Past Program Highlights!

Talisman News 24-25! 

Senior Co-Editor-in-Chief Marley Helfer received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 NSPA Story of the Year (slide #104) for her Opinion article, “They is not working the way it should.” She is a 2024 NSPA Leadership in Student Journalism Award recipient. In addition, four of her articles have been published nationally on the School Newspapers Online (Best of SNO) national website.

National HS Journalism Achievements 24-25

At the end of April 2025, over 3,000 students from across the nation gathered in downtown Seattle for the National High School Journalism Convention, showcasing their talents in various categories.

Among the notable achievements for BHS staffers, Silas Horn earned an Honorable Mention for yearbook sports writing, while Abby Bekele received an Excellent for her newspaper layout. Logan Lemonidis also earned an Honorable Mention in Commentary writing, and Xander Howarth achieved an Excellent in Review writing.

Other distinguished students included Shylo Burns and Noelle Shin, who both received Honorable Mentions in Sports and Feature writing, respectively, and Sabi Yoon, who stood out with a Superior in Newswriting.

Additionally, Marley Helfer and Max Bykowski secured 4th place in Best of Show Newspaper Design, while Sabi Yoon and Abby Bekele received 9th and 2nd place for their respective articles on BHS’ Ukrainian students and African culture, highlighting the students’ commitment to diverse and impactful journalism.

Journalism Students Earn Honors 22-23

Congratulations!Ballard Journalism Students won at the Washington Journalism Education Association 2023 State Journalism Competition: Alexa T., Honorable Mention, Review Writing, Annie W., Excellent, News Writing; Semai H., Honorable Mention, Newspaper Feature Writing; Hazel E., Excellent, Sports Feature Writing; Tom F., Superior, Yearbook Feature Photos and Excellent, Yearbook Sports Photo; Marley H., Honorable Mention, Yearbook Feature Writing; Sabi Y., Honorable Mention, Editorial Cartooning.

Talisman Staff, Photographer Earn Awards 22-23

Shout out to the Talisman staff which received Honorable Mention for its Editorial “Pandemic Shows How Our Healthcare System Fails Disabled People” in the National Scholastic Press Association 2022 Story of the Year competition.

Also, congratulations to Talisman Photographer Tom F., who received fourth place in the NSPA’s Photo of the Year for his “Tech Theatre” image: Mid-rehearsal, Senior Philip D. counts in members of the school’s theater production group. “I got involved in theater production when I was a freshman as an assistant, and I took over on the second show and have been running it ever since,” Dussin said. “It is a very satisfying feeling when all of the different parts come together to make a show work, and I also like playing with some of the technical aspects.” Photo by Tom F.

The top prizes in scholastic journalism, NSPA’s Pacemaker awards highlight journalistic excellence. Winners were announced during the Fall National High School Journalism Convention, Nov. 2023, in St. Louis.

More Talisman News

The Talisman is in the Best of SNO: The Ballard Talisman was recently featured in the Best of SNO. SNO is the online platform of The Talisman, and chooses to showcase some of the best student journalism and photography.

The featured article “Conversations without contact: COVID-19’s disruption of language classes” was written by staff reporter Marley H. and included a photo taken by staff photographer Arden R.

Shingle Yearbook | March 2019 | The Shingle yearbook staff had several winners at the WA Journalism Education Association (WJEA) competition on March 16, 2019. 

Talisman Update | 2018 | Talisman Reps Free Speech Bill Signing | A handful of Talisman staffers participated in the historic governor’s signing of a free speech rights bill for student journalists. In the attached photo, seniors and Co-Editors-in-Chief Jackson Croy and Eleanor Dudley stand outside the state capitol with state Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn (sponsor of the bill), along with senior political correspondent Oscar Zahner. 

Update March 2018 | Talisman coverage of students walk out in March. The coverage includes a podcast with excerpts from speakers, and student voices. In addition, the Talisman was able to interview Gov. Inslee. 

Talisman Update | 2017 Two Talisman staff members testified in the House Education Committee hearing on the student free speech bill SB5064 this week. You can listen to their testimony. Feature editor Eleanor Dudley and political reporter Oscar Zahner testify around 1:02:00, and their testimony lasts about 2 minutes.

Additional articles include Story on blind Iranian student’s success | Q & A with two-time state wrestler, sophomore Jeremy Miyake | Gymnastics competes at the state tournament | Cheer takes 1st place at state | Coverage of the women’s march in Washington state | Q & A with socialist council member Kshama Sawant | Behind the scenes making Les Misérables.

Talisman awarded consecutive Pacemaker award finalist | 2015 | The BHS Journalism Program produces a school newspaper called The Talisman that is award winning and nationally recognized. For the second year in a row the Ballard Talisman was nominated as a Pacemaker finalist in the Tabloid category from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) which is considered the highest honor for a scholastic newspaper in the country. Many consider the Pacemaker award as the high school equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize for professional newspapers. It marks the second Pacemaker nomination in the school’s history. Staff editors submitted 5 issues that judges critiqued based on the following: coverage and content, quality of writing and reporting, leadership on the opinion page, evidence of in-depth reporting, design, photography, art and graphics.

In addition, each year we also have state and national award-winning writers, photographers, artists, designers and reporters—some of whom later earn journalism honors status (all of which are worthy additions to any college application). Former members of our staff include the Washington state journalist of the year, Anna Ferkingstad, a nationally nominated page designer, Evan Bunnage, and a nationally honored arts writer. Staff members compete both at the state and national level in many areas of newspaper production, often while we attend national conventions all over the country.

The Talisman has had students receive story and design of the year nominations from the NSPA. Most recently, graduated managing editor Greta Rainbow’s story, “Teaching the arts,” was nominated for story of the year. She also won third place in the Edward R. Murrow high school competition for her news story, “Vapor Store Opens Steps Away From School.” The Talisman also won first place as the best website at the Murrow competition.

In 2014, the staff received 2nd place in the country for Design of the Year in the NSPA Newsmagazine category. The newspaper, over the last few years, has also placed in the top ten in the best of show competition at two different JEA national conventions.