Awards and Recognition

IHSA All-State Journalism Team

Olivia Plangger – 2021

Reid Watkins – 2020

Evie Snoeyink – 2019

Melissa Schill – 2018

JEA National Write-offs

2019

Evie Snoeyink – Feature Writing – Honorable Mention

Abby Kimball – Newswriting – Honorable Mention

Kim Halm – Commentary Writing – Honorable Mention

IHSA State Journalism Contest

2023

Avani Rai – Radio News – 3rd place

Dylan Wehmeyer – Sports Writing – 4th place

Kellie Chen – Advertising – 6th place

2022

Ethan Scott, Eleni Lockett & Jonah Kramer – Video News – 2nd place

Abby Ruebush – Copy Editing – 3rd place

2021

Natalie Maloy – Broadcast News – 3rd place

2019

Shae Simmons & Ben Guo – Video News – 6th place

2018

Katie Fata – Advertising – 1st place – State Champion

Katie Fata – Editorial Cartooning – 1st place – State Champion

Keyairah Sinclair – Headline Writing – 5th place

Team Finish – 14 points – 5th place 

IHSA Sectional Journalism Contest

2023

2022

2021

Eli Schneider – Headline Writing – 6th place

Olivia Plangger – Feature Writing – 5th place

Eli Schneider – Infographics – 5th place

Olivia Plangger – Newspaper Design – 3rd place*

Lauren Cutler – Editorial Cartooning – 2nd place*

Jonah Kramer –  News Writing – 2nd place*

Natalie Maloy – Broadcast News – 1st place*

Charlotte Calmes – Editorial Writing – 1st place*

Nayonika Banerjee – Review Writing – 1st place* 

Jonah Kramer – Sports Writing – 1st place*

*State Qualifier

Team Finish – 44 points – 4th place

2019

Reid Watkins – Advertising – 6th place

Sydney Franklin – Newspaper Design – 6th place

Evie Snoeyink – Feature Writing – 5th place

Evie Snoeyink – News Writing – 5th place

Kim Halm – Editorial Writing – 5th place

Sydney Franklin – Editorial Cartoons – 4th place

Reid Watkins – Sports Writing – 3rd place*

Christi Wang, Ben Guo, & Shae Simmons – Video News – 2nd place*

Natalie Hoeferle – Broadcast News – 2nd place*

Kim Halm – Review Writing – 1st place*

Jessica Dougall – Photo Storytelling –  1st place*

*State Qualifier

Team Finish – 37 points – 6th place 

2018

Evie Snoeyink – Editorial Writing – 6th place

Taylor Kern – Photo Storytelling – 6th place

Evie Snoeyink – Review Writing – 5th place

Melissa Schill – Feature Writing – 4th place

Ashleigh Brady – Yearbook Caption Writing – 4th place

Ashleigh Brady – Sports Writing – 3rd place*

Kiki Sinclair – Headline Writing – 3rd place*

Katie Fata – Advertising – 3rd place*

Ellie Sauder – Broadcast News – 2nd place*

Katie Fata – Editorial Cartoons – 2nd place*

Melissa Schill – News Writing –  1st place*

*State Qualifier

Team Finish – 38 points – 5th place 

2017

Elyse Schneider – Editorial Writing – 4th place

Elyse Schneider – Review Writing – 4th place

Mackenzie Christian – Broadcast News – 4th place

Ashleigh Brady – Copy Editing – 4th place

Ashleigh Brady – Sports Writing – 3rd place*

Melissa Schill – News Writing – 3rd place*

 Melissa Schill – Feature Writing – 2nd place*

*State Qualifier

2016

Melissa Schill – Editorial Writing – 5th place

IJEA – Newspaper and Digital News Media Contest

2023

Best Website – 1st place

Best Overall Publication – 2nd place

Best Hybrid Publication – 2nd place

Best Editorial – Inkspot Staff

Best News Story – Inkspot Staff

Best Personality Profile – Eli Benson

Best Sports Feature – Dylan Wehmeyer; Anna Dunne – Honorable Mention

Best Humorous Commentary – Abby Ruebush, Dylan Wehmeyer

Best Overall Design – February 2023 Print Edition

Best Front Page Design – February 2023 Print Edition; Winter 2022 Print Edition – Honorable Mention

Best Audio Storytelling – Abby Ruebush & Avani Rai – 2nd & 3rd place

Best Video Story – Anna Dunne, Avani Rai & Drew Farmer– 2nd place

Best Review – Abby Ruebush & Avani Rai – 2nd place; Kelsey Kern & Hannah Kocar – 3rd place

Best Multimedia Story Package – Inkspot Staff – 2nd place; Honorable Mention

Best Headline – Ruth Oliveros-Gallardo, Giana Rawlings – 2nd place; Jeffery Woodard – Honorable Mention

Best Illustration – “The Ultimate Romance Movie Marathon [Display Headline Graphic]” – 2nd place; “ A Devastating Talent (Taylor Swift Illustration)” – 3rd place

Best Sports News Story – Inkspot Staff – 2nd place; Ruth Oliveros-Gallardo, Giana Rawlings – 3rd place

Best Personality Profile – Abby Ruebush – 3rd place

Best Infographic – Abby Ruebush – 3rd place

Best Serious Commentary – Avani Rai – 3rd

Best Centerspread Story Package – Anna Dunne – 3rd place; Dylan Wehmeyer – Honorable Mention

Best Use of Social Media – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place

Best Feature Story – Abby Ruebush – Honorable Mention

2022

Best Overall Publication – 2nd place

Best Hybrid Publication – 2nd place

Best Website – 1st place

Best Use of Social Media – Inkspot Staff – 1st place & Honorable Mention

Best Overall Print Design – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place

Best Front Page Print Design – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place

Best Alternative Storytelling – Emma Conover & Lauren Cutler – 1st place; Avani Rai, Abby Ruebush, Ethan Scott & Izzy Fader – Honorable Mention

Best Photo Gallery/Slideshow – Laynee Scheck – 1st place; Charlotte Calmes & Nayonika Banerjee – Honorable Mention

Best Infographic – Anna Dunne, Drew Farmer & Avani Rai – 2nd place

Best Video Story – Laynee Scheck & Charlotte Calmes – 2nd place

Best Editorial Cartoon – Nayonika Banerjee – 2nd place

Best Headline – Eli Schneider – 2nd place; Eleni Lockett – Honorable Mention

Best Humorous Commentary – Nayonika Banerjee – 2nd place

Best Feature Story – Jonah Kramer – 3rd place

Best News Story – Avani Rai – 3rd place

Best Sports Feature Story – Jonah Kramer – 3rd place

Best Multimedia Story Package – Kelsey Kern – 3rd place; Eli Benson, Jade Ryan, & Eleni Lockett – Honorable Mention

Best Review – Nayonika Banerjee – 3rd place; Laynee Scheck – Honorable Mention

Best Audio Journalism – Jonah Kramer, Eli Schneider & Ethan Scott – Honorable Mention

Best In-Depth News Story – Avani Rai – Honorable Mention

Best Serious Commentary – Charlotte Calmes & Eli Schneider – Honorable Mention

2021

Best Overall Publication – 3rd place

Best Digital Publication – 1st place

Best Website – 3rd place

Best Use of Social Media – Inkspot Staff – 1st place, 2nd place

Best Multimedia Story Package – Laynee Scheck – 1st place; Olivia Plangger and Mantra Dave – 2nd place

Best Photo Gallery/Slideshow – Olivia Plangger – 1st place 

Best Feature Story – Charlotte Calmes – 1st place

Best News Story – Jonah Kramer – 2nd place

Best In-Depth News Story – Laynee Scheck – 2nd place

COVID-19 Coverage – Olivia Plangger – 2nd place; Myra Saulat and Maggie Steinen – Honorable Mention

Best Infographic – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place; Olivia Plangger – Honorable Mention

Best Sports Commentary – Eli Schneider – 3rd place, Honorable Mention

Best Review – Kelsey Kern – 3rd place

Best Sports Feature Story – Charlotte Calmes – Honorable Mention

Best Alternative Storytelling – Jessalyn Baer, Jaxon Creasey, and Olivia Plangger – Honorable Mention

Best Video Story – Jessalyn Baer, Jaxon Creasey, and Olivia Plangger – Honorable Mention

2020

Best Overall Publication – 2nd place

Best Hybrid Publication – 2nd place

Best Website – Honorable Mention

Best Review – Hannah Kocar – 1st place

Best Infographic – Jessalynn Baer, Jaxson Creasey, & Jillian Murphy – 1st place

Best News or Feature Photo – Charlotte Calmes – 1st place

Best Headline – Charlotte Calmes & Laynee Scheck – 1st place

Best Humorous Commentary – Zach Holliday – 1st place & 2nd place

Best Audio Podcast – Shae Simmons & Evie Snoeyink – 1st place; Anagha Arla & Caitlin Wonsowski – 2nd place

Best Front-page Design – Inkspot Staff – 1st & 2nd place

Best Personality Profile – Evie Snoeyink – 2nd place

Best News Story – Charlotte Calmes & Laynee Scheck – 2nd place

Best Alternative Storytelling – Kelsey Kern & Hannah Kocar – 2nd place

Best COVID-19 Coverage – Reid Watkins – 2nd place; Charlotte Calmes – 3rd place

Best Sports Commentary – Eli Schneider – 3rd place

Best Illustration – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place

Best Overall Design – Inkspot Staff – 3rd place & Honorable Mention

Best Feature Story – Evie Snoeyink – Honorable Mention

Best Photo Gallery or Slideshow – Charlotte Calmes – Honorable Mention; Charlotte Calmes & Laynee Scheck – Honorable Mention

Best Video Story – Jessalynn Baer, Jaxon Creasey, & Olivia Plangger – Honorable Mention

2019

Best Website – 2nd place

Best Hybrid Publication – Honorable Mention

Best News Story – Evie Snoeyink – 1st place; Anagha Arla, Jessica Dougall, Chris Gaines, Kim Halm & Abby Kimball – Honorable Mention

Best Personality Profile – Evie Snoeyink – 1st place

Best Sports Commentary – Will Dowell – 1st place

Best Photo Story – Kim Halm – 3rd place

2018

Best Print Publication – 1st place

Best Overall Publication – 3rd place

Best Website – Honorable Mention

Best In-Depth News Story – Nate Brown – 2nd place; Taylor Kern, Kenzie Kraft, Aidan Smiser, & Evie Snoeyink – Honorable Mention

Best Feature Story – Evie Snoeyink – 1st place; Katie Fata – 3rd place

Best Personality Profile – Ellie Sauder – 3rd place; Katie Fata – Honorable Mention

Best Sports News Story – Sumayyah Muhammad – Honorable Mention

Best Sports Feature Story – Nate Brown – 3rd place

Best Sports Commentary – James Broach – 1st place

Best Serious Commentary – Melissa Schill – Honorable Mention

Best Review – Brooklyn Shaw & Keyairah Sinclair – Honorable Mention

Best Sports Photo – Keyairah Sinclair – 1st place

Best Editorial Cartoon – Alex Perez & C. Muirreall Currie – 2nd place

Best Infographic – Katie Fata – 2nd place; Ellie Sauder – 3rd place

Best Alternative Storytelling – Evie Snoeyink – 1st place

Best Headline – Taylor Kern – 2nd place; Katie Fata – Honorable Mention

Best Advertisement – Inkspot Staff – 2nd place; Inkspot Staff – 3rd place

Best Multimedia Story Package – Melissa Schill – 3rd place

2017

Best Overall Digital Publication – 1st place

Best Website – 2nd place

Best Sports News Story – Ashleigh Brady – 2nd place

Best Staff Editorial – Melissa Schill & Rachel Leman – 2nd place

Best Serious Commentary – Taylor Railey – Honorable Mention

Best Review – Rachel Leman – Honorable Mention

Best Infographic – Carly Gillis – 3rd place; Taylor Railey – Honorable Mention

Best Alternative Storytelling – Inkspot Editorial Staff – 2nd place

Best Audio Package – Melissa Schill – 2nd place; Rachel Leman – 3rd place

School Newspapers Online 

2019

5 “Best of Sno” selections

2018

Site Excellence

2017

Site Excellence

1 “Best of Sno” selection

2016

Excellence in Writing

4 “Best of Sno” selections