Congratulations to the 2025 Julie Hoffman Memorial Best of the Best Award Winner: The Hornet Media Staff, Bryant High School, Bryant, Arkansas. Their Hornet News Now Episode 3, which aired Nov. 20, 2024, has been named the Julie Hoffman Memorial Best of the Best award winner, the top award given in the national high school communications contest.                         

FOR A LIST OF PREVIOUS JULIE HOFFMAN MEMORIAL BEST OF THE BEST AWARD WINNERS, CLICK HERE. 

Press Release - 2025 Julie Hoffman Memorial Best of the Best Award Winner

2025 NFPW National High School Communications Contest winners: 

Editorial

First place – Ada Lillie Worthington, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, A Digital Shield. 
Second place – Chelsea Mahloch, Elkhorn North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, It’s Time for a New Chapter. 
Third place – Niang Lun, Southport High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, Journal Address. 
Honorable mention – Eleanor McInnis, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Fatal Footprints.

Opinion

First place – Ollie Shuminas, Metea Valley High School, Aurora, Illinois, The silent struggles of transgender students. 
Second place – Connor Simpkins, Haverford School, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, The legacy of Sandy Hook.
Third place – Alex Garzia, Southport High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, Staying Strong.
Honorable mentions – 
Sabrina Tomei, Fairfield Ludlowe High School, Fairfield, Connecticut, Teaching to the Test: The AP Struggle.
Grace Volz, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Missouri, Blocking our education.
Elan Perry, Elkhorn North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Bridge the Divide.
Chloe Washington, Holy Family Cristo Rey, Birmingham, Alabama, My Journey Through Girlhood.
Ava Kate White, Little Rock, Arkansas, Reform or Regression.

News Story

First place – Rylee Newman, Millard South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Code Red
Second place – Addie Moore, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, OVERpopulated.
Third place – Luke Kouns, Zionsville Community High School, Zionsville, Indiana, Disconnected.

Feature Story

First place – Isabella Giammarino, South Windsor High School, South Windsor, Connecticut, The Greatest Gift She was Ever Given – A Story of Resilience and Bravery. 
Second place – Addison Bussell, and Andie Harmon, Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, Next Moves.
Third place – Brianna Yang, Bellevue East High School, Bellevue, Nebraska, Bellevue East students take advantage of college prep courses. 
Honorable mention – Sarita Josephson, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, Behind quiet struggles, solutions emerge.

Sports Story

First place – Esther San, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Missouri, Pressure in Sports.
Second place – Reese Beery, Gretna East High School, Omaha, Nebraska, In face of pain, junior cross country, track athletes shows determination, grit.
Third place – Elise Andrade, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto, California, Head start or hurt head?
Honorable mentions –
Clark Kerkstra, Strath Haven High School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Discussions explore new artificial turf field.
Jonah Cooper, Justin Kim, and Lillian Zhou, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Pros and Costs.

Columns or Blogs

First place – Ellie Zacharia, Bellaire High School, Bellaire, Texas, A story of strength: my sister's battle with scoliosis.
Second place (tie) – Alejandra Briceno, Homewood High School, Birmingham, Alabama, It's an A. Lincolnshire.
Second place (tie) – Adi Jaiswal, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Missing the Moment. 
Third place – Chelsea Mahloch, Elkhorn North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Message Failed to Send. 
Honorable mentions –
Lucy Paul, Little Rock Central High School, Litle Rock, Arkansas, The art of film.
Anoushka Jena, Carmel High School, Carmel, Indiana, Keep the New Gloves: Fighter Safety Is Non-Negotiable.

Review

First place – Liam French, The Haverford School, Haverford, Pennsylvania, Renaissance Act ii: AMERIICAN REQUIEM – a review.
Second place – Avni Bansal, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, Sidos.
Third place – Lucas Allison, Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, They call it a ‘royale with cheese’
Honorable mention – Aisha Fatima, and Alex Xie, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Third Time's the Charm.

News or Feature Photo

First place – Lilly Ferazzi, Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, A Peek Behind The Curtain.
Second place -- A'lyric Jenkins, Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, Lucy threat.
Third place (tie) – Nick Nye, Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco, California, Pet parents rejoice in passage of new rental law.
Third place (tie) – Anna Foster, Auburn High School, Auburn, Alabama, Off in the Distance.
Honorable mentions –
Jamison Hanway, Millard South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Proud mama.
Laurel Hansen, Shawnee Mission North High School, Roeland Park, Kansas, Eclipse.

Sports Photo

Second place – Gage Vondra, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Breaking Limits.
Third place – Stacy Duong, Midway High School, Waco, Texas. Basketball.
Honorable mentions – Julianna Baldwin, Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, Back splash.
Matteo Ventresca, Strath Haven High School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Girls soccer wins state championship.

Cartooning

First place – Zach Schilmoeller, Millard South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Crying over candy tax.
Second place – Jillian Ju, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, The art of losing. 
Third place – Clara Isom, Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Trump chops down Department of Education.
Honorable mentions –
Kat Peebles, Midway High School, Waco, Texas, Springtime Bus Stop Experience.
Ruhee Raheem, Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, LEARNS takes.
Megan Xia, Carmel High School, Carmel, Indiana, Graphic Perspective: The “great” debate.

Graphics/Photo Illustration

Second place – Isaac Lothrop, and Matthew Ramirez, Strath Haven High School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, Off or On?
Third place – Joshua Coulon, Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers, Indiana, Football Senior Night Graphic
Honorable mentions –
Ashe Foster, Auburn High School, Auburn, Alabama, Macbeth.
Cherry Clark, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Missouri, Roller Derby.
Kyah Kaufmann, Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, Construction timeline.
Amberly Sun, Monta Vista High School, Saratoga, California, Artificial intelligence.
Ansh Aggarwal,and Samantha Gingiss Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Fill, Don't Spill.

Single Page Layout

Second place – Sophia Brockmeier, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, Dissecting Child Development.
Third place – Dominika Kouassi, Marian High School, Omaha, Nebraska, December Front Page.
Honorable mentions –
Sybil Curran, Little Rock Central High School. Little Rock, Arkansas, Do's & Donuts.
Jillian Ju, and Benjamin Zhang, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, Diss-graced.
Gabe Meyers, Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Front Page: Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Double-truck Layout

First place – Jessi Hahn, Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Centerspread: Edwin Cortes.
Second place – Avery Anderson, Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, Kansas, Rumor Has It...
Third place (tie) – Hailey Schweitzer, Dorchester High School, Dorchester, Nebraska. A Built-in Best Friend.
Third place (tie) – Dylan Nguyen, and Aprameya Rupanagunta, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, Ballot battle.
Honorable mention – Azalea Bennett-Orsini, Homestead High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana, This Holiday Season, High Speed Rail is on America's Wishlist.

Environment

First place – Ayaan Shah, Cyan Kvacky, Gavin Germain, and Clare Sheehan, Emmaus High School, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Centerspread: Environmental Action.
Second place – Anthony Pho, Devyn Hansen, and Lucy Han, Carmel High School, Carmel, Indiana, Installation of sunscreen dispensers in Carmel parks amplifies Carmel’s public skin health efforts.
Third place – Shiori Chen, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California, Southern California Line Fire sparks burning concerns over climate change.
Honorable mention – Sloane Houston, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, WHS Recycling PSA; Reese Groh, and Claire Krob, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Missouri, KHS grows green.

Radio or Podcast Prepared Report

Second place – Alex Xie, and Eleanor McInnis, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Statesman Speaks: 2024 Elections.
Third place – Joyce Li, and Aletheia Ju, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, Our own frequency.
Honorable mentions –
Lucas Pechacek, Bellevue West High, Bellevue, Nebraska, Unpeeling History S3:E4: Watergate.
Londyn Hedington, and Jackson Giszewski, Columbia CIty High School, Columbia City, Indiana, The Next Gen iPhone is Changing Us.

Radio/Television Interview or Talk Show

First place – Samika Bhatkar, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, Vocal Music Director Lofn Young opens up about their name change.
Second place – Julia Knispel, The Fight 4 Human Rights cable TV show, Ridgefield, Connecticut, The Fight 4 Human Rights cable TV show (episode 22 with Dr. Timothy Patrick McCarthy).
Third place – Ryan Kelly, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Full Court Press Featuring Emre Gedik.
Honorable mentions –
Joey Ingracia, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Missouri, Sideline Stories.
Emilyn "Sam" Spurlock, and Cole Patton, Columbia City High School, Columbia City, Indiana, One story of growing a community: Cole visits Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Best Newscast: Radio or Television

First place – Hornet Media Staff, Bryant High School, Bryant, Arkansas, Hornet News Now - 2024-2025 Episode 3.
Second place – William Mize, Addyson Zay, Parker DeSimone, Elaina Satalino, Jocelyn Jones, Addison Stone, Caden Slad, and Dylan Fekete, Huntley High School, Huntley, Illinois, Raider Nation News Episode 11.
Third place – Ashley Heisler, Grace Vidlak, Tyler Epstein, Macey Jarose, Mackenzie Carter, Simon Damrow and Salman Muse, Millard North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, The Blue View, Dec. 4 2024.
Honorable mention – NHS News, Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, Around The County - May 29, 2024 PATV Staff, Padua Academy, Wilmington, Delaware, PATV 1/10/25.

Video News Story

First place – Anthony Smiley, Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware, CRHS Prostart Takes Nationals.
Second place – Chelsea Jensen, Bryant High School, Bryant, Arkansas, ROTC Inspection Every Three Years.
Third place – Anika Bhandarkar, and Suhana Mahabal, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino, California, Christmas in the Park hosts annual San Jose Tree Lighting.
Honorable mentions –
Grace Vidlak, and Macey Jarose, Millard North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Bond Breakdown.
Ashira Blakey, and Oreoluwa Shodipo, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, Flossmoor, Illinois, 17 Years Later...

Video Feature Story

First place – Ella Min, Amador Valley High School, Pleasanton, California, Affordable Clean Energy for California Schools.
Second place – Temperance Haupt. Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware, Pearl Harbor Documentary.
Third place – Aurelia Hoffman, Albuquerque School of Excellence, Albuquerque, New Mexico, The Phoenix Spotlight Season 2 Episode 1 (The Carlsbad Caverns).
Honorable mentions –
Angela Zheng, Millard North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, A Helping Hand.
Abrianna Grant, and Hannah Rowe, Auburn High School, Auburn, Alabama, Halloween Man on the Street.
Riley Tokar, and Kara Aland, Freedom Area High School, Freedom, Pennsylvania, Cafe 116: Serves more than coffee.
Addie McMillan, and Lucas Zimmer, Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, Behind The Lens. 
William Mize, Huntley High School, Lake in the Hills, Illinois, Veterans Day.

Video Sports Story

First place – Franklin Kuo, and Kian Bhatt, Carlmont High School, Belmont, California,In the huddle: a football documentary.
Second place – Macey Jarose, and Tyler Epstein, Millard North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Signing a New Start.
Third place – Madison Keener, Padua Academy, Wilmington, Delaware, Padua Flag Football.
Honorable mentions –
Kane Manfull, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Missouri, Humans of FHN | Kevin McGuire.
Luke Conrad, Matt Huseman, and Jacob Tracy, Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana, A Hidden Gem.
Laila Dyer, and Aiden Klauk, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, Flossmoor, Illinois, Veterans at HF.

Yearbook Layout

First place – Charlotte Horetsky, Strath Haven High School, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Dance as Community. 
Second place – Jaren Peters, Zionsville Community High School, Zionsville, Indiana, Boys Soccer.
Third place (tie) – Cat Settles, Midway High School, Waco, Texas, Graduation Spread. 
Third place (tie) – Kathleen Nash, Huntley High School, Algonquin, Illinois, Moving Up & Moving On.
Honorable mention –
Laci Smith, Gretna East High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Making it Count.
Lauren Stallworth, Sparkman High School, Harvest, Alabama, Student Life-Pep Rally.
Gabriela Hicks, Bentonville West High School, Centerton, Arkansas, Making Headlines: Pivotal Events in 2023-2024. 

Yearbook Photo

First place – Veronica King, Strath Haven High School, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Walking it Back.
Second place – Haylie Briggs, Plattsmouth High School, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Student Section.
Third place – Sawyer Manirath, Shawnee Mission North High School, Roeland Park, Kansas, Drawing.
Honorable mention – Paola Chavez, Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Indiana, It's time to party.

Yearbook Copywriting

Second place – Yifan Li, The Harker School, San Jose, California, Forget Us Not.
Third place – Gabrielle Theis, Dorchester High School, Dorchester, Nebraska, Snowy Sports.
Honorable mentions –
Jack Schwalb, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Missouri, Jenna Tarroum.
Addison Spriggs, Bentonville West High School, Centerton, Arkansas, Head of the Class: Students Become Teachers in NWACC Intro to Education Class.
Oyindamola Songonuga and Lindsay Spinosa, Strath Haven High School, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, We're with the band.
Ronan McGuire and Nico Ipjian, Roycemore School, Evanston, Illinois, Wassail & Winter Traditions.