NFPW’s High School Communications Contest is open
The High School Communications Contest sponsored by the NFPW Education Fund is accepting entries for the 2026 Contest.
The contest is open to high school students throughout the United States. Students in states without an affiliate contest, such as Colorado, are urged to enter the high school At-Large contest. Students in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania must enter their state contests.
First place entries in the affiliate and at-large contest automatically advance to the national level of competition. Winners in the national contest receive a cash prize. A third round of judging will take place for the first-place winners in the national competition when three judges select a “best of the best” winner from all the winning entries, which comes with a larger cash prize. All the national winners will be announced during a Zoom ceremony and further honored at a luncheon at the NFPW national conference.
DEADLINES:
October 15, 2025: High School Communications Contest opens
February 18, 2026: Entry deadline, at noon in the entrant’s time zone
2014 CPW High School Communications Contest Awards
Names in bold had entries in the national competition, and their placement (if any) is shown at the end of the line. Emily Anderson, Rocky Mountain High School, 2nd, Editorial, "Cost of college causes concern [...]
2011 CPW High School Communications Contest Awards
Tess Halac, Rocky Mountain, 1st, Single-Page Layout, Front Page, Jan. 21, 2011 Cassa Niedringhaus, Rocky Mountain, 2nd, Single-Page Layout, "Day of Recognition" Joanie Lyons, Mountain Vista, 3rd, Single-Page Layout, "Perfect Act" Macy Morgan & Jack [...]
2010 CPW High School Communications Contest Awards
First-place Winners Editorial: Connor Morgan, Kent Denver School, Englewood, Colo., "The Definition of a Hero" and first place at the national level Opinion: Caleb Cunningham, Kent Denver School, Englewood, Colo., "The New News" and first [...]
2009 CPW High School Communications Contest Awards
Twenty-five students from three Colorado high schools submitted 50 entries in the 2009 communications contest. Thirty-five awards, ranging from first place to honorable mention, were handed out. Summary Kent Denver School, Sun Devils' Advocate, 21 [...]
2007 CPW High School Communications Contest Awards
Nearly 60 Colorado high school journalists have been recognized by Colorado Press Women for their writing and graphic design skills. The students are learning journalism skills by participating in the creation and production of their [...]