Students from four colleges and two high schools were recognized for their work in school newspapers, magazine, podcasts and broadcasts, cover pressing concerns such as vaping, phone bans, and medical care to theater, sports and community service.
The NH Press Association Student Journalism Day 2026, hosted by NHPBS in Durham, with a catered lunch sponsored by Keene State College Journalism Department and Professor Emeritus Rose Kundanis.
The event also included a panel discussion: Freedom of the Press Under Attack. Led by moderator and teacher John Herman, Brendan McQuaid, president and publisher of the NH Union Leader/Sunday News; Jeremy Margolis, education reporter for the Concord Monitor; and Kimberly Lauffer, professor at Keene State College shared insight into attacks, legislative efforts to limit public access to information and the ways public officials try to hide information.
The second session was a hands-on workshop on bias.
Here is the list of awards, in the order they were presented at the event. Judges comments are included for first place awards.
4044 Best Graphic High School 2nd Place
Londonderry High Lancer Spirit, Ava Christian
Bad Bunny’s halftime show and the power of representation
4034 Best News Coverage High School 3rd Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Kaylee Mague, Mia Robinson
4034 Best News Coverage High School 2nd Place
Oyster River High School – Mouth of the River, Annie Graff
The Phone Ban
4034 Best News Coverage High School 1st Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Jansher Malik
Measures LHS is taking to curb vaping
A comprehensive, well-researched, and well-written collection of stories that sheds light on one high school’s struggle to combat vaping inside its doors. Bonus points for the online presentation and inclusion of infographics and resource links.
4036 Best Podcast/Video/Multimedia High School 1st Place
Oyster River High School – Mouth of the River, Bel Ejarque, Kristina Jakobs
The Summer We Read a Book
An interesting first hand take on a shared summer reading project that may inspire more summer reading.
4035 Best Published Feature High School 3rd Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Kelsey Sweet
Students shine light on faith and community with Lighthouse Christian Club
4035 Best Published Feature High School 2nd Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Maddy Buchanan
Rise Theatre Group’s ‘Imogen Says Nothing’ has a lot to say
4035 Best Published Feature High School 1st Place
Oyster River High School – Mouth of the River, Jahrie Houle
Is PowerSchool Empowering?
A great exploration into the idea that even digital natives can become too connected to information systems. Is a tool or a trap?
4038 Best Sports Coverage High School 3rd Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Hannah Linscott
Chambers commits to Saint Anselm, set to continue field hockey career
4038 Best Sports Coverage High School 2nd Place
Oyster River High School – Mouth of the River, Xander Ahn
The Watson Way
4038 Best Sports Coverage High School 1st Place
Lancer Spirit Londonderry High, Jansher Malik
Freshman fights his way to first place at several national jiu-jitsu championships
From the opening sentence, the writer pulls you right onto the mat with the athlete. Weaving a story that draws in even the most causal of sports fans.
4006 General Excellence High School 2nd Place
Londonderry High Lancer Spirit, Staff
A variety of Lancer Spirit articles
4006 General Excellence High School 1st Place
Oyster River High School – Mouth of the River, Staff
Mouth of the River
COLLEGE AWARDS
3037 Best Graphic College 3rd Place
The Equinox, Elijah Fisher
Me, myself and AI
3037 Best Graphic College 2nd Place
The Clock, Micah Bessette
November 2025 Cover
3037 Best Graphic College 1st Place
The Equinox, Elijah Fisher
Glad Max – Thunder Hope 🙂
The level of detail and the color choices strike a clever balance between apocalypse and optimism in the face of disaster.
3034 Best News Coverage College 3rd Place
New England College, Tess Anderson
NEC Medical Director explains vaccine mandates and misconceptions
3034 Best News Coverage College 2nd Place
The New Hampshire, Olivia Braun
TRIO scholars and Sustainability Institute prepare to relocate as UNH proposes six building closures
3034 Best News Coverage College 1st Place
The Clock, Staff
Retrenchment, Separation Incentive Programs, and Faculty Cuts at PSU
Several of the entries this year surrounded budget cuts facing higher education. The student journalists of The Clock demonstrated sustained, investigative reporting on proposed and enacted faculty cuts at Plymouth State University. Through a series of well-sourced articles, they exposed inconsistencies, informed the campus community, and elevated transparency around a rapidly evolving issue with significant impact in the PSU community and beyond.
3039 Best Photo/Video College 3rd Place
The Equinox, Xander Noel
The Bridges of Madison County
3039 Best Photo/Video College 2nd Place
The Equinox, Skylar Tourville
Men’s soccer win celebration
3039 Best Photo/Video College 1st Place
The Equinox, Alana Perry
‘O LET’S DO IT’
I really liked the energy in this image: the smile is infectious, the viewer is drawn in, and the image is in focus. There is a story here and I want to know more. However, I would really have liked to see the subject’s full hand.
3036 Best Podcast/Video/Multimedia College 3rd Place
The New Hampshire, Sophia Schlichtmann, Leah Pereira, Peter Hyatt
Are you caught up on the Wildcat Word Podcast?
3036 Best Podcast/Video/Multimedia College 2nd Place
The Equinox, Equinox Staff
NOXCAST Episode 34 (With Student Life Editor Justin Dearborn)
3036 Best Podcast/Video/Multimedia College 1st Place
New England College, Lauren Hall
NEC Purple Heart Ceremony
Perfect campus-focused newscast. Excellent visuals in the packages. Impressive editing.
3035 Best Published Feature College 3rd Place
The Equinox, Ryan Pacheco
A jack of Owl trades
3035 Best Published Feature College 2nd Place
New England College, Leah Bohling
Veterans of New England College: Frank Jones
3035 Best Published Feature College 1st Place
The New Hampshire, Chandler Blaisdell
UNH partners with Genoa Pharmacy Amidst Student Concerns over Medication Accessibility
A well-crafted deep dive into an issue that was playing out across the region but had unique and greater consequences for college students.
3038 Best Sports Coverage College 3rd Place
The Equinox, Jacob Enscoe
First heat of the season
3038 Best Sports Coverage College 2nd Place
The Equinox, Nathan Hope
‘Cowardly,’ ‘Disappointed’
3038 Best Sports Coverage College 1st Place
The Clock, James Kelly
Patriots First Round Pick Will Bore Fans but Win Games
Detailed, well written, and fun. This writer knows his stuff and how to craft a good story.
3006 General Excellence College 3rd Place
New England College, Staff
The NewEnglander
3006 General Excellence College 2nd Place
The Clock, Staff
The Clock November 2025 Magazine
3006 General Excellence College 1st Place
The Equinox, Equinox Staff