Best of Best of SNO End of Year Edition

Peaks and valleys. When looking back through the 2022-2023 Best of SNO submissions, that seemed to be the most accurate description of the trending topics.

Among this year’s published stories, we saw plenty of not-so-cheerful subjects, like schools grappling with fentanyl or AI technology in the classroom. But we also saw plenty of uplifting content too, like pieces about student advocacy efforts or pre-pandemic traditions returning to schools and communities.

Before we share a list of standouts, here are a few notable Best of SNO statistics from this year:

• Almost 14,000 stories submitted since September
• Nearly 1,800 articles, videos, podcasts, and photo essays published
• 533 participating schools
• Over 260 Excellence In Writing badges awarded to schools published at least once

With so many great pieces to choose from, picking the final Best of Best of SNO was a difficult task. From the peaks to the valleys and everything in between, these are just a handful of our favorites:

Best Deep Dive

Still fine, by Vanessa Moreno, McHenry High School

Best Opinion Writing

Photography through a racial lens, by Serena Liu, Parkway West High School 

Best Sports Story 

Report highlights impact of wealth inequality on state championships in Connecticut, by Talia Moskowitz, Staples High School 

Best Human Interest Piece

Astrophysicist makes astronomical difference for women in STEM, by Allie Tremulis, Carlmont High School 

Best Topical Coverage 

The best coverage of some of the most popular topics we saw in our inbox this year. 

“Woman, Life, Freedom” Iran Protests 

• “Woman, Life, Freedom”: Thousands demand change in Iran at D.C. protests, by Grace Roddy, Walt Whitman High School 

Title IX 50th Anniversary 

• TITLE IX: Title Written, Story Unfinished, by Hana Barber, St. Mary’s Episcopal School 

War in Ukraine 

• One year later: Russian and Ukrainian students speak on the war’s impact, by Reva Datar and Penelope Biddle, Wayland High School 

Kanye West Sparks Controversy 

• Most Yeezys stay home as students respond to Kanye’s, Kyrie’s antisemitism, by Noah Elad, Shalhevet High School 

Fentanyl Crisis 

• The silent killer, by Angelina Liu, Sri Achanta and Manasa Mohan, Coppell High School 

ChatGPT

• Let’s Chat: GPT, by Heidi Du, Maya Chu and Mrudani Ramkumar, Iowa City West High School 

Best of Colleges

• How a mother’s choice saved her child, by Christa Dutton, Wake Forest University

• Analysis: In case of local prosecutors’ abortion pledge, politics outweighed practicality, by Simon Skoutas, Baldwin Wallace University 

• ‘The nation is watching’: Students lead protests as Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson are expelled, by Katherine Oung, Vanderbilt University 

Best Story Packaging 

Packaging the period plan, by Lauren Chuu, Melody Cui, Avni Gandhi, Taryn Lam, Sarah Liu, Eshika Tiwari, and Sonia Verma, Monta Vista High School 

Best Video 

Video: Money and more-why the majority of Maize teachers have considered leaving education, by Natalie Partridge, Stahley Sears, Spencer Rich and Adrian Sanders, Maize Career Academy 

Best Podcast

Midterms Mayhem Episode 1: Key issues precede upcoming elections, by Ella Yee, Emma Gao and Anika Maji, The Harker Upper School 

Best Photo Essay 

Pink Week 2022 sets standard for fun, fundraising, by McCallum High School Staff 

Best Continuous Coverage 

• LAUSD shuts down schools on first day of union strike, by Satenik Ayrapetyan and Maggie Simonyan, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School 

• SEIU strike ends, tentative deal reached, by Maggie Simonyan, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School 

Best Political Coverage 

Change in leadership: Gen Z runs for public office, by Emily Lynch, Kings High School 

Most Unique Holiday Story  

What is love?, by Claire Creely and Audrey Ghosh, Parkway West High School 

Most Mischievous Critter Coverage 

Raccoons make landfall, by Noah Braun, McCallum High School 

Most Likely to Make the SNO Patrol Feel Old 

Rizz-ults of “rizz” culture, by Chloe De Leon, Woodside High School 

Most Likely to Inspire a Good Deed 

MHSNews | German Class Surprises Senior Student, by Jack Favazza, Marquette High School

Thanks for making 2022-2023 another great year for Best of SNO. We look forward to reviewing your submissions again in the fall!