Nine members of Nebraska Press Women won awards in the 2026 National Federation of Press Women’s annual Professional Communications Contest.
The awards were presented Sept. 26 at the NFPW’s annual Professional Communications Conference in Ellicott City, Maryland.
There were 1,850 entries in the contest, which has 56 categories in newspapers, magazines, public relations, online communications, radio, television, advertising, blogs, and more.
Lori Potter and Mary Jane Skala were the first- and second-place runners-up, respectively, for the annual NFPW Sweepstakes award, which is given to the top winner overall.
NPW winners in the national contest included:
Natalia Alamdari of Omaha, Flatwater Free Press, second place for social issues. “Spinning rides, swirling rumors: Talk of ICE raid mars county fair’s attempt to showcase Mexican band.”
Sara Gentzler, Omaha, Flatwater Free Press, second place in the continuing coverage or unfolding news category for her stories, “YRTC-Kearney abuse allegations.”
Terri Hahn of Osceola, features editor for the Grand Island Independent, first place for editing of a single page, section or supplement, for the Jan 4 edition of “Occasions.”
Carla Post of Ayr, Midwest Messenger, second place, online feature story, “Handmade helper: 92-year-old Nebraskan moves snow with a tractor he built from scratch 65 years ago.”
Lori Potter of Keaney, freelance, eight awards:
- First place, agriculture articles, “Kearney County Crops and Cattle 2025 Outlook”
- First place, Single Photograph, News or feature photo for “Sandhill cranes on Platte River”
- Second place, feature story for magazine/newsletter/other publication, for “Something Different to Try”
- Second place, Green/environmental articles, “Spring Migration: A Different World”
- Second place, photography, single photograph, news or feature photo, “Sunset at Rowe Sanctuary”
- Third place, business articles, “One to the Next: Business transaction for Ivan Wiebke, Travis Dorn crosses generations, blurs family line”
- Third place: photography, photo essay: Buffalo County Fair
- Honorable mention, arts and entertainment, “The Jason Wulf Band”
Mary Jane Skala of Kearney, seven awards, all for stories in print newspapers:
- Second place, feature story, “From out of the ashes, love and kindness for Axtell family,”
- Second place, hobby articles: “Bats, wasps infest Kearney home. National Guard friends mobilize to help.”
- Second place, religion articles, “Father Paul: a poignant farewell to Prince of Peace.”
- Third place: hobby article: “Kearney man re-enacts a historical character few think about: a mortician.”
- Third place, personal essay: “Chicagoan pooh-poohs Nebraska. Let’s invite him to come stay awhile.”
- Honorable mention, humorous column: “No lifeboat No lights, No toilets. But the Pilgrims made it.”
- Honorable mention, personal columns, “The real winner of the Indy 500.”
Lauren Wagner of Omaha, The 74, second place, online news story, “In class and TikTok, South Dakota interns preserve Lakota language.” Aug. 5
Melanie Wilkinson of York, justmelanie.com website, won three first place awards:
- General columns. “Blue typewriter with a red and white keyboard.”
- Personal blog, “The World According to Riki.” March 3
- Personal website. Justmelanie.com
Emily Wolf of Lincoln, Flatwater Free Press: honorable mention, education articles. “Lincoln school board paid its former superintendent six figures. He did no work.”