Bryant High School’s yearbook, The Hornet, was selected as one of the top 50 high school yearbooks in the nation by the National Scholastic Press Association.
The NSPA Pacemaker, one of the oldest awards for scholastic journalism, has a rich tradition. The association started presenting the prestigious award soon after the organization was founded in 1921.
“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” Executive Director Laura Widmer said. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”
As a Pacemaker finalist, the Hornet will be honored during an awards ceremony on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the JEA/NSPA Spring National High School Journalism Convention. Pacemaker winners will also be announced at the ceremony.
“I’m so excited to see Bryant being recognized as one of the best yearbooks in the country. We’re the only high school in Arkansas to be recognized, so it’s a huge achievement for our students. Whether we win a Pacemaker that day or not, being nominated is a big deal,” Justin Turner, yearbook co-adviser, said.
Bryant was the last Arkansas high school to win a Pacemaker, for their 2020 yearbook.
“We worked so hard…. We put all that effort in to meet that expectation that Bryant has always had: Just be the best,” Kaylee Anderson, yearbook co-editor, said.
In addition to class time, the staff used Friday deadline nights, Wednesday afternoon work sessions, and countless hours after school taking photos to complete the yearbook.
“It just makes me really proud of all of our work last year, because I knew it was good, but it’s good to be recognized for the amount of effort we put into it,” Caroline Sanders, yearbook co-editor, said.
Two teams of three judges devoted three days to the judging and studied every entry, discussing its strengths.
“Hundreds of schools are vying for the prestige of being a Pacemaker book. So these judges are combing through every detail of your book. It’s no small feat and I’m so proud of this staff for every bit of themselves they put into the book,” Colton Croy, yearbook co-adviser, said.