Congratulations to all of our 2026 Spring Award winners! View the awards slideshow here.
South Carolina Journalist of the Year
Noah Iverson – Wando High School
South Carolina Journalist of the Year Finalists
Carolina Brandes – Richland Northeast High School
Yara Abusamra – Chapin High School
Best in State Broadcast
The Saber – Richland Northeast High School
Best in State Newsprint
The Talon – Nation Ford High School
Best in State Online
The Saber – Richland Northeast High School
Broadcast Evaluations
All-State
ESBN – Eastside High School
Superior
RNE-TV – Richland Northeast High School
Honor
Red Fox TV – Hartsville High School
Newsprint Evaluations
All-State
The Talon – Nation Ford High School
Tribal Tribune – Wando High School
Superior
Ridge Report – Catawba Ridge High School
Sword & Shield – Laurens District 55 High School
Merit
The Roaring Eagle – Clover High School
Online Evaluations
Superior
Tribal Tribune Online – Wando High School
The Saber – Richland Northeast High School
Broadcast Individual Awards
Anchor for a news program
First place: Malia Johnson, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Charlie Crittenden, ESBN, Eastside High School
Feature story
First place: Staff, NAFO-TV, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Gavin Griffin, Melina Elkins, ESBN, Eastside High School
Third place: Morgan Davis, Malia Johnson, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Graphics
First place: Staff, NAFO-TV, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Cristian Garcia Amador, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Collin Brickner, Charlie Crittenden, Baylor Pfaffl, ESBN, Eastside High School
Man on the street
First place: Harper Tumblin, Carson Young, NAFO-TV, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Melina Elkins, ESBN, Eastside High School
Third place: Logan Jones, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
News story
First place: Morgan Davis, Baye Lewis, Sydnee Turner, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Jackson Cline, ESBN, Eastside High School
Personality Profile or Human interest
First place: Staff, NAFO-TV, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Madison Clayton, ESBN, Eastside High School
Third place: Taylor Higgins, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Public Service Announcement
First place: Janiya Harris, Madison Clayton, Jackson Cline, ESBN, Eastside High School
Second place: Hannah Purvis, Red Fox Television, Hartsville High School
Reporter
First place: Gavin Griffin, ESBN, Eastside High School
Second place: Morgan Davis, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Short film
First place: Logan Jones, Makayla Harris, Rye Winecoff, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Sports story
First place: Staff, NAFO-TV, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Malia Johnson, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Madison Clayton, ESBN, Eastside High School
Videography
First place: Taylor Higgins, RNE-TV, Richland Northeast High School
Newsprint Individual Awards
Advertising
First place: Connor Fowler, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Centerspread
First place: Noah Iverson, Bella Shipek, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Carly Crysler, Olivia Shelton, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Third place: Lily Wallace, The Roaring Eagle, Clover High School
Design: Front page
First place: Hayden Pinto, Noah Iverson, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Lauren Scoppa, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Third place: Nicole Mease, Abbie Hill, Andrea Evans, Sword& Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
Design: Single page
First place: Morgan Pion, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Carly Crysler, Olivia Shelton, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Third place: Nicole Mease, Abbie Hill, Andrea Evans, Sword & Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
Digital art
First place: Carly Crysler, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Isabella Studer, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Third place: Brooklynn Anderton, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Editorial Cartoon
First place: Brianna Walton, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Maddi Mortellaro, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Third place: Fatima Haj-Muhammad, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
Illustration
First place: Natalie Marsh, Sword & Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
Second place: Gabi Bentley, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Third place: Carly Crysler, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Infographics
First place: Morgan Pion, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Kristyn Nguyen, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Environmental Portrait Photography
First place: Laine Edwards, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Connor Fowler, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
News feature Photography
First place: Kaya Steele, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Callie Osborne, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Third place: Jaylen Weatherford, Leila Nelson, Foxy News, Hartsville High School
Sports action Photography
First place: Paige Danish, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Kayla Kruger, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Third place: Ari Fernandez, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Sports feature Photography
First place: Mary-Hunter McCaslin, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Dylan White, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Third place: Ari Fernandez, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Bylined editorial
First place: Maame Buansi, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Melonee Simpson, Sword & Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
Third place: Lore Lewis, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
Column
First place: Paisley Marcum, Leigh Morabito, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
Second place: Skyler Robinson, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Third place: Aly Dewey, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Feature
First place: Chloe Crilley, Aly Dewey, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Ari Fernandez, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Third place: Sophia Jilote, Leigh Morabito, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
News Feature
First place: Maame Buansi, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Noah Iverson, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Third place: Mariza Andres, Sword & Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
News
First place: Maame Buansi, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Andrea Evans, Sword & Shield, Laurens District 55 High School
Third place: Bradshaw Milner, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
Review Writing
First place: Ava Desai, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Second place: Bella Shipek, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Third place: Brooklynn Anderton, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Sports
First place: Wes Euthon, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Ryan Sconzo, The Roaring Eagle, Clover High School
Third place: Sophia Jilote, Leigh Morabito, The Odyssey, James Island Charter High School
Staff Editorial
First place: Will Lovas, Tribal Tribune, Wando High School
Second place: Maame Buansi, The Talon, Nation Ford High School
Third place: Jackson Harbaugh, Ridge Report, Catawba Ridge High School
Online Individual Awards
Infographics
First place: Soren Jones, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Yara Abusamra, Macey Smith, CSPNEagles, Chapin High School
Digital storytelling
First place: Logan Jones, Tinnin Lewis, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Photo gallery
First place: Paige Danish, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Lily Romero, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Maleena Keut, Patience Colon, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Photography: Environmental portrait
First place: Lily Romero, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Mackenzie Moore, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Third place: Macey Smith, CSPNEagles, Chapin High School
Photography: News feature
First place: Laine Edwards, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Baye Lewis, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Belinda Zuniga-Ruiz, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Photography: Sports action
First place: Grace Murphy, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Lily Romero, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Maleena Keut, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Photography: Sports feature
First place: Paige Danish, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Sarai Raygoza Galvez, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Kenny Le, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Social Media
First place: Kaelyn Donato, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Mary Soutter Pack, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Third place: Lily Romero, Morgan Davis, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Videography
First place: Taylor Higgins, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Bylined editorial
First place: Tessa Lewis, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Second place: Markell Watson, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Column
First place: Bailey Jones, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Shelley Edwards, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Third place: ME Ratterree, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Feature
First place: Nora Turner, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Marissa Soll, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Third place: Ella Magee, Emily Eisenbraun, CSPNEagles, Chapin High School
News
First place: Tru Jackson, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Second place: Faith Smith, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Third place: Ella VanMiddlesworth, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
News Feature
First place: Noah Iverson, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Andrew Morrison, Jade Milton, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Third place: Ella Magee, CSPNEagles, Chapin High School
Review
First place: Finn McEnroe, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Second place: Semira Hinga, CSPNEagles, Chapin High School
Third place: Chloe Crilley, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Sports
First place: Wes Euthon, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
Second place: Charles Willbanks, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Third place: Lily Romero, The Saber, Richland Northeast High School
Staff Editorial
First place: Zafira Wasma, Norse News, Spartanburg High School
Second place: Bella Shipek, Tribal Tribune Online, Wando High School
