Recognition

This school year, the McHenry Messenger, its staff and its contributors have earned the following honors from outside organizations…

Best of School Newspapers Online

School Newspapers Online (also known as SNO) is the platform that the McHenry Messenger uses to publish its online newspaper. They acknowledge the best stories being published on the SNO Sites network by labelling it as “Best of SNO” and republishing it on their website. The following articles have earned such designation this year:

“U.S. government starts third week of shut down” by Grace Crockett

“Changing the game” by Kaitlyn Bird

“A trained reaction” by Sydney Boswell

IJEA Newspaper & Digital News Media Contest

Each year, the IJEA hosts a newspaper and digital news media contest to recognize the best stories and content published by student journalists in the state of Illinois. The competition recognizes individual writers and stories in addition to the best print, digital, and hybrid publications.

Best Alternative Storytelling

1st: Grace Crockett – “Review | Top 5 best nostalgic Halloween movies”

3rd: Bri Lucansky – “Review | Dancefloor refresh”

Best Editorial Cartoon

2nd: Claire Crockett – “Some things a President shouldn’t say”

Best Feature Story

2nd: Sydney Boswell – “You bet?”

HM: Afton Ingraffia – “All you NeeDoh know”

Best Front Page Design

3rd: Aika Villa, Lesie Valle – McHenry Messenger Volume 7, Issue 6

Best Illustration

HM: Seven Snelton – “Assistance, now answers”

Best In-Depth News Story

3rd: Michalina Sotka – “The chance of a lifetime”

Best News or Feature Photo

2nd: Michalina Sotka – “The chance of a lifetime”

Best Photo Gallery or Photo Slideshow

2nd: Berenice Santiago – “Gallery | Honor Flight Welcome Home Ceremony”

3rd: Grace Bellavia – “Gallery | Liftmas 2025”

Best Sports Commentary

1st: Mason Sites – “Opinion | The NCAA eligibility requirements are turning college athletics into professional sports”

HM: Mason Sites – “Opinion | Sports betting has taken away what makes watching sports fun”

Best Sports Photo

3rd: Berenice Santiago – “Back for seconds”

Best Editorial

HM: Editorial | “End of the school year is the worst time for student and teachers”

Best Use of Social Media

1st: Berenice Santiago – Instagram @McHenryMessengr

Best Website

1st: Michalina Sotka, Ffion Curtain – The McHenry Messenger

Best Overall Publication

3rd: The McHenry Messenger

Best Hybrid Publication

2nd: The McHenry Messenger

Illinois High School Association State Journalism Tournament

Members of the McHenry Messenger’s staff competed alongside their fellow journalists from Warrior Student Media (including The Warrior Weekly and The Warrior) at the IHSA’s State Journalism Tournament. The following students placed in the top six at the tournament’s Sectional competition on April 4, 2026.

Brooke Allard – 1st in Feature Writing

Aika Villa – 1st in Newspaper Design

Berenice Santiago – 2nd in Photo Storytelling

Cameron Mitchell and Rose Wenckebach – 2nd in TV News

Michalina Sotka – 3rd in Review Writing

Ava Fillicaro – 3rd in Yearbook Caption Writing

Jackie Stauner – 3rd in Yearbook Page Design

Aubrey Butler – 3rd in Copy Editing

Claire Crockett – 4th in Advertising and 5th Editorial Cartooning

Dominic Burnett – 4th News Writing

Bri Lucansky – 4th in Radio News

Shianne Parks – 5th in Yearbook Copty Writing

Maggie Demski – 6th in Headline Writing

NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism

To earn the National Scholastic Press Association‘s Leadership Award in Student Journalism, a high school student must serve with distinction for at least two years on the staff of an NSPA-member broadcast, literary arts magazine, newspaper/newsmagazine, specialty magazine, website or yearbook. Students must also be in good academic standing and demonstrate journalistic excellence and staff leadership while maintaining the high ethical standards outlined in the NSPA Model Code of Ethics. Inductees are eligible to wear the NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism teal honor cord at graduation. The following students received this honor from the NSPA this year:

Grace Bellavia

Sydney Boswell

Aubrey Butler

Ffion Curtain

Grace Crockett

Afton Ingraffia

Maggie Demski

Mason Sites

Michalina Sotka

Aika Villa