The NEHS-Harvard Crimson Student Journalism Awards celebrate the exceptional talents of high school journalists who demonstrate excellence in reporting, writing, and publication design. This collaboration between the National English Honor Society and The Harvard Crimson recognizes outstanding student-led journalism from schools around the world with active NEHS chapters.
Student Publication Category
In the 2025 awards cycle, the top honors in the Student Publication category were awarded to:
1st place: The Silverback Carrier, International School of Kigali, Rwanda
Read: The Silverback Carrier
In 2022, two sophomores at the International School of Kigali (ISK) in Rwanda transformed a creative writing class project into The Silverback Scoop, ISK’s first student-led publication aimed at educating and informing their community. Initially launched as a website compiling student articles, it evolved into a video-based journalism club called ISK News, producing monthly video reports for school gatherings and digital newsletters to parents. Facing challenges with digital access and archiving, the publication later adopted a hybrid format with printed articles during holidays. When the founders graduated in 2024, a new group of students, including National English Honor Society members Aya Desie and Nora Diarrassouba, revived the project as The Silverback Carrier, a print publication that brings stories and interviews to life in text. This rebirth reflects the students’ commitment to sharing diverse voices, promoting empathy, and empowering their peers through storytelling and engagement with current events.
Members of the Editorial Board:
Aya Desie is a dedicated sophomore at the International School of Kigali, Rwanda. As secretary of her school’s NEHS chapter, she loved planning a multitude of events. Aya also has experience in service learning, writing, and public speaking, having been published by the World Council on Intercultural Competence in their June 2024 issue her freshman year, and choosing to read out poetry in an ISK fundraising event she participated in, as well as presenting during the NEHS Pittsburgh Convention, where she won best presentation in her category. Her love of literature was prompted by growing up in a culture of storytelling. She became fascinated with the importance of understanding the stories of the world around us and being intentional with how we read, knowing firsthand “The Danger of a Single Story,” having grown up in a diverse environment.
Nora Kadiatou Diarrassouba is from Germany and has roots in the Ivory Coast and South Korea. Currently a junior in high school, she serves as President of the NEHS chapter at the International School of Kigali in Rwanda. Passionate about promoting literacy, Nora has been involved in a documentary project for NEHS, highlighting the transformative power of literature on individuals and communities. Alongside fellow NEHS member Aya Desie, they successfully led their first buddy reading event, aiming to spread literacy and better community relationships. In her free time, Nora loves to write poetry and short stories, exploring the beauty of language for her project, I Am Not Your Headline, which empowers individuals and communities through storytelling and art.
2nd place: Tiger Times, North Salem High School, NY
Read: Tiger Times
Tiger Times has been the official student newspaper for North Salem High School in North Salem, NY, for over 25 years. All students in grades 9-12 are welcome to participate as writers, while editing positions are annually reserved for select seniors. The paper covers local news, culture, athletics, and the arts, as well as offering opportunities for students to express opinions on international, national, and local issues on its editorial page. Despite North Salem High School’s small population (240 students) and no journalism classes, Tiger Times is one of its most popular extracurricular activities, with over 60 students submitting articles during this school year alone.
Members of the Editorial Board:
Ana Brewster joined the Tiger Times in 2022 because she loved English and believed it could be an outlet for her passion. Now she is a Senior Editor of the paper and a NEHS Fitzgerald Chapter member. Though a longtime lover of writing columns (mostly about media and restaurants she likes), she occasionally enjoys covering topics related to the Trump campaign/administration. Next year, Ana will be majoring in literature and cultural studies at Fairfield University in their honors program, and she plans to write for the student newspaper. Outside of the classroom, Ana loves reading, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.
Margaret Cassidy has been a dedicated member of Tiger Times and the Fitzgerald Chapter of NEHS. Margaret is a high honor roll student and has excelled in numerous Advanced Placement courses throughout her academic career. As a Senior Editor of the school newspaper, she has contributed to its publication, coupling her passion for writing with her school spirit. Margaret attributes much of her success to the exceptional guidance of her English teachers who have greatly influenced her development as a writer. Outside of her academic pursuits, Margaret is actively involved in her dance team and enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Samantha Maza became involved in Tiger Times in 2023 because she wanted to become more involved in her community and she loves to write. As an NEHS Fitzgerald Chapter member, she believes that becoming a Senior Editor has furthered her leadership skills. She has a strong enthusiasm for teaching and participates in several school clubs. She plans to major in childhood education at Manhattanville University while also taking part in their Castle Scholars Honors Program. Outside of school, Samantha enjoys her job as an After-Care Universal Pre-Kindergarten Assistant Teacher.
Veronica Benvenuto brings a unique blend of analytical and communication skills as a Senior Editor for Tiger Times. Veronica joined the newspaper as an extension of a lifelong passion for communication and media. A member of National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and the Model UN Club, Veronica has honed her ability to research, write, and edit articles, particularly about mental health, inclusion, and youth issues. Upon graduation, Veronica is eager to collaborate with and contribute to her university’s media and broadcasting initiatives, as well as pursue a future in forensic psychology.
3rd place: The Stuttgart Insider, Stuttgart American High School, Germany
Read: The Stuttgart Insider
The Stuttgart Insider was started in 2023 by, and for, the students at Stuttgart American High School. Seniors Ava Harris and Minami Salas created the publication with the purpose of informing and entertaining SHS students through articles with topics ranging from school events to global news to pop culture. After Ava and Minami graduated, leadership of the publication was passed on to Emily Wheeler and Tadek Neal as Editor-in-Chief and Co-Editor. They have spent this school year expanding the program, publishing work from more than a dozen student writers, creating a new website to share the paper, and focusing on the quality and variety of articles in issues. They hope to continue these efforts in the upcoming school year before passing the torch to future leadership, and hope that the paper will continue to grow after their own graduation.
Members of the Editorial Board:
Emily Wheeler, editor-in-chief of the Stuttgart Insider, wears many other hats. She serves as president of Tri-M Music Honor Society, secretary of the debate club, a Model U.N. delegate, and member of both the National English Honor Society and National Honor Society. Recently she had the honor of being one of two delegates from DoDEA for the United States Senate Youth Program, where she learned more about her country and its government. She also had other unique opportunities like interviewing NBC’s chief capitol hill correspondent. Having long loved current events, reading and writing, and learning about other people, she has been working hard to pursue the skills and education necessary to become a journalist.
As a child Tadek Neal went through constant changes. His family moved states or countries every couple of years, forcing him to adapt. Each new place had new rules, new people, new customs, a new life. Later on, once the winds of change calmed to a cool breeze, Tadek would be defined by bits of each culture he came in contact with: an amalgamation of southern hospitality, German punctuality, Midwest neighborly kindness, and more. One thing that always held true is that he has pursued his interests, taking part in as many clubs and activities as possible, becoming a part of the community he lived in while leaving his own mark. He hopes to continue the adventure that his life has been so far, finding new communities in new places.
Gabrielle Frazier was born in Baltimore, MD, and has lived in New Jersey and Virginia. She currently lives in Stuttgart, Germany, where she participates in her school’s Newspaper Club and student ambassadors. She is also an editor of her high school’s yearbook. Inspired by her battle with severe scoliosis, Gabby strives to spread awareness on various underrepresented topics and issues that affect her community.
Student Article Category
During the latest awards cycle, outstanding achievement in the Student Article category was recognized with the following top honors:
1st place: Ana Brewster, Tiger Times, North Salem High School, NY
Read: SATs Make a Come Back
Ana Brewster joined the Tiger Times in 2022 because she loved English and believed it could be an outlet for her passion. Now she is a Senior Editor of the paper and a NEHS Fitzgerald Chapter member. Though a longtime lover of writing columns (mostly about media and restaurants she likes), she occasionally enjoys covering topics related to the Trump campaign/administration. Next year, Ana will be majoring in literature and cultural studies at Fairfield University in their honors program, and she plans to write for the student newspaper. Outside of the classroom, Ana loves reading, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family.
2nd place: Kaelin Braverman, Paw Print, Pine Crest School, FL
Read: Joggling: for the people who think running is too easy
Kaelin Braverman is currently a senior at Pine Crest School, and this is her fourth year writing for the Paw Print. She is the Editor-in-Chief but worked her way up the ranks—starting as a staff writer, Highlights editor, Assistant Editor-in-Chief, and lastly Editor-in-Chief. Outside of Pine Crest, Kaelin has many hobbies, but her proudest accomplishment is writing and publishing a novel, Last Breath, at the age of 14.
3rd place: Ila Lu, Wolf Street Journal, Eastlake High School, WA
Read: Students bemoan reduction in classes as LWSD plans high school schedule changes
Ila Lu is a freshman at Eastlake High School, Washington. She writes for the Wolf Street Journal, Eastlake’s school paper, as well as the Sammamish Independent, her town’s community newspaper. Besides journalistic writing, Ila also enjoys historical research, argumentative and creative writing, as well as reading. Her ultimate goal in writing is to bring light to stories that are overshadowed, ensuring that no voice is overlooked.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
