NSPA names WSS Pacemaker finalist, announces top 10 national contest finalists

Winners to be announced Nov. 15 at NSPA’s Nashville convention

Staff • Sep 11, 2025

NSPA named this photo by Colin Wehrle ’27 as one of 10 finalists in its national Feature Photo of the Year contest. (Colin Wehrle)

The National Scholastic Press Association named the 2024-25 West Side Story staff a Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker finalist on Sept. 11.

NSPA named 41 scholastic student newspapers, newsmagazines and specialty magazines as finalists, and 17 of those will earn Pacemakers.

Finalists will be recognized and the Pacemaker winners announced for the first time on Nov. 15, during the JEA/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville.

Read more about the Pacemaker and see all the finalists here.

NSPA also announced finalists for its individual contests, with each contest category including up to 10 finalists nationwide. The finalists from West include:

NSPA named this photo by Tyler Shane ’26 as one of 10 finalists in its national Sports Feature Photo of the Year contest. (Tyler Shane)

Multimedia Journalist of the Year: Anna Greenlee ’26
Informational Graphic of the Year: Greenlee for “What’s Next?“
Comic Strip/Panel of the Year: Yeju Seol ’26 for “Haunting Headlines.”
Multimedia Feature Story of the Year: Lydia Cruce ’27 and Shanza Sami ’26 for “Music on the mind.”
Feature Story of the Year: Cruce for “Starboy.”
Multimedia Sports Story of the Year: Minna Abdalla ’26 and Evelyn Kraber ’26 for “How women’s wrestling found a home in Iowa City.”
Podcast of the Year: Emma Lai ’28 for “Our Journey to Worlds.”
Feature Photo of the Year: Colin Wehrle ’27 for “Sky high in a suit and tie.”
Sports Feature Photo of the Year: Tyler Shane ’26 for “State champion celebration.”
Social Media Reporting: WSS staff
Social Media Promotion: WSS staff

NSPA named this comic by Yeju Seol ’26 as one of 10 finalists in its national Cartoon of the Year contest.

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About the contributors

Colin Wehrle, Print Photo and Sports Editor

Colin is a junior returning for his second year on staff. This year, he’s the photo and sports editor for the print edition. Outside the newsroom, you can find him going on long runs, conducting the marching band or listening to music.

Tyler Shane, Print Design Co-Editor

Tyler Shane is a senior and this is his third year on staff. This year he’s the print design co-editor for the West Side Story. In his free time he enjoys playing sports and hanging out with friends.