Awards archive

Pacemakers

The Pacemakers, NSPA’s top publications prizes, are presented at the National High School Journalism Convention, each fall and spring.

The Pacemaker 100 and Top 10
To launch its centennial celebration, NSPA announced its top Pacemaker winners on May 20, 2021.

Pacemakers by convention
Fall 2023 / Boston
Spring 2023 / San Francisco
Fall 2022 / St. Louis
Spring 2022 / Los Angeles
Fall 2021 / virtual

Broadcast Pacemakers
Presented each fall for the preceding year.
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996

Innovation Pacemakers
Presented each spring for the current year.
20232022

Magazine Pacemakers
Starting in 2020, Literary Magazine Pacemakers are presented each spring,
and Specialty Magazine Pacemakers each fall.
Specialty Magazines: 20232022 2021 2020
Literary Arts Magazines: 202220212020
2019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996199519941993

Online Pacemakers
Presented each spring for the current site.
2023 • 2022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
200920082007200620052004200320022001

Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemakers
Presented each fall for the preceding year.
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996199519941993

Yearbook Pacemakers
Presented the following spring after the publication year.
2022 • 2021 • 20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996199519941993

To celebrate its centennial year, NSPA announces the top-winning publications in the history of the prestigious Pacemakers.

NSPA Awards page

Contest rules, deadlines & submission

NSPA videos on Vimeo,
including awards presentations during the pandemic

Past NSPA conventions


Individual Awards

NSPA Individual Awards are presented at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention.

Story of the Year
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996

Digital Story of the Year
202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012

Broadcast Story of the Year
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000

Photo of the Year
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000
1999199819971996

Design of the Year
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003200220012000

Cartoon of the Year
20232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010
2009200820072006200520042003

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting
20232022

Local Climate Change Reporting
20232022202120202019

Fred Ross Systemic Change Student Journalism Competition
2023

Portfolio of the Year
202320222021202020192018

Best Use of Social Media
202320222021202020192018

Junior High/Middle School Individual Awards
202320222021202020192018

Individual Award finalists
202320222021

Social Justice Reporting
2021202020192018

COVID-19 Coverage
20212020

Brasler Prize
The first-place winners from each Story of the Year category (News, Feature Story, Editorial/Opinion Story, Sports Story), as well as the Social Justice Reporting category, compete for the $1,000 Brasler Prize.

Past winners


Best of Show

NSPA’s Best of Show is an on-site convention competition that recognizes outstanding work among publications whose staffs registered for the NSPA convention and entered the competition.

Fall National High School Journalism Convention

Spring National High School Journalism Convention


Hall of Fame

Publications inducted into the NSPA Hall of Fame have earned 10 All-American ratings from our publication critique service within an 11-year span.

NSPA Hall of Fame, including recent inductees


Clips & Clicks contest

Clips & Clicks, NSPA’s open competition, launched in fall 2020 and honors current work.

Open to all NSPA members, Clips & Clicks offers multiple categories for student and publication achievement, and each contest segment encompasses one semester of work. 

Fall and spring competitions culminate with an annual Sweepstakes trophy.

Fall 2023

Spring 2023 & Sweepstakes winnerFall 2022

Spring 2022 & Sweepstakes winnerFall 2021

Spring 2021 & Sweepstakes winnerFall 2020


Leadership Award Journalism Honor Roll & Scholarships

Leadership Award in Student Journalism

To earn the NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism, a high school student must serve with distinction for at least two years on the staff of an NSPA-member broadcast, literary arts magazine, newspaper/newsmagazine, specialty magazine, website or yearbook by the end of the current school year.

2023

Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership

The Wally Wikoff Scholarship for Editorial Leadership is a $1,000 award that honors a high school senior on the staff of an NSPA member newspaper for exceptional leadership. The scholarship’s namesake served as NSPA’s executive director in the 1970s.

202320212020 • 2019 • 2018 • 20172016201520142013201220112010
20092008

NSPA Journalism Leadership Award Scholarships

Seniors who qualify for the NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism can enter into a competition for scholarships.

2023

NSPA Journalism Honor Roll

The NSPA Journalism Honor Roll honors students who have achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and have completed at least two years on staff by the end of this school year. Students in their second year on staff are eligible.

2022202120202019201820172016

NSPA Journalism Honor Roll Scholarships

Seniors who qualify for the Honor Roll can enter into a competition for one or more $1,000 scholarships.

202120202019 • 2018 • 20172016201520142013201220112010
20092008


OCC: Recognition for Outstanding Coronavirus Coverage

NSPA, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Society for News Design were sponsors in recognizing outstanding COVID-19 coverage by high school media. Print, online and broadcast submissions were included within three contest deadlines in April and May 2020.

2020


Courage in Student Journalism Award

The Student Press Law Center, the Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University and NSPA co-sponsor this scholastic-journalism award.

Links to press releases on past winners are on the SPLC site.