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
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
2022
Eli Benson – Feature Writing – 5th place
Eli Benson – Review Writing – 4th place
Marielsie Iglesias – Yearbook Double Page Spread – 4th place
Marielsie Iglesias – Infographics – 4th place
Abby Ruebush – Headline Writing – 4th place
Ethan Scott, Eleni Lockett, & Jonah Kramer – Video News – 3rd place*
Eli Schneider – Caption Writing – 3rd place*
Laynee Scheck – Newspaper Design – 3rd place*
Abby Ruebush – Copy Editing – 3rd place*
Charlotte Calmes – Editorial Writing – 2nd place*
Charlotte Calmes – News Writing – 1st place*
Avani Rai – Broadcast News – 1st place*
*State Qualifier
Team Finish – 47 points – 5th place
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
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