The National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) named 25 Walsworth middle and high school yearbooks as Finalists for the prestigious NSPA Pacemaker Award for 2025 yearbooks on Thursday. The Pacemaker Award is the highest honor given by the NSPA as a recognition of excellence in student journalism.
From the full list of 58 Pacemaker Finalists, 18 winners of the NSPA Pacemaker will be awarded in April at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention in Minneapolis and receive their recognition plaque.
The following 2025 yearbooks that Walsworth Yearbooks printed were named as Pacemaker Finalists, demonstrating the commitment of both schools and Walsworth to providing high-quality publications for students:
- The Round-Up, Woodland Junior High School, Fayetteville, Arkansas
- The Den, Bernardo Heights Middle School, San Diego, California
- The Raider, Gulliver Preparatory High School, Miami, Florida
- The Raider, Gulliver Preparatory Middle School, Coral Gables, Florida
- Chieftain, Jupiter Community High School, Jupiter, Florida
- Interlachen, Montverde Academy, Montverde, Florida
- Crusader, River Ridge Middle School, New Port Richey, Florida
- Fusion, Hagerty High School, Ovideo, Florida
- Panther, H.B. Plant High School, Tampa, Florida
- The Stampede, J.W. Mitchell High School, Trinity, Florida
- Silvertip, Rocky Mountain High School, Meridian, Idaho
- Brickhouse, Shawnee Mission North High School, Overland Park, Kansas
- Heritage, Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park, Kansas
- Hauberk, Shawnee Mission East High School, Leawood, Kansas
- Ship, Presque Isle High School, Presque Isle, Main
- The Spectator, Liberty High School, Liberty, Missouri
- Ayrie, Liberty North High School, Liberty, Missouri
- Lone Star, James Bowie High School, Austin, Texas
- The Legend, El Dorado High School, El Paso, Texas
- The Arena, Legacy High School, Mansfield, Texas
- The Lion, McKinney High School, McKinney, Texas
- The Talon, Hendrickson High School, Pflugerville, Texas
- Genesis, Rock Ridge High School, Ashburn, Virginia
- Crag, Turner Ashby High School, Bridgewater, Virginia
- Patera, Mead High School, Spokane, Washington
The NSPA Pacemaker Award is open to any NSPA member publication, and the contest recognizes exceptional yearbooks across multiple factors, including:
- Coverage and Content: Yearbooks must demonstrate a well-rounded and informative representation of school life, events, and student
- Writing and Reporting: Engaging and accurate writing is crucial for captivating readers and delivering compelling narratives.
- Leadership: Yearbooks showcase the strong leadership and dedication of student editors and staff.
- Design and Photography: Yearbooks must boast visually appealing layout, creative design elements and high-quality photographs.
- Graphics: Effective use of graphics enhances presentation and clarity of information.
The entire list of 58 Pacemaker Finalists as well as individual award winners can be found at the NSPA website.
