{"id":625009,"date":"2026-09-07T12:43:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T17:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/?p=625009"},"modified":"2026-09-10T13:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T18:08:31","slug":"2026-digital-story-of-the-year-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/2026-digital-story-of-the-year-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Digital Story of the Year finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sept. 10, 2026<\/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. 21, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention<\/a> in Orlando.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the winners are announced on Nov. 21, 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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Multimedia News Story
<\/a>Multimedia Feature Story
<\/a>Multimedia Sports Story
<\/a>Photo Slideshow
<\/a>Interactive Graphic
<\/a>Podcast<\/a>
Blog<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Broadcast Story of the Year<\/a>
Cartoon of the Year<\/a>
Design of the Year<\/a>
Digital Story of the Year<\/a>
Photo of the Year<\/a>
Story of the Year<\/a>
Best Use of Social Media<\/a>
Portfolio of the Year<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
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Multimedia News Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rohan Muni<\/strong>
The Gator
Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Voices From the Middle East<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mia Ghosh, Isla Iyer, Tsukina Ohashi, Talia Simon, Eleanna Swartz<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
Celebrate the Music 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Chen, May Lin, Rowan Sheng, Anoushka Swaminathan, Ashlyn Wong<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
Students Protest ICE in Walkout<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter Atchley, Lea D’Angelo<\/strong>
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Parking Problems<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Chio<\/strong>
The Sidekick
Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas
Revamping a Ghost Town<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Greenlee, Shanza Sami, Isaac Warner<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Exploring Iowa\u2019s Legacy of Student Activism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kieran Crist-Kenworthy, Clover Martin<\/strong>
The La Salle Falconer
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, Milwaukie, Oregon
Immigration Crackdown Spurs Growing Fear, Debate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellie Liu, Selvi Radia, Kensi Renwick, Annie Seeman, Mattea Vergara<\/strong>
The UltraViolet
Marlborough School, Los Angeles, California
Voices of the Fires<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julius Li, Caroline Su<\/strong>
The Highlander
McLean High School, McLean, Virginia
Chinese Language Reinstated Amid Community Criticism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace Berger<\/strong>
The Rubicon
St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Saint Paul, Minnesota
ICE Presence on Indigenous Lands Opens Old Wounds<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Multimedia Feature Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madilyn Shoop-Gardner, Caitlin Stehr<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
The Life of Keith LaMar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May Lin<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
Arrowsmithing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lea D’Angelo, Abigail Holloway<\/strong>
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Inkspired<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayaan Haque<\/strong>
The Sidekick
Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas
Emergency Center Provides Home for Guardian Angels<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayaan Haque<\/strong>
The Sidekick
Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas
Investigating Dispute, Development at North Lake<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Beneke, Shanza Sami, Colin Wehrle<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
A Fare-Free Future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ella Ciliberto<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Fertile Fields, Foul Currents<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paghunda Ali, Karin Leverett, Caroline Su, Jiayue Zou<\/strong>
The Highlander
McLean High School, McLean, Virginia
Freedom Under Fire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saher Punshi<\/strong>
The Standard
The American School in London, London, England
Don\u2019t Forget to Look Up<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annabelle Hage, Shawnie Loveless, Fiona Peltonen<\/strong>
Wayland Student Press Network
Wayland High School, Wayland, Massachusetts
Going to School in Era of Rampant Gun Violence<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Multimedia Sports Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lea D’Angelo, Liya Taylor, David Wang<\/strong>
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
The Glory of \u201985<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucy Lowenschuss<\/strong>
The Communicator
Community High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
A Record-Breaking Victory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
Manual RedEye
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
UFL Brings Professional Football Back to Louisville<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Wehrle<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Wrestlers and Weight Management<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evelyn Kraber<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Journey Through Injury, Loss and Success<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tricia Darcy<\/strong>
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School, Kingwood, Texas
Opportunities Continue to Grow for Girls in Sports<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owen Francis, Will Nolan, Will Quinney, MaryKate Stroud<\/strong>
LHSToday
Liberty High School, Lake Saint Louis, Missouri
Senior Athletes Commit to the Next Level<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ritik Shenoy, Kate Yang<\/strong>
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California
Chen Commits to Carnegie Mellon University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isabel Erickson, Allie O’Boyle<\/strong>
The Oracle
The Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles, California
A Solo Season<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joey Fay<\/strong>
Wayland Student Press Network
Wayland High School, Wayland, Massachusetts
Coach Doherty Steps Down After 17 Seasons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Photo Slideshow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mason Petkov<\/strong>
Eastside
Cherry Hill High School East, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
East vs. Lenape Boys\u2019 Basketball<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Wehrle, Taelim Yoon<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Boys Swimming Dominates District Meet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eli Batcheller<\/strong>
The La Salle Falconer
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, Milwaukie, Oregon
Portland\u2019s Approach to Protesting the Trump Administration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
RockMedia
Rock Canyon High School, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
The Week in Photos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maddy McKenna<\/strong>
The Patriot
Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park, Kansas
Dominate the Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laila Taraporevala<\/strong>
The Standard
The American School in London, London, England
Students Perform in Musical \u2018Urinetown\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naomi Benton, Viren de Jeu, Noah Gunning, Bryce Kenny, Calder Wong<\/strong>
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Game Faces<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Ari Novak, Sohana Schneider, Declan Smith, Calder Wong<\/strong>
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Lab Community Participates in \u2018No Kings\u2019 Protests<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Nogalski<\/strong>
Featherduster
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Chaps Take Down Knights<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jakeman Strelitz<\/strong>
Featherduster
Westlake High School, Austin, Texas
Varsity Volleyball Advances to Area Championship<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Interactive Graphic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annika Kumar, Tsukina Ohashi<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
The Sinking of Jakarta<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe Ren, Dino Russo<\/strong>
Eastside
Cherry Hill High School East, Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Test Your Artificial Intelligence Literacy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Chio, Karthika Dayanand, Eirene Park, Hamza Zakir<\/strong>
The Sidekick
Coppell High School, Coppell, Texas
Departure for D115 Approaches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jersey Dubis<\/strong>
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School, Saint Charles, Missouri
Recycle vs. Trash Challenge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Beneke<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Indigenous Nations of Iowa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jasmine Wu<\/strong>
The UltraViolet
Marlborough School, Los Angeles, California
Trump\u2019s Grant Cuts Impact Women and Girls in STEM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julius Li<\/strong>
The Highlander
McLean High School, McLean, Virginia
Starving for Control<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarek Ahmad<\/strong>
The Standard
The American School in London, London, England
Russian Hockey Players Must Be Allowed to Compete<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reese Carsley, Gabi Morillo Dal Piccol, Lana Weber<\/strong>
The Falconer
Torrey Pines High School, San Diego, California
Holiday Gift Guide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
VNHSMirror
Van Nuys High School, Van Nuys, California
NASA\u2019s Artemis II Mission Will Send Astronauts Around the Moon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Podcast<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maddie Lynn<\/strong>
Manual RedEye
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Struggling Through Senioritis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maggie Stone<\/strong>
On the Record
duPont Manual High School, Louisville, Kentucky
Balancing Act<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olive Bosanquet<\/strong>
FHNtoday
Francis Howell North High School, Saint Charles, Missouri
Mitski the Losing Dog<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Lai<\/strong>
West Side Story
Iowa City West High, Iowa City, Iowa
Understanding Iowa\u2019s Water Quality Crisis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry Eckersley<\/strong>
The Southerner
Midtown High School, Atlanta, Georgia
Washington Retires After Decades of Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Zelniker<\/strong>
The Southerner
Midtown High School, Atlanta, Georgia
Departure for D115 Approaches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stella Ock<\/strong>
Tiger Times
Seoul International School, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
SIS Perspectives on the Anxious Generation<\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Burger, Judah Sanchez<\/strong>
The Review
St. John’s School, Houston, Texas
AI, Data Centers, the Disneyland of Energy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyla Patil<\/strong>
The Oracle
The Archer School for Girls, Los Angeles, California
Understanding Period Irregularities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nadia Washington<\/strong>
U-High Midway
University of Chicago Laboratory High School, Chicago, Illinois
Community to Raise Awareness About ICE Threat<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Blog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

listed by school in alpha order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May Lin<\/strong>
Scot Scoop
Carlmont High School, Belmont, California
Breaking the Ice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samaya Ellis<\/strong>
Odyssey Media Group
Clarke Central High School, Athens, Georgia
Solidifying a Melting Mask<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rola Ali, Kayla Lee<\/strong>
The Prospector
Cupertino High School, Cupertino, California
Losing Touch With My Home Country<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Pulido<\/strong>
The Pearl Post
Daniel Pearl Magnet High School, Lake Balboa, California
The Chance to Chart a New Identity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Haines<\/strong>
The Little Hawk
Iowa City High School, Iowa City, Iowa
Film Reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sydney Ortiz<\/strong>
Kingwood Park Times
Kingwood Park High School, Kingwood, Texas
Sports Knowledge Not Limited to Boys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiley Huang, Josie Mottl<\/strong>
The Kirkwood Call
Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Missouri
ICE Protest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finn Christensen-McElroy<\/strong>
The La Salle Falconer
La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, Milwaukie, Oregon
What Our Culture Needs Now<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radhika Dharmapurikar<\/strong>
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California
Tongue-Tied<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jonah Chang<\/strong>
El Estoque
Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California
The Bittersweet Success of Outgrowing Allergies<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Sept. 10, 2026 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. 21, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando. After the winners are announced on Nov. 21, 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\/625009"}],"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=625009"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":625093,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/625009\/revisions\/625093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=625009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=625009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/nspa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=625009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}