St. Louis Public Radio names 2026 Teen Photograph Prize honorees

Judges have chosen eight honorees within the 2026 St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize, together with sophomore Logan LaVear of St. Louis University High School, chosen as this yr’s Best in Show prize winner for his {photograph} “Bathed in Blue.”

“This image was a clear contender for our grand prize recognition based on its composition and the emotion documented from the high school’s kickoff of the football season,” mentioned STLPR Visuals Editor Brian Munoz. “The photographer wasn’t afraid to get close to the moment and fill their frame.”

Other class winners embrace:

• Best General News: Senior Jack Auer of St. Louis University High School
• Best Landscape: Junior Andrew Hammond of St. Louis University High School
• Best Portrait: Senior Vincent Hsiao of Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• Best Animals and Wildlife: Junior Ivan Leung of Parkway South High School
• Best Feature: Senior Vincent Hsiao of Ladue Horton Watkins High School
• Best Sports Action: Senior Jack Auer of St. Louis University High School
• Best Sports Feature: Freshman Bethany Newsome of Westwood Baptist Academy

STLPR’s Teen Photojournalist Prize is open to high-school-aged college students from everywhere in the St. Louis area. This yr, the Prize acquired entries from college students representing 48 faculties throughout the station’s St. Louis, Quincy and Rolla listening areas. Photographs had been taken on digital, movie and telephone cameras.

Ivan Leung

/

Parkway South HS

Each yr, the juried contest hosts a panel of photojournalists and media professionals to guage the images in an nameless judging course of. Judges search for photos that excel in capturing a second, have robust picture composition, show creativity and have compelling captions that mirror the coed’s ideas concerning the picture.

“The strength of the images we receive in this competition has impressed us every year,” mentioned STLPR Visual Communications Specialist and contest decide Cristina Fletes-Mach. “We had the unenviable task of picking a top image and limiting our honorable mentions. Even photos that ultimately didn’t get honored were spiritedly advocated for. This was a difficult contest to judge — in the best way possible.”

This yr’s successful Animals and Wildlife picture by Ivan Leung of Parkway South High School, titled “Just Missed,” caught the eye of longtime St. Louis sports activities photographer and contest decide Scott Rovak. “The timing here is pretty impeccable,” mentioned Rovak. “Waiting and preparing for the moment makes this image strong.”

It’s not usually {that a} specific faculty pulls off a sweep, however this yr, St. Louis University High School college students had been the recipients of three first-place class awards and the Best in Show prize.

In addition to the Best in Show and class winners, judges awarded 15 honorable mentions throughout the seven contest classes.

Brayden Cook of Granite City High School repeatedly caught the judges’ eye, incomes three honorable point out images in Feature, Sports Feature and the Animals and Wildlife classes.

Honorable mentions: 

Feature: Junior MaryKate Stroud of Liberty High School

Feature: Senior Brayden Cook of Granite City High School

General News: Junior Jalen Jenkins of Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience High School

General News: Junior Itai Lerman of Clayton High School

Landscape: Junior Westerly Woods of Pattonville High School

Portrait: Senior Sam Estrada of Metro Classical and Academic High School

Sports Action: Sophomore JP House of Christian Brothers College High School

Sports Action: Junior Ari Duel of John Burroughs High School

Sports Feature: Senior Brayden Cook of Granite City High School

Animals & Wildlife: Junior Mason Novak of Christian Brothers College High School

Animals & Wildlife: Senior Brayden Cook of Granite City High School

Landscape: Junior Damon Mason of Sumner High School

Portrait: Senior Lydia Fite of Alton High School

Sports Action: Freshman Bethany Newsome of Westwood Baptist Academy

Sports Feature: Sophomore JP House of Christian Brothers College High School

The exhibition

All 23 successful images and honorable mentions might be featured in a framed gallery exhibition and large display show within the Public Media Commons at St. Louis Public Radio. The exhibition kicks off with a free, celebratory reception at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19. STLPR members and most people are invited to attend, together with honorees and their visitors. Please register to attend.

At the gallery opening, one of the best in present winner will obtain an $800 prize and class winners will obtain $200 prizes.

Photojournalism grasp class

Category winners and honorable point out recipients are invited to a grasp class with STLPR Visuals Editor Brian Munoz. For the previous three years, the category has additionally been open on a first-come, first-served foundation to all contest contributors.

The 2026 judges

The 2026 STLPR Teen Photojournalist Prize judges embrace:

• Scott Rovak, staff photographer for the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Cardinals; contract photographer for Imagn Images (previously USA Today Sports)
• Cristina Fletes-Mach, STLPR visible communications specialist
• Jessica Rogen, STLPR digital editor
• Brian Munoz, STLPR visuals editor

The St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize is an annual award and academic program. Entries are accepted every spring. This yr’s contest was made potential by means of the generosity of The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum and St. Louis Public Radio members.

You can view the entire successful entries at stlpr.org/prize.