{"id":623382,"date":"2025-09-11T13:20:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/?p=623382"},"modified":"2025-09-12T13:09:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T18:09:43","slug":"2025-photo-of-the-year-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/2025-photo-of-the-year-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Photo of the Year finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sept. 11, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 The National Scholastic Press Association has named 468 finalists in its popular Individual Awards competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winners will be announced at the NSPA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention<\/strong> <\/a>in Nashville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to the finalists in the following Digital Story of the Year contests \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

News Photo
<\/a>Feature Photo
<\/a>Sports Game\/Action Photo
<\/a>Sports Feature Photo
<\/a>Environmental Portrait<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Individual Award finalists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast Story of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Cartoon of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Design of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Digital Story of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Photo of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Story of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Reporting<\/strong>
<\/a>Reporting on Systemic Change<\/strong>
<\/a>Climate Change Reporting<\/strong>
<\/a>Portfolio of the Year<\/strong>
<\/a>Best Use of Social Media<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

News Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Kensie Pao
<\/strong>Verde
Palo Alto High School
Verde, Palo Alto, California
Raging Grannies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay Deegan
<\/strong>Central Times Naperville
Central High School, Naperville, Illinois
Harris Nomination Celebration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olin Nafziger
<\/strong>U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
DNC Celebrity Selfie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellis Calleri
<\/strong>U-Highlights
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Super Splash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kara Simpson
<\/strong>Northwest Passage
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, Kansas
Memorial<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily Chen
<\/strong>The Spoke
Conestoga High School, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Proposed Arena Faces Controversy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Dearinger
<\/strong>The Rider Online
Legacy High School, Mansfield, Texas
Alumna Picked in WNBA Draft<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Celio
<\/strong>The Shield
McCallum High School, Austin, Texas
Voters Approve Austin ISD’s Prop A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz
<\/strong>Featherduster
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Business Incubator<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Feature Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Simon Vaang
<\/strong>U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Chemical Concentration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Wehrle
<\/strong>West Side Story
Iowa City West High School, Iowa City, Iowa
Sky High in a Suit and Tie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anders Benson
<\/strong>The Free Press
Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Chemical Spectrometry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Macy<\/strong> Williams<\/strong>
Brickhouse
Shawnee Mission North High School, Overland Park, Kansas
Asher Walker Drumline<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caroline Kraft
<\/strong>Odyssey
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
Smile High<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stacey Vo
<\/strong>The Howl
Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas, Nevada
LOL<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laine Edwards
<\/strong>Legend
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Just One More Wave<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexis Bailey
<\/strong>Tribal Tribune
Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Unbelievable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Pham
<\/strong>The Afterthought
Anderson High School, Austin, Texas
Eyes on the Prize<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flynn Yoshinobu
<\/strong>Showcase
UPrep, Seattle, Washington
Believe It<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sports Game\/Action Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Chloe Farson
<\/strong>Black & Gold
Rock Canyon High School, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Black & Gold Sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jose Carlos Diaz
<\/strong>CCNN Live
Christopher Columbus High School, Miami, Florida
Soaring<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan Friedman
<\/strong>The Free Press
Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Mud Volleyball<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andie Berg
<\/strong>Northwest Passage
Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee, Kansas
Javelin Throw<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amelia Raziq
<\/strong>Central Focus
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
All She Does Is Win<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matteo Ventresca
<\/strong>The Panther Press
Strath Haven High School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania
Baseball Wins Fourth Straight Game<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cohen Peterson
<\/strong>The Afterthought
Anderson High School, Austin, Texas
Airball!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talbot Sentell
<\/strong>Tiger Cry
Dripping Springs High School, Dripping Springs, Texas
DZK Skatepark<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz
<\/strong>El Paisano
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Spike<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz
<\/strong>El Paisano
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Diving for the Ball<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sports Feature Photo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Riley Doherty
<\/strong>Reflections
Brighton High School, Brighton, Colorado
Santana<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Benton
<\/strong>U-Highlights
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Water Break<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Shane
<\/strong>West Side Story
Iowa City West High School, Iowa City, Iowa
State Champion Celebration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miles Beaty
<\/strong>The Free Press
Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Volleyball Victory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan Friedman
<\/strong>The Free Press
Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Cutting the Net<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily Chen
<\/strong>The Spoke
Conestoga High School, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Field Hockey Wins State Championship for First Time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zachary Ford
<\/strong>Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School, Kingwood, Texas
Postseason Party<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sapphira Valdez
<\/strong>The Talon
O.D. Tompkins High School, Katy, Texas
Coming in Hot!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz
<\/strong>El Paisano
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Caught Up in the Moment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz
<\/strong>Featherduster
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
He scores<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Portrait<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Maya VanVleet<\/strong>
The Mix
Monarch High School, Louisville, Colorado
Torn Apart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney Connell
<\/strong>U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Totally Hooked: Mia Lane<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miles Beaty
<\/strong>The Free Press
Free State High School, Lawrence, Kansas
Marching to the Beat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Jacob
<\/strong>The Communicator
Community High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Coils of Strength<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kamryn Twitty
<\/strong>Odyssey
Francis Howell Central High School, Cottleville, Missouri
The Root of Things<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vincent Hsiao
<\/strong>Panorama
Ladue Horton Watkins High School, St. Louis, Missouri
Triple Threat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santi Bernal
<\/strong>The Comet
Austin High School, Austin, Texas
Imperfections<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rhea Choudhary
<\/strong>The Sidekick
Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas
Lakeside Elementary Carnival Creating Educational Opportunities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aradhya Bharti
<\/strong>Replay
Rouse High School, Leander, Texas
Revels in Kuchipudi<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drake Dickey
<\/strong>Featherduster
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Luke Riezebeek<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sept. 11, 2025 MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=623382"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":623569,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623382\/revisions\/623569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=623382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=623382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=623382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}