Columbia Scholastic Press Association announced its 2026 Gold Circle Awards, and graduate Ali Schulz earned a Certificate of Merit in Editorial Writing for “New Voices Bill Essential to Protect Speech.”
This is the 43rd year of the program, which drew 6,060 entrants from high school news, magazine, digital media and yearbook students. Winners are awarded First Place, Second Place, Third Place or Certificate of Merit.
Also publications and yearbook students went to Missouri Interscholastic Press Association’s Journalism Day at Mizzou on March 25.
MIJA awarded Overall Superior ratings to the yearbook and Voices of Webster podcast and an Excellent rating to the print version of the Echo.
Individually, senior Micah McCoy earned a Superior rating for Yearbook Sports Spread Design for “Boys Cross Country.”
MIJA Excellent ratings went to McCoy for Yearbook Sports Writing “Running Towards the Future,” senior Jasper Winterton for Editorial/Op-Ed Writing “Political divide harms country, prevents change” and freshman Edith Leslie for Radio/Podcast Feature Package “Counselor offers tips for finals.”
Honorable Mentions went to Winterton for Newspaper/Newsmagazine News Writing “Activists push for student media protections,” senior Arianna Peper for Feature Story “Webster remembers former principal,” senior Sam Enlund for Newspaper/Newsmagazine Sports Writing “Basketball program honors those lost to cancer” and Sports Action Photos “Junior hangs on hoop” and “Junior attempts goal at SLUH game” and Sports Feature/Reaction Photo “Senior celebrates District win,” freshman Connor Spellecy for Radio/Podcast Feature Package “Library invites students to prepare for finals,” senior Margaret Korte for Feature Story “Junior lands role in ‘Soul on Fire’” and Newspaper/Newsmagazine Review Writing “‘Wicked: For Good’ meets expectations” and Online Story Package (Opinion/Editorial/Review) “‘Wicked’ meets expectations,” senior Ellie Blanton for Sports Action Photos “For three!” and “Jump ball,” and junior Vivian McGuire for Yearbook Sports Writing “Girls Tennis.”
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