Twenty-three first-place entries in the Nebraska Press Women (NPW) High School Communications Contest have advanced to the National Federation of Press Women competition. National award winners will be announced during an online celebration on May 9.
Students from 16 schools won state awards in the contest that includes categories in the areas of writing, visual, broadcast or video, and yearbook. The contest was open to high school students across the state. It was judged by communications professionals, with constructive feedback provided on each entry.
Westside High School in Omaha accumulated the most points based on contest results and received the Sweepstakes Award. Millard South High School, also in Omaha, was runner up for the Sweepstakes Award. Gretna East High School placed third. All three schools received awards.
The 369 entries in the contest were a record. “It is exciting to recognize the award-winning student journalists from across the state,” said Sherry Thompson, NPW High School Contest Director. “The awards are well deserved, given the level of competition in the contest.”
Winners were recognized during NPW’s spring convention luncheon April 20 in Lexington.
Schools with winning entries are Adams Central Jr/Sr High School (Hastings), Bellevue East High School, Bellevue West High School, Dorchester Public School, Elkhorn North High School, Gretna East High School, Gretna High School, Harvard Public School, Hastings Senior High School, Marian High School (Omaha), Millard North High School (Omaha), Millard South High School (Omaha), Mount Michael Benedictine High School (Elkhorn), North Platte High School, Ralston High School and Westside High School (Omaha).
Award winners by category are:
Best Newscast – first place, Emily Jasa and Carson Kelley, Westside High School; second place, Emily Jasa and Burke Brown, Westside High School; honorable mention, Layla Wilke-Conant, Izzy Campie and Chloe Quinn, Marian High School.
Cartooning – first place, Onnika Moore, Gretna East High School; second place, Ella Erickson, Millard South High School; third place, Alicia Arias, Millard South High School; honorable mention, Onnika Moore, Gretna East High School; Scarlett Henery, Marian High School.
Columns or Blogs – first place, Tanatswa Chivero, Westside High School; second place, Shelby Neeley, Millard South High School; third place, Ava Fuller, Gretna High School; honorable mention, Natalie Hill, Millard North High School.
Double-truck Layout – first place, Alexa Leiting, Millard South High School; second place, Madison Shaffar, Marian High School; third place, Madison Shaffar, Marian High School; honorable mention, Gabrielle Theis, Dorchester Public School.
Editorial – first place, Emmalie Herd, Bellevue West High School; second place, Rylee Newman, Millard South High School; third place, Brayden Hansen, Gretna East High School; honorable mention, Leena Macklin, Gretna East High School; Scarlett Henery, Marian High School.
Environment – first place, Zoe Rector, Westside High School; second place, Reagan Graeve, Marian High School; third place, Oliver Sorensen, Mount Michael Benedictine High School; honorable mention, Charley Leon, Bellevue East High School; Martha Engel, Marian High School.
Feature Story – first place, Zoe Rector, Westside High School; second place, Madeline Petrick, Gretna East High School; third place, Leena Macklin, Gretna East High School; honorable mention, Jacki Petrow, Bellevue West High School; Korina Liekus, Marian High School; Mia Castro, Millard North High School; Ishani Karki, Millard North High School.
Graphics / Photo Illustration – first place, Hanna Kull, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; second place, Kamila Cuevas, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; third place, Hanna Kull, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; honorable mention, Tessa Reinhard, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; Kamila Cuevas, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; Raegan Rains, Bellevue West High School; Andrea Pavlish, Dorchester Public School; Leena Macklin, Gretna East High School; Maya Zier, Marian High School.
News or Feature Photo – first place, Madeline Petrick, Gretna East High School; second place, Madeline Petrick, Gretna East High School; third place, Jamison Hanway, Millard South High School; honorable mention, Jacki Petrow, Bellevue West High School; Onnika Moore, Gretna East High School; Savannah Lloyd, Gretna East High School; Ava Fuller, Gretna High School; Martha Engel, Marian High School.
News Story – first place, Teagan Lynch, Millard North High School; second place, Daniel Vanourney, Westside High School; third place, Callie Menke, Millard North High School; honorable mention, Joseph Peacock, Dorchester Public School; Cohen Reutzel; Harvard Public School; Sophia Reinhardt, Marian High School; Rylee Newman, Millard South High School; Haylee Francisco, North Platte High School.
Opinion – first place, Brayden Hansen, Gretna East High School; second place, Lily Biggs, Marian High School; third place, Alex Ingvoldstad, Westside High School; honorable mention, Rory Vargas, Bellevue West High School; Alex Jolley, Bellevue West High School; Mallory Ringenberg, Elkhorn North High School; Finn Murphy, Mount Michael Benedictine High School; Tanatswa Chivero, Westside High School.
Radio / Television Interview or Talk Show – first place, Amir Rasulov, Westside High School; second place, Ryan Kelly, Westside High School; honorable mention, Benjamin Kaufman, Westside High School.
Radio or Podcast Prepared Report – first place, Lucas Pechacek, Bellevue West High School; second place, Atena Navarro Amaya and Evalyn Colley, Bellevue West High School.
Review – first place, Mary Jane Kushiner, Gretna High School; Chase Zagurski, Millard South High School; third place, Ellis Peter, Marian High School; honorable mention, Brayden Hansen, Gretna East High School; Leena Macklin and Brayden Hansen, Gretna East High School; Robert Baker III, Millard South High School; Samantha Marvin, Westside High School.
Single-Page Layout – first place, Matthew Beyer, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; second place, Cole Schreck; Bellevue West High School; third place, Kamila Cuevas, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; honorable mention, Jerzie Kapustka, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School; Raegan Rains, Bellevue West High School; Cohen Reutzel, Harvard Public School; Shelby Gerken, Marian High School.
Sports Photo – first place, CeCe Gerard, Westside High School; second place, CeCe Gerard, Westside High School; third place, Gage Vondra, Westside High School; honorable mention, Zahna Reutzel, Harvard Public School; Kane Good, Millard South High School; Tate Williams, Millard South High School; Joseph Gerard, Westside High School; Gage Vondra, Westside High School; Kendra Cox, Westside High School.
Sports Story – first place, Alayna Vaughn, Elkhorn North High School; second place, Mackenzie Luzum, Dorchester Public School; third place, Tanatswa Chivero, Westside High School; honorable mention Jacki Petrow, Bellevue West High School; Ariana Tellez, Dorchester Public School; Harlee Boyd, Gretna High School; Oliver Sorensen, Mount Michael Benedictine High School; Ryan Kelly, Westside High School.
Video Feature Story – first place, Samantha Kendeigh and Elaina Kratky, Westside High School; second place, Madeline Schlegel and Sloane Houston, Westside High School; third place, Lucas Pechacek, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Evan Kugler, Westside High School.
Video News Story – first place, Angela Zheng and Grace Vidlak, Millard North High School; second place, Raegan Rains, Bellevue West High School; third place, Raegan Rains, Bellevue West High School; honorable mention, Ellie Brabec and Margaret Hiatt, Marian High School; Elaina Kratky and Samantha Kendeigh, Westside High School.
Video Sports Story – first place, Dalton Heller, Millard South High School; second place, Jackson Kipling and Joseph Vermillion, Westside High School; third place, Hailey Schweitzer and Bailey Theis, Dorchester Public School; honorable mention, Madeline Petrick and Brayden Hansen, Gretna East High School; Carson Kelley and Evan Kugler, Westside High School.
Yearbook Copywriting – first place, Lexi Benson and Rebekah Evans, Hastings Senior High School; second place, Lexi Benson and Rebekah Evans, Hastings Senior High School, third place, Andrea Pavlish, Dorchester Public School; honorable mention, Joseph Peacock, Dorchester Public School; Jacob Cerny, Dorchester Public School.
Yearbook Layout – first place, Karleigh North, Gretna High School; second place, Fischer Courtney, Ralston High School; third place, Lexi Benson, Rebekah Evans, Zayda Lastor and Monte Faris, Hastings Senior High School; honorable mention, Neila Mustard, Bellevue East High School; Emmalie Herd, Bellevue West High School; Isabella Martin, Bellevue West High School; Lexi Benson and Rebekah Evans, Hastings Senior High School; Zoie Bartek, Ralston High School; Isaiah Burnal, Ralston High School; Mia Rivera and Enrique Orellana, Ralston High School; Carson Scofield, Ralston High School; Isabel Ortiz-Aguayo, Ralston High School.
Yearbook Photo – first place, Ava Waggoner, Westside High School; second place, Jacob Cerny, Dorchester Public School; third place, Mackenzie Luzum, Dorchester Public School; honorable mention, Isabell Martin, Bellevue West High School; Jake Breaux, Bellevue West High School; Gabrielle Theis, Dorchester Public School; Hailey Schweitzer, Dorchester Public School; Joseph Peacock, Dorchester Public School; Karleigh North, Gretna High School; Kierstin Gay, Gretna High School; Ava Waggoner, Westside High School.
