The National Federation of Press Women announced the winners of its annual 2026 NFPW High School Communications Contest on May 13, live via Zoom. NorCal scholastic journalism students were well represented with top honors, including four schools that boast national first-place winners.
All first-place winners will receive a $100 check from the NFPW.
Published entries from Feb. 15 of the previous school year through Feb. 15 of the current school year from any high school student must be submitted to the state contest by mid-February. For more information on the High School Communications Contest, consult the NFPW website.
For a complete list of California state winners, click here.
News or Feature Photo
1st Place: Annika Chu, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Senior Spirit.”
Radio or Podcast Prepared Report
1st Place: Maddie Shoop-Gardner and Caitlin Stehr, Carlmont High School, San Carlos. “The light in the dark: The life of Keith LaMar.”
Radio/ Television Interview or Talk Show
1st Place: Radhika Dharmapurikar and Meghna Dixit, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino. “10 frequently asked sex education questions.”
Video News Story
1st Place: Amaya Rambel, Elvis Carpenter, Valentina Huynh and Mairen McNeil, Castro Valley High School, Castro Valley. “CVHS students walk out to protest ICE.”
Columns or Blogs
2nd Place: May Lin, Carlmont High School, Redwood City. “Breaking the ice.”
Double-truck Layout
2nd Place: Alice Sheffer, Talia Boneh, Ria Mirchandani, and Amalia Tormala, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Rewind: Paly’s Comfort Classics.”
Editorial
2nd Place: Campanile Staff, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Advanced Diploma rewards privileged, harms the rest.”
Sports Story
2nd Place: Chris Jeon and Julie Yang, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Gently down the stream.”
Video Sports Story
2nd Place: Raj Thapliyal, Monta Vista High School, Cupertino. “Junior Cameron Polidoro finds a lifelong passion and hobby in mountain biking.”
Graphics/photo illustration
3rd Place: Cindy Liang, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Lights, camera, action!”
News Story
3rd Place: Elena Winterson, Madilyn Shoop-Gardner, Naomi Hsu, Andrew Liang, and Caitlin Stehr, Carlmont High School, Belmont. “San Mateo students rally against ICE.”
Opinion
3rd Place: Angela Jia, Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco. “UN should stop normalizing Taliban relations, do more to protect women.”
Sports Photo
3rd Place: Kensie Pao, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “Sentimental Send-off.”
Cartooning
HM: Skylin Lui, Carlmont High School, Belmont. “Superman is an immigrant.”
Environment
HM: Jessica Li, Carlmont High School, San Carlos. “Winner, winner, chicken keeper.”
Video Feature Story
HM: Jasper Veer Tuteja and Derek Chen, Palo Alto High School, Palo Alto. “50 years of float building: From rivalry to community.”
