The Illinois Woman’s Press Association proudly celebrates the winners of the 2020 High School Contest.

This year, IWPA will move 12 first-place winners, representing three Illinois High Schools, on to compete in the National Federation of Press Women High School contest.

Those students, categories and their schools are:

Nick Decatoire, Jacob Habel, Lauren Courtney, Andrew Burkey, Tanner Crisp, Reina Morales & Paige DeSimone, Broadcast or Video-Best Newscast, Huntley High School

Kayla Yakimisky, Yearbook Layout, Huntley High School

Victoria Smolen, Yearbook Photo, Huntley High School

Talia Duffy Yearbook Copywriting, Huntley High School

Ben Hilgen, Broadcast or Video-Radio/Television Interview, Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Eliana D’Astici, Broadcast or Video-Radio Prepared Report, Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Langston Johnson & Ethan Eisenberg, Broadcast or Video-Video Feature Story, Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Ben Hilgen & Langston Johnston, Broadcast or Video-Video News Story, Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Harrison Linden, Graphics-Photo Illustration, Metea Valley High School

Leland Pan, Writing-Feature Story, Metea Valley High School

Myra Bajwa, Writing-News Story, Metea Valley High School

Jose Collado, Writing-Sports Story, Metea Valley High School.

Huntley High School captured the 2020 IWPA Silver Pen Award having accumulated the most points in the competition scoring four 1st -Place, five 2nd-Place, five-3rd Place and one Honorable Mention.

Here is the full list of winners:

Category Rank First Name Last Name School
Best Newscast 1st Place Nick Decatoire Huntley High School – Raider Nation News
Radio / Television Interview or Talk Show 1st Place Ben Hilgen Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Radio / Television Interview or Talk Show 2nd Place Jacob Habel Huntley High School – Raider Nation News
Radio Prepared Report 1st Place Eliana D’Astici Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Radio Prepared Report 2nd Place Jackie Klupchak Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Radio Prepared Report 3rd Place Ethan Eisenberg Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Radio Prepared Report Honorable Mention Aderemi Kasali Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Video Feature Story 1st Place Langston Johnson Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Video Feature Story 2nd Place Nick Decatoire Huntley High School – Raider Nation News
Video News Story 1st Place Ben Turnquest Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Video News Story 2nd Place Lilly Donkel Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Video News Story 3rd Place Nick Decatoire Huntley High School – Raider Nation News
Video Sports Story 2nd Place Ben Hamer Homewood-Flossmoor High School
Graphics / Photo Illustration 1st Place Harrison Linden Metea Valley High School
Feature Story 1st Place Leland Pan Metea Media/Stampede
Feature Story 2nd Place Lillie George Lion Newspaper
Feature Story 3rd Place Claire Williams Lyons Township High School
News Story 1st Place Myra Bajwa Metea Valley High School
News Story 2nd Place Katrina Viloria Metea Valley High School
News Story 3rd Place Lillie George Lion Newspaper
News Story Honorable Mention Jessica Velazquez Metea Valley High School
Review 3rd Place Maggie Rhoads Benet Herald
Sports Story 1st Place Jose Collado Metea Valley High School
Sports Story 3rd Place Alex Bedore Metea Valley High School
Sports Story Honorable Mention Tyler Perry Metea Valley High School
Yearbook Copywriting 1st Place Talia Duffy Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Copywriting 2nd Place Talia Duffy Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Copywriting 3rd Place Kayla Yakimisky Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Copywriting Honorable Mention Kayla Yakimisky Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Layout 1st Place Kayla Yakimisky Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Layout 2nd Kayla Yakimisky Huntley High School
Yearbook Layout 3rd Nicholas Pratt Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Photo 1st Victoria Smolen Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Photo 2nd Victoria Smolen Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook
Yearbook Photo 3rd Megan Spoerlein Huntley High School Harmony Yearbook