East High School students produced journalistic gems this spring with their efforts in newspaper, yearbook and broadcasting activities.
The Spartans mined award-winning moments in the Nebraska School Activities Association State Journalism Championships. They competed in a wide array of individual and group contests during their trip to Norfolk. They were among more than two dozen LPS journalists who returned home with valuable prizes.
Seven Spartans captured honors in newspaper and yearbook contests. Benjamin Shellhaas and the East trio of Elizabeth Elitzin, Chloe Wolbert and Jerrica Zhang led the way for the school. Shellhaas earned second place in the Feature Photography category, and Elitzin, Wolbert and Zhang pocketed silver medals in the Yearbook Theme Development category.
East teacher Elle Conger said it was fun watching the Spartans develop winning pieces of work. She was impressed with how students in her yearbook class crafted ideas for their publication.
“I am beyond proud of these students,” Conger said. “Our big mantra in yearbook is ‘Striving for a higher level of excellence,’ and that’s exactly what our staff did this school year. I couldn’t ask for a better group of students to work with. They make what could be a very stressful job a complete joy.”
2026 Class A State Journalism Contest Team Results
Millard North 404 points, Papillion-La Vista 310, Lincoln Southeast 242, Papillion-La Vista South 232, Omaha Marian 224, Omaha Burke 124, Omaha Westside 118, Elkhorn South 108, Fremont 106, Millard South 102, Bellevue East 90, Millard West 90, Lincoln East 82, Omaha Central 62, Bellevue West 46, Omaha Bryan 46, Lincoln Southwest 44, Lincoln North Star 36, Omaha Westview 24, Omaha North 20, Omaha Buena Vista 18, Omaha Benson 16, Kearney 14, Lincoln Northeast 10
2026 East High School State Journalism Contest Results
Info Graphic: Finley Paprocki (4th place)
Newspaper Layout: Kayla Wischhof (7th)
Feature Photography: Benjamin Shellhaas (2nd), Chloe Wolbert (3rd)
Yearbook Layout: Kallee Hemry (7th)
Yearbook Theme Development: Elizabeth Elitzin, Chloe Wolbert, Jerrica Zhang (2nd)
Do you have a story idea? Share it with the LPS Communications Team by filling out this form!
