The National Federation of Press Women’s High School Communications Contest results are in for 2024, and once again, Illinois students did exceptionally well!

Each year, every First Place winner in the IWPA’s High School Communications Contest goes on to the NFPW contest to compete with winners in other states and regions across the country.

The results show the dedication and discipline that Illinois high school students continue to apply to their work. Well done, all the winners and participants! 

Illinois students got First Place nationally in five categories: Editorial, Opinion, Graphics/Photo Illustration, Double-Truck Layout, and Yearbook Layout. Each First Place winner in the NFPW competition will receive a $100 check from the NFPW, to be divided evenly among multiple winners when needed.

Congratulations!!

Editorial 

First place — Fiona Jin, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Under the Varnish 

Opinion 

First place — Fiona Jin and Ishanvi Chaudhary, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, More Than Barbie

Graphics/Photo Illustration 

First place – Elizabeth Yuan, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, Plugged In 

Double-truck layout 

First place – Ansh Aggarwal, Jennifer Huang, and Veronica Jia, Stevenson High School, Linconshire, Illinois, Black Box 

Yearbook Layout 

First place – Nikolette Murphy, Huntley High School, Huntley, Illinois, They See Me Rollin’ 

Review 

Second place – Kevin Sigrist, Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Illinois, Andor: A Fresh Take on Star Wars

Radio or Podcast Prepared Report 

Second place – Lydia Lawrence and Alexis Januk, The McHenry Messenger, McHenry, Illinois, A step further 

Sports Story 

Third place – Sriya Mamidanna, Sreeja Muthukannen, and Sona Surya, Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, Illinois, An Hour of Need 

Cartooning 

Third place – Taryn Rainey, Huntley High School, Huntley, Illinois, A genocide is a genocide 

Radio/Television Interview or Talk Show 

Honorable mention – Tim VanEtten, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor, Illinois, Redesigning Learning 

Video News Story 

Honorable mention – Reilly Byron, McHenry Community High School, McHenry, Illinois, Key Club Hosts Annual Gift-Wrapping Event

Video Feature Story 

Honorable mention – Charley Dieringer and Tristan Lewis, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor, Illinois, Bridging the work force skills gap

Video Sports Story

Honorable mention – Jasmen Walker, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Flossmoor, Illinois, HF Field Hockey- Starting Success 

Yearbook Copywriting 

Honorable mention – Grace Skiba, Huntley High School, Huntley, Illinois, Red Raider Pride