Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Prince William Times Entry Title: Schools resist Trump administration's demands on transgender policies Entry Credit: Cher Muzyk Judge Comment: Cher Muzyk's reporting really stood out because she didn't just turn the stories into debates about policies. When she reported on Prince William County's school policies that included transgender students, you could tell she got that these issues aren't just ideas that they were real life issues for the students and families.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: InsideNoVa/Prince William Entry Title: Bus app, ChatGPT, Teacher Workdays Entry Credit: Emily Seymour Judge Comment: Emily Seymour has a way of taking issues like bus apps, ChatGPT, and teacher schedules and show how they affect the lives of students, families, and teachers. Her reporting is great because it focuses on the people and their stories, rather than just the facts and figures.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: Alexandria Times Entry Title: Parents upset with ACPS redistricting, ACPS plans to censor Theogony, Parent group calls for School Board action Entry Credit: Caitlyn Meisner Judge Comment: Caitlyn Meisner's reporting on the Alexandria City Public Schools' attempt to censor Theogony is a great example of journalism that holds people in power accountable. She did a fantastic job of showing what student reporters were with on a daily basis.
