Standing Bear High School students produced journalistic gems this spring with their efforts in yearbook activities.
Eden Tejeda, Hannah Zimmerle and Amber Holmes mined award-winning moments in the Nebraska School Activities Association State Journalism Championships. They were among more than two dozen LPS journalists who returned home with valuable prizes.
Tejeda and Zimmerle collected their spots in school history by claiming Standing Bear’s first state journalism championship.
The two Grizzlies exchanged wide smiles when they learned they had won the Yearbook Theme Development contest. Zimmerle said she and Tejeda were overjoyed when they received the final results.
“We knew how good the competition was, and so we weren’t expecting much,” Zimmerle said. “But when we heard our names called for first place, I was so elated and proud of us. It was so rewarding to know how our hard work was being recognized.”
Brianna Knoell shared the same happy feelings as the two Grizzlies. She teaches journalism and English classes at Standing Bear and serves as yearbook advisor.
“Words cannot describe how proud I am of Eden and Hannah and my entire yearbook staff,” Knoell said. “Eden and Hannah, as well as a few other editorial staff, have been with me since year one, and it has been an honor to learn and grow beside them. While we come up with ideas together as a team, it is the editors’ job to ensure that those thematic elements are used properly throughout the book, and Eden and Hannah did a spectacular job with that.”
The Grizzlies created the theme of “All In” for the 2025-26 yearbook. They focused on the fact that it would be the first year that students from all four grade levels would take classes in the building.
Staff members assigned each grade level a color – grey, light blue, Grizzly blue and navy – that accompanied them throughout the yearbook. Students from all four grades were featured on each page, and the editors included monthly recaps to include more “all in” moments.
Zimmerle said she has learned many life skills from working on the Standing Bear Kodiak pages.
“Being on staff and a leader of our yearbook at Standing Bear has taught me how to combine all of these different ideas and spreads to make one uniform and cohesive book for all of our peers to look back on,” Zimmerle said. “We have had to put in a lot of hours each year to produce the yearbooks, so it has also definitely taught me time management.”
Holmes and Tejeda both captured honors in the Yearbook Layout category. Holmes pocketed a seventh-place medal and Tejeda collected eighth place.
Knoell said the state awards showed how the Grizzlies increased their skills, creativity and camaraderie from August to May.
“I have students in yearbook who are involved in all kinds of other activities, and at the start of the year we were definitely more divided,” Knoell said. “It has been fun to watch them get to know each other more and work together. By the end of the year, students were jumping in to assist anyone who needed help. They were definitely a well-oiled machine, and it shows in this year’s book!”
2026 Class B State Journalism Contest Team Results
Columbus Scotus 344 points, Gretna East 262, Gretna 250, Lincoln Pius X 210, Adams Central 148, West Point-Beemer 126, Grand Island Northwest 112, Lexington 106, Gering 96, Norris 94, Blair 86, Elkhorn 84, Omaha Skutt 84, Ogallala 78, Elkhorn North 64, Elkhorn Mount Michael 54, Milford 54, Scottsbluff 44, Waverly 38, Hastings 36, Lincoln Standing Bear 34, Louisville 32, Plattsmouth 30, Lincoln Northwest 28, Omaha Creighton Prep 24, Conestoga 18, Bennington 14, Ralston 14, Pierce 12, Fairbury 6
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