Central and Hillcrest media students earn awards at media competition

Central and Hillcrest High School media students competed against more than 300 students from five different states to earn awards at the annual 4-State Media Competition, held at Missouri State University Nov. 7-9, 2025. The Central media team won overall by securing the Varsity Sweepstakes with the most points of any school, and placed second in the Novice Sweepstakes. The Hillcrest media team won the Novice Sweepstakes with the most points overall in Novice contests.

 

 

Central High School Awards:

Sweepstakes (Varsity):  First Place: Central High School (Best overall winner)

Sweepstakes (Novice):  Second Place: Central High School

PSA (Novice):  First Place: Brian Hayes, Abbott Schmidtt, Devin Steinle  

Roving Reporter (Novice):  First Place: Abbott Schmidt, Brian Hayes, Emma Gugliotta, Mia McClanahan     

5-Second Film (Novice):  First Place: Liam Nelson, Amayia Tamayo, Mia McClanahan    

Anchor Teams (Novice):  First Place: Noah Hudson, Nathaniel Green, Berlyn Hartel

Cinematography Challenge (Varsity):  First Place: Alex Trieu, Emily Neal, Camilla Lu, Sage Thieman

76 Hour 90-Second Silent Film (Varsity): First Place: Alyssa Keller, Alyssa Shamblin, Camilla Lu, Sicily Aucoin, Soap Johnson, Victoria Li

Humorous Segment (Varsity): Second Place: Rosie Killingsworth, Reese Smith, Beck Bauer, and Millie Hawkins

Roving Reporter (Varsity):  First Place: Beck Bauer, Emily Neal, Sage Thieman, Alex Trieu

Short Film (Varsity):  First Place: Holton Carson, Alina Neal, Edie Ferguson, Soap Johnson, Grant Pickett

Commentary (Varsity): Second Place: Rosie Killingsworth, Reese Smith, Millie Hawkins, and David McDowell

Backpack Journalist (Varsity): Second Place: Luis Tomayo

Anchor Team (Varsity): Third Place: Holton Carson, Max Brown, Siena Wilson, Edie Ferguson

5-Second Film (Varsity):

First Place: Lily Bartlett, Adelaide Trumble, Soap Johnson, Camilla Lu

          Third Place: Emily Neal, Beck Bauer, Sage Thieman, Alex Trieu

Podcast Interview (Varsity): First Place: Rosie Killingsworth, Reese Smith

Sports Commentary (Varsity): Second Place: Camilla Lu, David McDowell, Cora Pierson

Music Video (Varsity): First Place: Lily Bartlett, Siena Wilson, Adelaide Trumble, Max Brown, Alyssa Keller, Alyssa Shamblin

Early Bird Madness: First Place: Central High School: Central Intelligence Staff

PSA (Varsity): Second Place: Malachi Paasch, Ryan Ward, Emily Hernandez, Gentry Goode

76-Hour Podcast (Varsity): Second Place: Rosie Killingsworth and Reese Smith

 

 

Hillcrest High School Awards:

Sweepstakes (Novice):  First Place: Hillcrest High School

Sweepstakes (Varsity):  Second Place: Hillcrest High School

Best of Show:  Piersyn Ray

PSA (Novice):  Second Place: Clara Beauchamp and Jonna Caldwell      

Edit the Package (Novice):

    First Place: Jonna Caldwell, Clara Beauchamp

    Second Place: LillyAnne Dennis, Evee Kaczynski 

Edit the Package (Varsity):  Second Place: Talon Wells

Movie Trailer (Novice):  First Place: Jayden Bedell, Hayley Dunn, Jayven Jones, Sheena Lin        

60-Second Silent Film (Novice):  First Place: Clara Beauchamp, Jonna Caldwell, Clara Dameron         

Anchor Teams (Novice):  Second Place: Haley Dunn, Clara Dameron, Nicolette Guavis

76 Hour Broadcast Story (Varsity):  First place: Melody Rea and Evelyn Montague

Commentary (Varsity): Third Place: Piper Lee, Piersyn Ray, Jorja Parlette, and Hydee Pyle

Backpack Journalist (Varsity):

    First Place: Pierson Ray

    Third Place: Hydee Pyle

Solo Anchor (Varsity): Second Place: Ella Kroll

Anchor Team (Varsity): First Place: Lyric Scott, Ella Kroll, Talon Wells, Maddex Denney

Sports Commentary (Varsity): First Place: Jayden Brown, Jackson Miller, Kyrese Simpson

Music Video (Varsity): Second Place: Alyssa Brison, Baylan Vaughn, Colton O'Neil, Jorja Parlette

PSA (Varsity):  First Place: Kindness in the Community Alyssa Brison and Evelyn Montague