Nebraska Press Women High School Communications Contest winners were announced April 29, 2017, at the NPW spring convention held at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte.
The contest includes categories for student newspaper, yearbook, broadcasting and online video work. Students placed in 20 categories.
Bellevue West High School received the Sweepstakes Award. First-place winning entries have advanced to the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Contest, with awards in that contest to be presented in September.
Following are the 2017 state contest award winners:
Editorial — First, Ellie Rommelfanger, Marian High School; second, Emma Larson, Bellevue West High School; third, Jordan Pebeck, Grand Island Central Catholic; honorable mention, Biridiana S. Mateo-Lopez, Grand Island Senior High.
Opinion — First, Ana Hingorani, Marian High School; second, Brianna Wessling, Marian High School; third, Seini Toa Mila, Grand Island Senior High; honorable mention, Kortney Buresh, Bellevue West High School.
News story — First, Isabelle Swanson, Marian High School; second, Brooke Riley, Bellevue West High School; third, Biridiana S. Mateo-Lopez, Grand Island Senior High; honorable mention, Kathryn Willenborg, Millard South High School.
Feature story — First, Grace Fitzgibbon, Lincoln Southeast High School; second, Alyssa Soppe, Millard South High School; third, Melissa Irish, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Bex Rangel, Bellevue West High School.
Sports story — First, Brenden Holling, Grand Island Northwest High School; second, Nathan Hawkins, Bellevue West High School; third, Nolan Tracy, Westside High School; honorable mention, Eric Murcek, Millard South High School.
Columns or blogs — First, Brooke Riley, Bellevue West High School; second, Cynthia France, Westside High School; third, Ellie Mulligan, Marian High School; honorable mention, A.J. Forbes, Bellevue West High School.
News/feature photo — First, McKenna Krueger, Millard South High School; second, Biridiana S. Mateo-Lopez, Grand Island Senior High.
Sports photo — First, McKenna Krueger, Millard South High School; second, Aaron Mercado, Fremont High School; third, Kaylee Steen, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Lexi Walker, Bellevue West High School.
Cartooning — First, Aron Zumaya, Grand Island Senior High; second, An Vu, Millard South High School; third, Sarah Mila, Grand Island Senior High.
Review — First, Conlan Custard, Millard South High School; second, Taylor Keyes, Grand Island Senior High; third, Alex Toth, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Kortney Buresh, Bellevue West High School.
Graphics — First, Megan Szwanek, Marian High School; second, Katie Smallwood and Brenden Holling, Grand Island Northwest High School.
Single-page layout — First, Cora Peterson, Bellevue West High School; second, Brooke Riley, Bellevue West High School; third, Katie Smallwood, Grand Island Northwest High School; honorable mention, Biridiana S. Mateo-Lopez, Grand Island Senior High.
Double truck layout — First, Jacob Blaha, Bellevue West High School; second, Trinity Torres, Bellevue West High School; third, Aron Zumaya, Grand Island Senior High; honorable mention, Ellie Mulligan, Marian High School.
Best newscast, radio or TV — First, Emily Broadwell, Paige Shubert, Preston Ellsworth, Carter Terry, Jeremiah Ivers, Cassie Pokorney, Tyler Rinkol and Katie Smallwood, Grand Island Northwest High School.
Video news story — First, Caleb Kirilov, Westside High School; second, Christian Hiltbrunner and Kinley Hamilton, Bellevue West High School; third, Libby Bekins, Westside High School; honorable mention, Jace Rettinger, Bellevue West High School.
Video feature story — First, Nick Henrichs and Mitchell Francis, Westside High School; second, Aliyah White and Morgan Wilson, Westside High School; third, Mitchell Francis, Westside High School; honorable mention, Trey Stutheit and Jaxson Balm, Johnson-Brock High School.
Video sports story — First, Nick Henrichs, Westside High School; second, Caleb Kirilov and Libby Bekins, Westside High School; third, Katie Smallwood and Cassie Pokorney, Grand Island Northwest High School; honorable mention, Jace Rettinger, Jacob Blaha and Jenna Hammond, Bellevue West High School.
Yearbook layout — First, Aron Zumaya, Grand Island Senior High; second, Emily Evans, Marian High School; third, Rebecca Williams, Marian High School; honorable mention, Ashley Kenyon, Grand Island Northwest High School.
Yearbook photo — First, Sarah Wederquist, Bellevue West High School; second, Aaron Mercado, Fremont High School; third, Aron Zumaya, Grand Island Senior High; honorable mention, Eric Morris, Bellevue West High School.
Yearbook copywriting — First, Aaron Mercado, Fremont High School; second, Kelsey Larsen, Bellevue West High School; third, Cora Peterson, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Chloe Fowler, Westside High School.
