Five students have been recognized for their outstanding work that was submitted to the annual Portfolio of the Year contests. Winners were selected in the Reporter, Designer, Photographer, Broadcast Journalist, and Middle School Journalist categories. More than 30 contest entries were judged by experienced journalism advisers from all over the country.
Peter Philpott was recognized as the CSMA Reporter of the Year. Philpott has published his work in the Union Street Journal at Cherry Creek High School. According to the judge in this category, Philpott’s “portfolio demonstrates a well developed talent for localizing national or international topics with a strong focus on local angles. The quality of quotations in stories reveals that the reporter possesses keen interviewing skills. Varied voices in stories show that the reporter digs deep to find relevant sources.”
Anna Olson was recognized as the CSMA Designer of the Year. Olson has worked for publications at Arapahoe High School, including the Herald newspaper and the Calumet yearbook. The judge noted that her “design work is exceptional—clean, creative, and full of purpose. From thoughtful font pairings to effective use of design tools and color, each element is intentional and well-executed. The insight you shared into your process reflects a deep understanding of visual storytelling. And, wow, do your designs tell stories. From elections and athletics to injuries and education, your visual/verbal connections are strong. Even more impressive is the design philosophy you shared: “In an era where media consumption constantly evolves, I am excited by the challenge of adapting to new storytelling formats, engaging diverse audiences and upholding truth and integrity.” That’s not just design—that’s leadership.”
Tazlynne Prigge was recognized as the CSMA Photographer of the Year. Prigge is a photographer for the yearbook program at Liberty High School. The photography judge had this feedback about Prigge’s work. “You have a great variety of work in your portfolio. I really appreciate all of the great facial expressions and emotions you’ve captured in your work. That especially includes the water dropping on the guy in the red shirt, the swimmer in the sunlight, the soccer players, and the girl cheering in the crowd. All of these demonstrate some strong photographic skills.”
Mac Shaver was recognized as the CSMA Broadcast Journalist of the Year. Shaver has been the driving force behind the Arapahoe Sports Network at Arapahoe High School and is also a member of the broadcast team at Englewood High School. The judge in the broadcast area had these notes about Shaver’s portfolio. “Your work is clearly exceptional. You have exceeded any possible expectation of a high school student, as demonstrated by your examples of work within professional sports. You have developed a tremendous on air presence. You have a clear understanding of the sports that you are broadcasting along with background knowledge of the players. You have a clear ability to connect with your other broadcast teammates and do a great job of managing your broadcast presentation. Your work behind the camera, both for Arapahoe Sports Network, and for other sports teams, is impressive. The graphic design package for the Denver Onyx and for the WER League would stand out among professionals across the sports spectrum.” The judge also noted the work that Shaver has done to advocate for student press access rights in Colorado with his advocacy through CHSAA and NFHS broadcasting.
Bailey Chiappetta was recognized as the CSMA Middle School Journalist of the Year. Chiappetta has been the Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook at Drake Middle School. The judge gave this reflection on Chiappetta’s portfolio. “This portfolio shows your abilities as a designer, as a photographer, and as a leader. Your examples are excellent individual pieces of work. More importantly, your descriptions and reflections show your process in order to achieve those results. Your supporting letters paint a very clear picture of you as a leader within your program through some challenging situations. It is clear that you set high expectations on yourself and that you support the yearbook staff so that they can attain great results.”
Each student winner and their respective journalism program will receive a $250 prize. The winning portfolios can be found on the individual contest pages, along with previous year’s winners. The entry window will open in March 2026 for the 2025-26 Portfolio of the Year contests.
