Nebraska high school students earned two first places, three second places, three third places and nine honorable mentions in the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Contest. Winners were announced during a May 9 awards ceremony held via Zoom.
First-place entries in the Nebraska Press Women High School Communications Contest advanced to the national round of competition. The contest recognizes students in 23 categories representing a variety of areas including writing, photography, graphics, page layout, and yearbook.
Nebraska’s national winners are from eight schools – Adams Central Junior/Senior High School in Hastings, Bellevue West High School in Bellevue, Gretna High School in Gretna, Gretna East High School in Gretna, Hastings High School in Hastings, Millard North High School in Omaha, Millard South High School in Omaha and Westside High School in Omaha.
First-place honorees are:
- Columns or Blogs – Tanatswa Chivero, Westside High School, Omaha, ‘Difficult’ Names Carry Value
- Review – Mary Jane Kushiner, Gretna High School, Gretna, Review: Give Yourself ‘Goosebumps’
Second-place winners are:
- News or feature photo – Madeline Petrick, Gretna East High School, Gretna, The Smell of Rebellion
- Video News Story – Angela Zheng and Grace Vidlak, Millard North High School, Omaha, Destination Downtown
- Yearbook Copywriting – Lexi Benson and Rebekah Evans, Hastings Senior High School, Hastings, Hastings High Opening Story
Third-place winners are:
- Single page layout – Matthew Beyer, Adams Central Jr/Sr High School, Hastings, Beating the Odds
- Best Newscast: Radio or Television – Emily Jasa and Carson Kelley, Westside High School, Omaha, November Broadcast
- Video Sports Story – Dalton Heller. Millard South High School, Omaha, Pole Vaulters Reach New Heights
Honorable mention awards went to:
- Editorial – Emmalie Herd, Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, Women’s classic books should be taught in the classroom
- News Story – Teagan Lynch, Millard North High School, Omaha, Raising Rates: Increasing graduation rate, lowering levels of absenteeism
- Feature Story – Zoe Rector, Westside High School, Omaha, 22 years later
- Cartooning – Onnika Moore, Gretna East High School, Omaha, Griffin Student Leaders, needs to be more inclusive
- Double-truck layout – Alexa Leiting, Millard South High School, Omaha, Clothes and Codes.
- Environment – Zoe Rector, Westside High School, Omaha, Pollution in North Omaha illustrates environmental racism
- Radio or Podcast Prepared Report – Lucas Pechacek, Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, Unpeeling History with Lucas Pechacek S2:E3: Welcome to the 19th Century
- Video Feature Story – Samantha Kendeigh and Elaina Kratky, Westside High School, Omaha, The player behind the play: the Caleb Benning feature
- Yearbook Layout – Karleigh North, Gretna High School, Gretna, Student Section
