By Nancy Smith, MJE, NSMC chair
The National Student Media Contests were all completed virtually for the Spring JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention.
In all, 438 students competed in photo, broadcast, graphic design, literary magazine, design and writing contests.
There were 218 winning students comprising 38 superior, 80 excellent and 100 honorable mention awards.
All the competitors had their submissions assessed by teams of judges, and those critiques are available at the NSMC website. Contestants can log in with their username and password to view their critiques.
Certificates and medals for the winners were mailed to schools.
In place of the traditional on-site critique session, each contest’s lead judge has created a video critique. Critique videos provide information about the contest and what the judges were looking for in the winning entries.
Judges also share some of their thoughts about what some of the strengths were in the category and what are some general areas to look to improve in the future. The contest prompts and the critiques are great resources for classroom lessons and preparation for future contests.
In addition, through SmugMug students and advisers can view thousands of photos from JEA photo contests in each of the nine categories. The site houses all of the photos that have been recognized in past conventions so users can learn from those student photographers.
SmugMug has an interface that discourages copying of images and allows full display of metadata including camera data and captions. So photojournalists really can break down the photo to discuss technique, composition and the meaning of the images.
“What a show of resilience by these students. Despite the unbelievable challenges of this school year, I’m so pleased that our organization was still ale to offer these contests and recognize so many talented journalists,” JEA contest chair Nancy Smith said. “I am also so grateful for the hours spent by our nearly 200 judges who shared their expertise with our participants and completed critiques.”
Spring 2021 National Student Media Contests results
Rating | Contest Name | Full Name | School Name | School State |
Superior | Newswriting | Hudson Fox | Carlmont High School | CA |
Excellent | Newswriting | Aleena Gul | McLean High School | VA |
Honorable Mention | Newswriting | Michelle Chen | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Newswriting | Ethan Preston | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Superior | Editorial Writing | Devon Rocke | Conestoga High School | PA |
Superior | Editorial Writing | Kate Grove | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Excellent | Editorial Writing | Delilah Brumer | Daniel Pearl Magnet High School | CA |
Excellent | Editorial Writing | Ahmed Ahmed | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Excellent | Editorial Writing | Maya Lyou | Da Vinci Schools | CA |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Writing | Jason Wu | Walnut High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Writing | Elizabeth Keane | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Writing | Isabella Rinne | Sedro Woolley High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Writing | Ryan Servaites | M Stoneman Douglas High School | FL |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Writing | Isabelle Nunes | Carlmont High School | CA |
Excellent | Feature Writing | Alison Ho | Walnut High School | CA |
Excellent | Feature Writing | Ashlynn Perez | Francis Howell North High School | MO |
Excellent | Feature Writing | Atarah Israel | Munster High School | IN |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Chrissa Olson | Redondo Union High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Anushka De | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Mehuli Basu Roy | Westlake High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Olivia Kim | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Katherine Lee | Conestoga High School | PA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Annika Bhananker | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Woojoo Kim | Wayland High School | MA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Amelie De Leon | Woodside High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Grace Wu | Carlmont High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Julia Jauregui | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Leila Touati | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Feature Writing | Anita Gaenko | Huron High School | MI |
Superior | Sports Writing | Alex Levin | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Excellent | Sports Writing | Hanah Kitamoto | Iowa City West High School | IA |
Excellent | Sports Writing | Corinne Piorkowski | James Bowie High School | TX |
Excellent | Sports Writing | Maya Bussinger | Bear River High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Olivia Olson | Shawnee Mission East High School | KS |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Tanner Pierce | Puyallup High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Jayanti Jha | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Morgan Vehige | Lafayette High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Graciela Fischer | Conifer High School | CO |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Reese Wang | Conestoga High School | PA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Hannah Hernandez | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Matt Carter | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Writing | Quinn Newhouse | Huron High School | MI |
Superior | Review Writing | Nadia Bidarian | Redondo Union High School | CA |
Excellent | Review Writing | Eliza Turco | Omaha Marian High School | NE |
Excellent | Review Writing | Jack Daws | Lafayette High School | MO |
Excellent | Review Writing | Hugh Chan | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Excellent | Review Writing | Morgan Dawson | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Excellent | Review Writing | Rebecca Von Tersch | Carlmont High School | CA |
Excellent | Review Writing | Jasmine Andrea | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Review Writing | Andrew Kim | Walnut High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Review Writing | Michaela Ely | Puyallup High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Review Writing | Minita Layal | Inglemoor High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Review Writing | Evan Lu | Conestoga High School | PA |
Honorable Mention | Review Writing | Allison Whiting | Bear River High School | CA |
Superior | Editorial Cartooning | Sophia Pan | Conestoga High School | PA |
Superior | Editorial Cartooning | Lena Hardisty | Mercer Island High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Cartooning | Rachel Jiang | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Editorial Cartooning | Amy Xiu | Huron High School | MI |
Superior | Commentary Writing | Leo Quale | Puyallup High School | WA |
Superior | Commentary Writing | Lance Tong | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Excellent | Commentary Writing | Annie Pan | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Excellent | Commentary Writing | Umar Samdani | Conestoga High School | PA |
Excellent | Commentary Writing | Sonali Carumbaya | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Commentary Writing | Vijay Viswanathan | Lafayette High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Commentary Writing | Maya Dawson | Conifer High School | CO |
Honorable Mention | Commentary Writing | Dylan Ebs | James Bowie High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Commentary Writing | Elle Horst | Carlmont High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Newspaper Layout | Edward Garcia | Walnut High School | CA |
Superior | Newsmagazine Layout | Grace Huang | Iowa City West High School | IA |
Excellent | Newsmagazine Layout | Iman Malik | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Superior | Press Law and Ethics | Kellen Hoard | Inglemoor High School | WA |
Superior | Press Law and Ethics | Annabelle Owyoung | Bear River High School | CA |
Excellent | Press Law and Ethics | Devin Gupta | Monta Vista High School | CA |
Excellent | Press Law and Ethics | Nathaniel Reyes | Mountlake Terrace High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Press Law and Ethics | Marandah Mangra-Dutcher | Johnston High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | Press Law and Ethics | Jacob Molina | Dos Pueblos High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Press Law and Ethics | Elise Hsu | Carlmont High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Press Law and Ethics | Anjali Kok | Combs High School | AZ |
Superior | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports | Annie Lin | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports | Samantha Smith | Conifer High School | CO |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports | Claire Graver | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports | Joseph Budiselich | Westlake High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports | Alyssa Tay | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics | Zoe Smutko | Prospect High School | IL |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics | Araelia Wilson | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics | Virginia Pinkley | Christ Presbyterian Academy | TN |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics | Layla Halilbasic | Oakville High School | MO |
Superior | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | Mia Terek | Munster High School | IN |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | Jacob Stoebner | Christ Presbyterian Academy | TN |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | Kiara Zanfei | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | Abigail Blalock | Westlake High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | Lejla Pozegic | Oakville High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs | April Talaro | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Superior | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life | Hallie Crisp | Christ Presbyterian Academy | TN |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life | Amanda Pinter | Prospect High School | IL |
Excellent | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life | Brenna Steele | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life | Paige Halter | Lafayette High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life | Leona Barocas | St Paul Academy and Summit School | MN |
Superior | Yearbook Layout: Theme | Omar Ortega | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Yearbook Layout: Theme | Karsyn Arnold | Salina Central High School | KS |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Layout: Theme | Maddie Layman | Johnston High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Layout: Theme | Isobel Lebeau | Prospect High School | IL |
Superior | Yearbook Layout: Inside Pages | Amber Zhao | Walnut High School | CA |
Excellent | Yearbook Layout: Inside Pages | Iain McCarthy | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Layout: Inside Pages | Paige Russo | Prospect High School | IL |
Superior | Yearbook Cover/Endsheets | Makenzie Maring | Salina Central High School | KS |
Excellent | Yearbook Cover/Endsheets | Lauren Burgin | Har-Ber High School | AR |
Honorable Mention | Yearbook Cover/Endsheets | Sandra Amores | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Superior | Literary Magazine: Layout | Oviya Srihari | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Layout | Jay Marren | Johnston High School | IA |
Superior | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Sarah Dent | Dos Pueblos High School | CA |
Excellent | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Kylie Bennett | Arapahoe High School | CO |
Excellent | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Maddie Potter | Conifer High School | CO |
Excellent | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Milla Zuniga | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Kylie Emery | Johnston High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Lara Palma Murray | Westlake High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Poetry | Sara Tate | Bear River High School | CA |
Superior | Literary Magazine: Illustration | Justine Constantino | Walnut High School | CA |
Excellent | Literary Magazine: Illustration | Addi Gerlach | Christ Presbyterian Academy | TN |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Illustration | Isabelle McAnally | Puyallup High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Photography | Ashley Doehner | Omaha Marian High School | NE |
Honorable Mention | Literary Magazine: Photography | Chloe Amyx | Christ Presbyterian Academy | TN |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Logo | Marissa Mathieson | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Logo | Rae Gray | James Bowie High School | TX |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Logo | Bianca Sanchez | Da Vinci Schools | CA |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Logo | Rory Knettles | Inglemoor High School | WA |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Logo | Isabella Ricci | Dos Pueblos High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Logo | Georgia Paul | Eastview High School | MN |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Logo | Tishie Nyitry | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Logo | Araya Reed | Bear River High School | CA |
Superior | Graphic Design: Infographics | Sophia Liu | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Infographics | Emma Wagner | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Superior | Graphic Design: Advertising | Joanne Sung | Ladue Horton Watkins High School | MO |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Advertising | Emily Adamson | Bear River High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Graphic Design: Advertising | Mira Bhatt | Carlmont High School | CA |
Superior | Graphic Design: Photo Illustration | Madison Land | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Excellent | Graphic Design: Photo Illustration | Anisa Toliver | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Superior | Themed Photo | Emma Donald | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Themed Photo | Alexia Morris | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Themed Photo | Kirsten Briscoe | Bear River High School | CA |
Excellent | Themed Photo | Ian Shay | Strath Haven High School | PA |
Honorable Mention | Themed Photo | Chioma Aloziem | Omaha Marian High School | NE |
Honorable Mention | Themed Photo | Alison Togami | Dos Pueblos High School | CA |
Superior | Sports Action Photography | Mollie Gallagher | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Sports Action Photography | Emma Sutherland | Madison High School | ID |
Excellent | Sports Action Photography | Aric Shah | Westlake High School | TX |
Excellent | Sports Action Photography | Addison Whitney | Har-Ber High School | AR |
Excellent | Sports Action Photography | Paulina Solorzano | Whitney High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photography | Morgan Topps | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photography | Owen Aanestad | Iowa City West High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photography | Christian Tillard | Combs High School | AZ |
Honorable Mention | Sports Action Photography | Siera Octaviano | Antwerp Local School | OH |
Superior | Sports Feature Photography | Caroline Dossman | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Sports Feature Photography | Rachael Barkoff | Westlake High School | TX |
Excellent | Sports Feature Photography | Madison Lamb | Combs High School | AZ |
Honorable Mention | Sports Feature Photography | Lily Saba | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Excellent | Feature Photography | Analyn Do | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Feature Photography | Alexej Vargas | Har-Ber High School | AR |
Excellent | Feature Photography | Isabel Inman | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Feature Photography | Kylie Jones | Madison High School | ID |
Honorable Mention | Feature Photography | Hannah Mekky | Prospect High School | IL |
Excellent | General or Spot News Photography | Cedrik Von Briel | Woodside High School | CA |
Superior | Photo Story | Nikolas Liepins | St Paul Academy and Summit School | MN |
Excellent | Photo Story | Julia Franco | Westlake High School | TX |
Excellent | Photo Story | Ameena Pierstorff | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Photo Story | Peyton Mann | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Photo Story | Emma Neilson | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Superior | Photography Portfolio | Chloe Rosenbaum | Redondo Union High School | CA |
Excellent | Photography Portfolio | Robert Dicker | Arapahoe High School | CO |
Honorable Mention | Photography Portfolio | Jordyn Cimmiyotti | Johnston High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | Photography Portfolio | Danny Soufi | Westlake High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Photography Portfolio | Alyssa Skala | Iowa City West High School | IA |
Excellent | Portrait Photo | Sophia Talley | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | Portrait Photo | Dean Carrasco | Southwest Career and Technical Academy | NV |
Excellent | Portrait Photo | Madison Meilinger | Bear River High School | CA |
Excellent | Portrait Photo | Allison Mi | Huron High School | MI |
Honorable Mention | Portrait Photo | Todd McKechnie | Munster High School | IN |
Honorable Mention | Portrait Photo | Cali Shohet | Carlmont High School | CA |
Superior | First-Year Photo | Francis Hovland | Munster High School | IN |
Excellent | First-Year Photo | Joy Wang | Bellaire High School | TX |
Excellent | First-Year Photo | Isabella Zardo | James C Enochs High School | CA |
Excellent | First-Year Photo | Layla Copsey | Antwerp Local School | OH |
Excellent | First-Year Photo | Madelyn Thomas | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | First-Year Photo | Alyssa Miner | Johnston High School | IA |
Honorable Mention | First-Year Photo | Mia Scott | Combs High School | AZ |
Honorable Mention | First-Year Photo | Marin Lent | Strath Haven High School | PA |
Superior | Broadcast News Story | Jordan Ayers | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Broadcast News Story | Mariah Alber | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Superior | Broadcast Sports Story | Khaalid Cumar | Eastview High School | MN |
Excellent | Broadcast Sports Story | John Bristor | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Excellent | Broadcast Sports Story | Carson Cooper | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Superior | Broadcast Feature Story | Kate Carson | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Broadcast Feature Story | Emma Letzig | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Broadcast Feature Story | Mia Gonzalez | Ronald Reagan High School | TX |
Honorable Mention | Broadcast Feature Story | Jeffrey Davis | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Superior | Broadcast Commercial/PSA | Asher Pouliot | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Excellent | Broadcast Commercial/PSA | Austin Beatty | Salina Central High School | KS |
Superior | Videography | Kaley Mazurowski | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Excellent | Videography | Emily Zhang | Francis Howell North High School | MO |
Excellent | Videography | Meg Heveroh | Oakville High School | MO |
Excellent | Short Documentary | Trisha Khattar | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Short Documentary | Katherine Lytle | Prospect High School | IL |
Honorable Mention | Short Documentary | Tianyi Sun | Nanjing Jinling High School | |
Honorable Mention | Short Documentary | Xinhui Ye | Crosspoint at Nanjing Yuhuatai International High School | |
Superior | Video Package Editing | Olivia Stankewicz | Padua Academy | DE |
Excellent | Video Package Editing | Kevin Vera | Lafayette High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Video Package Editing | Logan Tilly | Conifer High School | CO |
Honorable Mention | Video Package Editing | Syrina Castillo | Combs High School | AZ |
Honorable Mention | Video Package Editing | Paul Moody | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Superior | Online News Package | Renna Popli | Amador Valley High School | CA |
Excellent | Online News Package | Simone Cawthorne King | Chandler High School | AZ |
Excellent | Online News Package | Ivy Lam | M Stoneman Douglas High School | FL |
Honorable Mention | Online News Package | Cassandra Ludwig | Oakville High School | MO |
Honorable Mention | Online News Package | Candice Anvari-Ghasr | Beverly Hills High School | CA |
Honorable Mention | Broadcast Newswriting | Eva Beidle | Oakville High School | MO |
Superior | Broadcast Package | Alli Cholette | Van Alstyne High School | TX |
Excellent | Broadcast Package | Brooke Anderson | Williams Field High School | AZ |
Honorable Mention | Broadcast Package | Joey Weaver | Lafayette High School | MO |
Lindsay Porter