On May 28, 2025, student journalists from across Loudoun County gathered to celebrate journalism at the first inaugural Loudoun Now Student Journalism Awards Ceremony at Loudoun County High School. Out of all the nominees, Rock Ridge High School was crowned the winner of multiple prizes, including Newswriting, Podcast, and Grand Prize Winner.

The awards–hosted by nonprofit publication Loudoun Now– honored excellence in reporting, photography, podcasting, feature writing, and more,showcasing student journalism all across Loudoun County . “The job of our newsroom is to report to the people,” Renss Greene, Executive Director of Loudoun Now, said. “We saw amazing work across the board. These awards encourage the next generation of journalists–and we need them more than ever.”

These awards were the outcome of the Loudoun Now newsroom and its board who wanted to help bring young journalists across the county together.  Loudoun Now board member Kurt Aschermann said, “They hired me to do fundraising for them, and then, in conversations with the editor and publisher, we were talking about having our own events, something that could be named Loudoun Now Awards. This just seemed natural since it dealt with journalism at the local level,” Aschermann said.

Aschermann emphasized how strong teamwork and shared purpose led to the success of the event. “I think everyone had the same purpose–we wanted to encourage young kids to stay in the journalism field. And we want free and independent journalism,” Aschermann said. To help fund the awards, the event organizers needed to find corporate sponsorships. “Google was in right away. They are our biggest sponsor,” Ascherman said. Ascherman also credited local schools for their support, as well as Mitch Schwartz, the publications teacher at Dominion High School. “Mitchell Schwartz from Dominion High School, who’s kind of the coordinator of the high school journalism programs–he was great, invaluable,” said Aschermann.

With Loudoun Now recently transitioning into a nonprofit newsroom, its mission is expanding–both in scope and in impact. “We view journalism as an important public service,” Greene said. “Eye on the government, hold the powerful to account. We want to provide a platform for people who are disenfranchised or may not be able to get their voice out as much. And overall, it’s all about serving our community and lifting up our people,” Greene said.

The organizers of the event aim to make the Loudoun Now Student Journalism awards an annual event.

Below is a list of winners.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Courtesy of Blue Lion Multimedia.

Grand Prize and News Winners Sanvi Challa and Melissa Waas line up for a picture with their Newswriting Award.

Feature Writing

Grace Armstrong of Potomac Falls High School took home the award for Feature Writing with her heartfelt article, Safe, Secure, and Smiling: A SSO’s mission to make a difference. Her article highlighted the dedication of Potomac Falls’ school security officer, Tyrell Thompson, who goes beyond his job description to ensure the safety of all the students and staff at Potomac Falls. Armstrong was recognized for her thorough reporting and emotionally anchoring story, which casts a light on the oftentimes overlooked school staff who help shape security. 

Runner-Up: Claire O’Conner, Will Ruscitella Loves Being Different, Loudoun Valley High School

The Grand Prize & News Writing

Rock Ridge students Sanvi Challa and Melissa Waas took home both the News Writing Award and the overall Grand Prize for their investigative piece, Smoking Out the Truth Surrounding Rock Ridge’s New HALO Smart Sensors. Their article explored the impact and controversy around the new surveillance monitoring technology implemented into school bathrooms. Their work stood out for its local relevance and their strong sourcing.

Runner-Up for Newswritng: Keira McDowell, Welding Class Sparks a Fire at The Academies of Loudoun, Freedom High School

Photography

Dominion student, Evelyn Mansaray, took home the Photography Award. Mansaray earned first place in the Photography category for a dynamic action shot taken during Dominion’s annual PowderPuff football game. Selected from a large pool of qualified pictures, Mansaray’s photo, Powderpuff: The Thrill of Victory, stood out for its composition and energy in the game-winning touchdown for Dominion High School.

Runner-Up: Allison Canchanya Bujaico, Football Catch, Park View High School

Videography

Hailey Thompson, a videographer for Potomac High School, earned the top achievement and recognition for her compelling storytelling and technical skills behind the camera. Her submission, Reagan Bischoff: A “Throw Lefties” Story, spotlighted a rising softball player making waves with her unconventional throwing style. Judges praised Thompson’s storytelling for its professional style, smooth editing, and ability to capture the pure athleticism of her subject, despite her cerebral palsy.

Runner-Up: Marley Vann, Special Abilities Awareness Week: A Look Inside United Art, Dominion High School

Podcast

Rock Ridge, again, secured a top spot with students Aline Gonzalez and Samantha Chang winning Podcast for their audio podcast, Rundown Politics: The Ever Growing Threat of Ending DEIA Programs. Two entries tied for runner up: Loudoun County High School student Scarlet Ashford and Dominion High School students Vitalina Ulitovska and Hila Hakimi. Ashford’s podcast featured an interview with the school’s former superintendent. “It felt like all of the hard work I put into my podcast was really being recognized,” Ashford said. “I really put the effort into the research and got to know who [the superintendent] was as a person and asked him genuine personal questions,” Ashford said. She also added that one of her biggest challenges was building confidence while interviewing. “Making sure that I’m speaking clearly and that I’m getting my message across.”

Runners up (tie): Scarlett Ashford, Loudoun County High School; Vitalina Ulitovska and Hila Hakimi, Crying Over College Episode 4: Almost The End, Dominion High School