Ladue Publications has once again demonstrated its national-caliber excellence in scholastic journalism with a standout performance at the spring 2025 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Seattle. These accomplishments build on the momentum celebrated earlier this year.

As previously announced, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded Panorama newsmagazine a Gold Crown and the Rambler Yearbook a Silver Crown—two of the highest honors in scholastic journalism.

Now, the accolades have continued at the national level:

• Rambler Yearbook was awarded its first-ever Pacemaker Award on April 26 in Seattle by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), a monumental achievement recognizing innovation, quality, and impact.
   
• In total, four Ladue publications were named Pacemaker Finalists this year—a rarity in scholastic media. This includes Panorama, Rambler, Melodrama, and ID magazine, with ID earning its first-ever Pacemaker win earlier this school year.

Senior Arti Jain was named Missouri Student Journalist of the Year—a first for Ladue—and went on to be recognized as one of six national finalists for National Student Journalist of the Year.

Emily Liu (senior) and Vincent Hsiao (junior) were both named to the 2025 Missouri All-State Journalism Team, among the highest honors for student journalists in the state.

Sarah Kirksey, journalism adviser at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, was named the 2025 Missouri Journalism Teacher of the Year. Now in her ninth year at LHWHS, Kirksey advises all five of the district’s publications and was also honored earlier as the Ladue Schools District Teacher of the Year.

National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Best of Show Awards

• Melodrama – 2nd Place, Literary Magazine
• ID – 2nd Place, Specialty Magazine
• Panorama – 6th Place, Newsmagazine

NSPA Individual Awards

• Arti Jain – National SJOY Finalist
• Nora Brunnquell – 1st Place, Literary Magazine Design (“Mixed Signals”)
• Celina Zhou – 2nd Place, Newsmagazine Design (“Ladue in Focus”)
• Ira Rodrigues – 3rd Place, Feature Story (“When Cultures Collide”)
• Luke Ye – 6th Place, Sports Photography (“Time to Wrestle”)
• News Story Team (Lock, Mahmoud, Myckatyn, Zhou) – 6th Place, News Story (“On the Table”)
• Mia Gourtzelis – 8th Place, Yearbook Design (“Powderpuff”)
• Vincent Hsiao – 10th Place, Feature Photo (“Crystal Clear”)

Quill and Scroll National Honors

• Ladue Publications – 1st Place, Visual Design
• Nathan King – 1st Place, Beginning Writer & Profile Writing (“Second Chance”)
• Meg Myckatyn – 1st Place, Beginning Designer
• Vincent Hsiao – 1st Place, Profile Portrait & Sports Spread Design
• Emily Liu – 1st Place, Infographic Design (“Coastal Crisis”)
• Nina Ye – 1st Place, Feature Spread Design (“Mastermind”)
• Group (Jain, Kodner, Hsiao, Mahmoud) – 3rd Place, Environment and Climate Reporting (“Dousing the Flame”)
• Kelly Zhang – 3rd Place, Newsmagazine Cover Design (“Election Issue”)
• Arti Jain – Honorable Mention, Profile Writing (“A Model of Faith”)

JEA National Student Media Contests 

• Superior Awards:
   
  • Arti Jain – News Writing
  • Sylvia Hanes – Feature Writing
  • Vincent Hsiao – Portrait Photography
  • Luke Ye – Sports Action Photography
  • Marie Demkovitch – Yearbook Copy/Caption: Clubs
  • Meg Myckatyn – Yearbook Copy/Caption: Student Life
  • Maya Mathew – Logo Design
     
• Excellent Awards:
   
  • Adela Gingrich – Editorial Writing
  • Celina Zhou – Infographic Design
  • Josh Devine – Newspaper Layout
  • Lucy Dempsey – Yearbook Copy/Caption: Sports
  • Elena Bollman – Yearbook Copy/Caption: Academics
  • Ira Rodrigues – Literary Magazine Layout
     
• Honorable Mentions:
   
  • Will Kodner – Literary Magazine Poetry
  • Katie Myckatyn – Sports Writing
  • Madeline Awad – Press Law and Ethics
  • Risa Fingerman – Yearbook Theme Design

From national stage wins to first-time honors, Ladue Publications continues to set a standard of excellence in student journalism. Congratulations to our student editors, staff, and advisers, Abigail Eisenberg and Sarah Kirksey, for their dedication, creativity, and impact!

Check out more photos from the 2025 JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention on the Ladue Schools Facebook page.