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Here are the winners of the 2023 St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize

St. Louis Public Radio | By Brian Munoz

Published April 18, 2023 at 8:00 AM CDT

Marquette High School Coach Michael Stewart cheers his team on — Marquette High School Football Coach Michael Stewart leads the team in a victory cheer on Nov. 4 after a 42-14 win over the Seckman Jaguars during a MSHSAA Class 6 District 1 football semifinal at the school in Chesterfield.

Judges have selected eight winners for the 2023 St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize, including Marquette High School senior Gemma Speichinger, who won the Best in Show award.

Speichinger's image stood out to the judges because of the pure emotion shown across the image. All parts of the frame — every face, fist and even the background adds to the image. Football is part of the quintessential high school experience and this image expertly captured a moment in what could be a technically difficult setting to photograph.

Other category winners include:

Best General News: Dana Zafarani of Parkway West High School
Best Landscape: Matthew Gilliard of Hazelwood West High School
Best Feature: Chase Golem of Edwardsville High School
Best Portrait: Andrew Poertner of Francis Howell North High School
Best Animal and Wildlife: Madeline Awad of Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Best Sports Action: McKenzie Brown of Lindbergh High School
Best Sports Feature: Wendy Stephens of Clayton High School

The contest received more than 350 student entries from 62 schools across the St. Louis, Quincy and Rolla regions. The submissions represent a range of perspectives from promising young photographers and journalists who have visually documented the world with their digital, film and phone cameras.

"It was such a treat to participate in this year’s judging of the St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize. Our budding photographers allow the public to peek into their lives, to understand their high school experience in a way that they want us to see it," said judge Robert Cohen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff photojournalist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We celebrate with them, and hope that they may become the next generation of visual storytellers."

View the category winners below.

Best General News

Noah Schell, a Parkway West High School senior, focuses on the notes on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022, during the school orchestra’s annual winter concert at Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Mo. Schell learned to play at age 8 from Mr. Wheeler, his elementary orchestra teacher. — Noah Schell, a Parkway West High School senior, focuses on the notes on Dec. 20 during the school orchestra’s annual winter concert at Parkway West High School in Ballwin. Schell learned to play at age 8 from Mr. Wheeler, his elementary orchestra teacher.

Best Landscape

My mom walks across Forest Park in the rain on Saturday, August 20, 2022, in St. Louis. — My mom walks across Forest Park in the rain in August 2022 in St. Louis.

Best Feature

Special Education teacher Kayla Magruder endures a bucket of ice water dumped by her student sophomore Taleyia Grayer on Friday, March 10, 2023, at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Ill. More than a hundred EHS students gathered outside to see their favorite teachers shiver as part of the Polar Plunge, a fundraiser that raises money for the Illinois Special Olympics. Magruder raised $200 out of the school's $3,982. — Special Education teacher Kayla Magruder endures a bucket of ice water dumped by sophomore Taleyia Grayer on March 10 at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Ill. More than a hundred EHS students gathered outside to see their favorite teachers shiver as part of the Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for the Illinois Special Olympics. Magruder raised $200 out of the school's $3,982.

Best Portrait

Fort Zumwalt North Senior Frank Marchesi stands next to his dog on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in front of his family’s property in St. Paul, Mo. Marchesi was diagnosed with Giant Cell Myocarditis on Mar. 29, 2022, had to receive a life saving heart transplant later that year, and then decided to take senior pictures to remember the tough year he had. He also wanted to celebrate being happy and healthy upon graduation. — Fort Zumwalt North senior Frank Marchesi stands next to his dog in September in front of his family’s property in St. Paul, Mo. Marchesi was diagnosed with giant cell myocarditis last March and received a lifesaving heart transplant later that year, then decided to take senior pictures to remember the tough year he had. He also wanted to celebrate being happy and healthy upon graduation.

Best Animal and Wildlife

White-Spotted Jellyfish (phyllorhiza punctata) are suspended in the water on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at the Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. — White-spotted jellyfish (phyllorhiza punctata) are suspended in the water in April 2022 at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo.

Best Sports Feature

The PASS Junior Vikings coach celebrates with one of his players on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, after a touchdown in St. Louis. — The PASS Junior Vikings coach celebrates with one of his players in November after a touchdown in St. Louis.

Best Sports Action

Lindbergh High School junior goalkeeper Madison Mertzlufft dives to make a save on Friday, April 7, 2023, during the first half of a Varsity Girl’s Soccer match against Cor Jesu at Lindbergh High School in Sappington, Mo. — Lindbergh High School junior goalkeeper Madison Mertzlufft dives to make a save on April 7 during a varsity girls soccer match against Cor Jesu at Lindbergh High School in Sappington.

Honorable Mentions

Sports Feature: Will Huster of Kirkwood High School
Sports Feature: Parker Smith of Francis Howell North High School
Sports Action: Sydney Davis of Liberty (Wentzville) High School
Sports Action: Maxwell Grellner of St. Louis University High School
General News: Owen Wohl of Clayton High School
General News: Sadie Cotton of Francis Howell North High School
Feature: Aniya Sparrow of Francis Howell Central High School
Feature: Chase Golem of Edwardsville High School
Landscape: Walter Hurley of St. Louis University High School
Landscape: Mae Scott of Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
Landscape: Mekhi Brown of Pattonville High School
Portrait: Maverick Shelp of Ft. Zumwalt North High School
Portrait: Ankita Pandurangi of Francis Howell North High School
Animals and Wildlife: Jaheim Magaki of Principia Upper School
Animals and Wildlife: Eden Sands of Rolla High School
Animals and Wildlife: Angela Wirthlin of Clayton High School

View all of the honorable mention photographs on the contest page.

The winners and finalists will be honored during a public reception at 7 p.m. May 17 at St. Louis Public Radio's headquarters in Grand Center, 3651 Olive St. Light refreshments will be provided. You can RSVP to the event on our registration page.

The photos will be framed and displayed on gallery walls in St. Louis Public Radio's lobby from May 17 through mid-June, on the big screen in the Public Media Commons outside STLPR's offices and online on the contest page and STLPR's Instagram page. To view the framed exhibit, come to the opening reception or make an appointment for a different time by emailing hello@stlpr.org.

The Best in Show winner will receive $800 in gift certificates, and each category winner will receive $200 in gift certificates. Category winners and honorable mention recipients are invited to a master class with Munoz.

Contest judges included Cohen, freelance photojournalist and National Geographic Explorer Neeta Satam, STLPR Digital and Special Projects editor Brian Heffernan and Munoz.

Satam said it was exciting and challenging to judge the more than 350 entries because so many of the images were so strong. "I encourage all the participants to continue photographing and telling the stories that matter to them and their community," she said.

The St. Louis Public Radio Photojournalism Prize is an annual award and educational program, with entries accepted again next spring. Watch stlpr.org and follow us on Instagram for updates and details. This year's contest was made possible by Sony Electronics, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and St. Louis Public Radio supporters.