Nebraska high school students earned four first, four second, two third and 11 honorable mention awards in the National Federation of Press Women High School Communications Contest. Winners were announced during a May 13 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 that include writing, photography, graphics, layout, broadcast, video and yearbook.
Nebraska’s national winners are from 11 schools: Bellevue East High School, Bryan High School (Omaha), Elkhorn North High School, Gretna High School, Gretna East High School, Lincoln Southeast High School, Marian High School (Omaha), Millard North High School (Omaha), Millard South High School (Omaha), Westside High School (Omaha), Westview High School (Omaha).
First-place honorees are:
- Columns or blogs – Lida Prochaska, Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, Innovation or Imitation? AI’s influence in today’s classrooms.
- Cartooning – Macaiah Dodd, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Apollo Asks #3.
- Graphics/photo illustration – Izumi Huang Fujiwara, Marian High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Nebraska’s Food Insecurities.
- Yearbook Layout – Sarah Mesfin, Bryan High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Homecoming.
Second-place winners are:
- News Story – Lailyah Duncan, Bellevue East High School, Bellevue, Nebraska, Former Bellevue East student cured of sickle cell disease.
- Video Feature Story – Will Mahan, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Driven by Heart: Westside Golf Team Takes State Runner-Up Amid Coach’s Personal Battle.
- Yearbook Photo – (tie) – Addilyn Nikodym, Gretna East High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Straight from the Heart.
- Yearbook Copywriting – Parker Neville, Millard North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Quacking the code.
Third-place winners are:
- Double-truck Layout – Katherine Dietz, Eleanor Thibodeau, and Izumi Huang Fujiwara, Marian High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Going Analog in 2026.
- Best Newscast – Adam Taylor, Sydney Kjeldgaard, Sofia Bunch, Jenna Steinke and Cory Nguyen, Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, Knight Pride News: Dec. 5 Episode.
Honorable mention winners are:
- Feature Story – Mary Jane Kushiner, Gretna High School, Gretna, Nebraska, Ruth’s Religion: Senior Navigates Her Faith in Suburban Gretna.
- Sports Story – Lauren Hicks, Marian High School, Bennington, Nebraska, Athletes Utilize NSAA Transfer Portal.
- Reviews – Niharika Kandari, Elkhorn North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, The Unfairest of Them All.
- Environment – Kristina Gevorkova, Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, When the Storm Strikes.
- News or feature photo – Syra Qureshi, Marian High School, Omaha, Nebraska, High in the sky.
- Sports photo – Regina Ho, Millard South High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Spotlight on the Mat.
- Single Page Layout – Evangeline Ahern, Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, Spooky Movies to Sink Your Teeth Into.
- Radio or Podcast Prepared Report – Hunter Veylupek and Lucas Boyer, Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Warrior Weekly: Episode 2.
- Radio/Television Interview or Talk Show – Jordan Farmer, Westview High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Fireside Chats with Jordan Farmer – Wolfes & Lyons.
- Video News Story – Kate Efaw, Marian High School, Omaha, Nebraska, Government Shutdown.
- Video Sports Story – Cory Nguyen and Mason Sheehan, Lincoln Southeast High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, Rolling Toward Victory: The LSE Bowling Team brings focus, fire, and team chemistry to every frame.