, Indiana

Best of Show
The Shield
McCallum High School
Austin, Texas

Second Place
The Dispatch
James Bowie High School
Austin, Texas

Third Place
The Oracle
Glenbrook South High School
Glenview, Illinois

Fourth Place
The Epitaph
Homestead High School
Sunnyvale, California

Fifth Place
The Prospector
Prospect High School
Mount Prospect, Illinois

Sixth Place
The Messenger
Marquette High School
Chesterfield, Missouri

Seventh Place
The Evanstonian
Evanston Township High School
Evanston, Illinois

Eighth Place
Redwood Bark
Redwood High School
Larkspur, California

Ninth Place
Panther’s Tale
Derby High School
Derby, Kansas

Tenth Place
The Lion’s Roar
Newton South High School
Newton, Massachusetts

Best of Show
The Communicator Magazine
Community High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Second Place
Northwest Passage
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Shawnee, Kansas

Third Place
North Star
Francis Howell North High School
Saint Charles, Missouri

Fourth Place
Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Fifth Place
Le Journal
Notre Dame de Sion High School
Kansas City, Missouri

Sixth Place
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

Seventh Place
The Dart
St. Teresa’s Academy
Kansas City, Missouri

Eighth Place
The Northmen’s Log
Oak Park High School
Kansas City, Missouri

Ninth Place
The Muse
Alexander W. Dryfoos School of the Arts
West Palm Beach, Florida

Tenth Place
The Yeti
Urban School of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

Best of Show
tjToday
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Alexandria, Virginia

Second Place
On the Record
duPont Manual High School
Louisville, Kentucky

Third Place
Central Focus
Francis Howell Central High School
Cottleville, Missouri

Fourth Place
The Accolade
Sunny Hills High School
Fullerton, California

Fifth Place
Verde
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alton, California

Sixth Place
The Highlander
McLean High School
McLean, Virginia

Seventh Place
The Tiger
Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock, Arkansas

Eighth Place
Amplifier
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Ninth Place
The Purple Tide
Chantilly High School
Chantilly, Virginia

Tenth Place
Odyssey
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Best of Show
The Scroll
The American School in London
London, United Kingdom

Second Place
The Crane
Cranbrook Middle School for Boys
Bloomfields Hills, Michigan

Third Place
The Cougar Star
Clague Middle School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Fourth Place
The Occurrence
Bryant Junior High School
Bryant, Arkansas

Best of Show
Globe
Clayton High School
Clayton, Missouri

Second Place
Viking Magazine
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Third Place
Ampersand
The American School in London
London, United Kingdom

Fourth Place
ID
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Fifth Place
C Magazine
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Sixth Place
The Kirkwood Call
Kirkwood High School
Kirkwood, Missouri

Seventh Place
Realm
Thomas Downey High School
Modesto, California

Best of Show
Wayland Student Press Network
Wayland High School
Wayland, Massachusetts

Second Place
The Southerner
Midtown High School
Atlanta, Georgia

Third Place
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois

Fourth Place
The La Salle Falconer
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory
Milwaukee, Oregon

Fifth Place
The Forum
Latin School of Chicago
Chiccago, Illinois

Sixth Place
The Oracle
Henry M. Gunn High School
Palo Alto, California

Seventh Place
West Side Story
Iowa City West High School
Iowa City, Iowa

Eighth Place
HHSmedia
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Ninth Place
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School
Saint Charles, Missouri

Tenth Place
ReMarker
St. Mark’s School of Texas
Dallas, Texas

Best of Show
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School
Athens, Georgia

Second Place
HiLite News
Carmel High School
Carmel, Indiana

Third Place
Falconer
Torrey Pines High School
San Diego, California

Fourth Place
wlhsNOW
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Fifth Place
Manual RedEye
duPont Manual High School
Louisville, Kentucky

Sixth Place
Westside Wired
Westside High School
Omaha, Nebraska

Seventh Place
The Horizon
Westwood High School
Austin, Texas

Eighth Place
Niles West News
Niles West High School
Skokie, Illinois

Ninth Place
The Messenger
Marquette High School
Chesterfield, Missouri

Tenth Place
The Accolade
Sunny Hills High School
Fullerton, California

Best of Show
The Cougar Star
Clague Middle School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Second Place
BJHS Media
Bryant Junior High School
Bryant, Arkansas

Best of Show
Genesis
Rock Ridge High School
Ashburn, Virginia

Second Place
Le Flambeau
Notre Dame de Sion High School
Kansas City, Missouri

Third Place
Invictus
Ward Melville High School
Setauket, New York

Fourth Place
Paragon
Munster High School
Munster, Indiana

Fifth Place
The Archer
Antwerp Local School
Antwerp, Ohio

Sixth Place
The Ambush
Braswell High School
Aubrey, Texas

Seventh Place
The Torch
Orange Glen High School
Escondido, California

Eighth Place
The Midnight Sun
Community High School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ninth Place
The Cardinal
Sabine High School
Gladewater, Texas

Tenth Place
TAJ
Harrisonburg High School
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Best of Show
U-Highlights
University of Chicago Laboratory High School
Chicago, Illinois

Second Place
Pawesehi
Parkway West High School
Ballwin, Missouri

Third Place
Green & Gold
West Linn High School
West Linn, Oregon

Fourth Place
The Pride
Kingwood Park High School
Kingwood, Texas

Fifth Place
Vieo
Castle View High School
Castle Rock, Colorado

Sixth Place
Replay
Rouse High School
Leander, Texas

Seventh Place
Reflections
Brighton High School
Brighton, Colorado

Eighth Place
Talon
Liberty High School
Lake Saint Lewis, Missouri

Ninth Place
Haven
Strath Haven High School
Wallingford, Pennsylvania

Tenth Place
Panther
Derby High School
Derby, Kansas

Best of Show
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School
Overland Park, Kansas

Second Place
Lion’s Roar
Christ Presbyterian Academy
Nashville, Tennessee

Third Place
Details
Whitney High School
Rocklin, California

Fourth Place
Rambler
Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Fifth Place
Aurora
Olathe East High School
Olathe, Kansas

Sixth Place
The Comet
Austin High School
Austin, Texas

Seventh Place
Techniques
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Alexandria, Virginia

Eighth Place
Clamo
Clayton High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Ninth Place
The Spectator
Liberty High School
Liberty, Missouri

Tenth Place
Echo
Lake Central High School
St. John, Indiana

Best of Show
Black & Gold
Rock Canyon High School
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Second Place
Silvertip
Rocky Mountain High School
Meridian, Idaho

Third Place
Heritage
Shawnee Mission South High School
Overland Park, Kansas

Fourth Place
Lone Star
James Bowie High School
Austin, Texas

Fifth Place
Heritage
Westwood High School
Austin, Texas

Sixth Place
The Arena
Mansfield Legacy High School
Mansfield, Texas

Seventh Place
The Lion
McKinney High School
McKinney, Texas

Eighth Place
Legend
Wando High School
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Ninth Place
Reflector
Lee’s Summit High School
Lee’s Summit, Missouri

Tenth Place
Interlachen
Montverde Academy
Montverde, Florida

Best of Show
Spirit
Lindbergh High School
St. Louis, Missouri

Second Place
Chieftain
Jupiter High School
Jupiter, Florida

Third Place
Hauberk
Shawnee Mission East High School
Prairie Village, Kansas

Fourth Place
Calibre
Western High School
Davie, Florida

Fifth Place
The Hornet
Bryant High School
Bryant, Arkansas

Sixth Place
The Talon
Hebron High School
Carrollton, Texas

Seventh Place
Raider
Gulliver Preparatory School
Miami, Florida

Eighth Place
The Lair
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
Shawnee, Kansas

Ninth Place
Madrono
Palo Alto High School
Palo Alto, California

Tenth Place
The Image
Dos Pueblos High School
Goleta, California

Best of Show
The Round-Up
Woodland Junior High School
Fayetteville, Arkansas

Second Place
The Blue and White
Bryant Junior High School
Bryant, Arkansas

Third Place
The Spotlight
The American School in London
London, United Kingdom

Fourth Place
We’re Glad You’re Here
Cranbrook Middle School for Boys
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan