Springdale, Ark. — Har-Ber High School hosted the 2026 Arkansas Scholastic Press Association’s Spring Convention on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25. Bryant Junior High and High School students participated in competitions, educational sessions, and an awards luncheon with more than 300 students from around the state celebrating scholastic journalism.
As part of the convention, media programs submitted their work for consideration in a General Excellence contest, with a special distinction of All-Arkansas awarded to programs considered the best in the state.
Junior high media earned excellent rankings for The Blue and White in the yearbook category and for The Occurrence in both online and print newspaper. Swarm Productions earned a superior ranking in broadcast, as well as an All-Arkansas distinction.
At the high school level, Hornet Media and The Hornet earned superior distinctions in broadcast and yearbook, with each also receiving the distinction of All-Arkansas. The Prospective Online earned a superior distinction for online newspaper.
The “Of the Year” awards are the most prestigious designations given to individuals at the state level. These awards are based on an evaluation of a portfolio of work submitted prior to the convention.
Junior High School students competed against others in the Middle School/Junior High/Freshman Academy Division:
Print Newspaper Writer of the Year winner — Mason Reynolds
Print Newspaper Editors of the Year winners — Mason Reynolds, Cayden Robertson, and Catalina Schleuse
Yearbook Editors of the Year winners — Carolina Relford and Jolene Roggasch
Broadcast Producer of the Year winner — Cayden Robertson
Artist of the Year winner — Catalina Schleuse
Business Manager of the Year winner — Ace Bradley
High School students competed against others in the large school division consisting of 5A-7A entrants:
Broadcast Journalist of the Year winner — Matthew Anderson
Sports Journalist of the Year winner — Caden Key
On-Air Talent of the Year winner — Mady Calhoun
Yearbook Designer of the Year winner — Kaylee Anderson
Yearbook Designer of the Year 1st runner-up — Erin Wright
Yearbook Editors of the Year winners — Kaylee Anderson and Caroline Sanders
Yearbook Writer of the Year winner — Xoe Hawkins
Yearbook Writer of the Year 1st runner-up — Kaylee Anderson
Yearbook Writer of the Year 2nd runner-up — Maria Morales-Ocampo
Business Manager of the Year winner — Maria Morales-Ocampo
Photojournalist of the Year winner — Kaylee Anderson
Students also competed against their peers across the state in general mail-in competitions submitted prior to the convention.
Junior High students earned 73 awards ranging from honorable mention to superior, including Best of ASPAs for:
Informational Graphic — Mason Reynolds and Joseph Garcia
Interactive Graphic — Aven Hobson
Feature Page Design — Cayden Robertson
High school students earned 50 awards, including Best of ASPAs for:
News Package — Mady Calhoun, Isai Perez, and Carson Jones
Sports Package — Mady Calhoun and Taylor Lease
Review — Haylee Harton
Academic Copy — Malia Campbell and Khailyn Wallace
Groups/Clubs Copy — Khloe King and Erin Thibeau
Index Layout — Amery Felton, Xoe Hawkins, and Erin Wright
Special Coverage — Blessing Colter and Maria Morales-Ocampo
Sports Layout — Amery Felton and Erin Wright
Student Life Copy — Evelyn Bennett and Isabella Simoneaux
Theme Photo — Kaylee Anderson
Students also competed in prompted competitions at the convention against 25 other schools from around the state in contests incorporating writing, design, and photography.
Bryant Junior High earned two 1st-place, two 2nd-place, and five 3rd-place wins.
Bryant High School students earned six 1st-place, four 2nd-place, and six 3rd-place wins.
During the convention, ASPA partnered with Arkansas Press Women to announce the APW High School Communication Contest winners:
1st place — Newscast — The Bryant Buzz
1st place — Video News Story — Campus Construction Update
1st place — Video Sports Story — #DoItForE
Beyond recognition for achievements and work throughout the year, students networked with peers to share ideas about their programs and attended sessions taught by educators and journalism professionals on topics ranging from writing, design, and photography to storytelling, press freedom, ethics, and community building.
