Crossfire Named 2026 Crown Award Finalist by Columbia Scholastic Press Association

My classmates and I on the student-run newspaper, Crossfire, were thrilled to learn that our publication was announced as a 2026 Crown Award finalist in the Digital News category—one of the most prestigious honors in student journalism—by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA).

The Crown Award is the highest recognition given by the CSPA to a student-run print or digital medium for overall excellence, and is awarded to the top high school and college publications nationwide. Roughly 15,000 entries are submitted for the annual competition. 

Finalists are selected through a rigorous judging process which takes into account the depth and relevance of content, visual appeal, design layout, photography, and grammar and editing. The organization will announce the winners in March.

First launched in 1980, Crossfire is an elective class in which students heighten our shared passion for storytelling by working together to build our website, design and write for our printed newspaper magazine and create related social media content. Over the decades, Crossfire alumni have parlayed their skills into diverse professions, including White House staff members, sports journalists and television writers.

Crossfire has been both a Crown finalist and an award-winner multiple times since the paper’s inception. Most recently, it earned a 2020, Silver Crown and a 2018 Gold Crown. 

Reflecting on last year’s achievement, 2024-25 co-editor-in-chief Eze Schupfer ’25 and current student at Wesleyan shared, “Crossfire was by far the most impactful part of my high school experience. I am endlessly grateful for everything and everyone that Crossfire brought into my life. Winning the Crown Award felt like the perfect way to wrap up what was such a life-changing year being Crossfire’s co-editor-in-chief. My advice to current and future Crossfire students is to throw yourself in headfirst—the more you care, the more you’ll get out of it. ” 

This award is a huge milestone for Crossfire. It gives students a platform to make a real impact on our school community and gives the world a glimpse into the Alley. As a first-year staff writer, what I love most is the breadth of opportunities Crossfire offers, from journalism competitions to field trips visiting newspaper offices. Our teacher, Nicole Loomis, brings in special guest speakers for us to learn from. We pour hours on end into designing, editing and collaborating with each other to create our paper, while learning the ins and outs of newspaper production. 

Talia Boren ’25, last year’s co-editor-in-chief said, "Crossfire helped prepare me for Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism by providing me with an understanding of the Associated Press style, ledes, nut grafs and interview etiquette. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without Crossfire.”