Originally published on NPR – July 31, 2023
Here are the honorable mentions from the 2023 Student Podcast Challenge. Listen to our middle school grand prize winners here; high school grand prize winner here; and the best mental health podcast prize winner here.
Congrats everyone! Hope to hear from you again in 2024!
Middle School
#LookontheBrightside – North Rock Creek Public School, Shawnee, Okla.
13 Going On COVID-19 – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.
A Fortnight In Fortnite – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.
A Surprising History Of School Lunches – Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena, Calif.
A Taste Of Waste – The Clinton School, New York, N.Y.
Abi & Angelica’s Podcast – Irvington Middle School, Irvington, N.Y.
American Revolution What-Ifs– Bayside Middle School, Milwaukee, Wis.
Back In Your Day– Edmunds Middle School, Burlington, Vt.
Bye Bye Chameleon – Princeton Middle School, Princeton, N.J.
Chicago Cubs players who need improvement– Kendall Elementary School, Naperville, Ill.
Chicken Finger – Lynbrook South Middle School, New York, N.Y.
Classical Music: Stereotypes and Solutions– DeWitt Middle School, Ithaca, N.Y.
Cringe Culture is Cringe – The Awty International School, Houston, Texas
Dress Coded – The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
Dress Codes – Lincoln School, Providence, R.I.
Expectations– Essex Middle School, Essex Junction, Vt.
Exploring Taiwan with your palate– Pierrepont School, Westport, Conn.
Family Style – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.
Flowing Through Time: The Past, Present, And Future Of Water– Peak Academy, Bozeman, Mont.
Final Podcast – The Nueva School, Hillsborough, Calif.
Fires: Set Ablaze – Chautauqua Elementary School, Vashon, Wash.
Food Story: Instant Ramen– San Francisco Day School, San Francisco, Calif.
Funding Colorado Schools – Park Elementary, Durango, Colo.
Gender Equality in Women’s Hockey– Irving A. Robbins Middle School, Farmington, Conn.
Girls Gone Mental– Ardmore High School, Ardmore, Ala.
Graffiti And Mural Art – The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
GT Fire Final – Georgetown School, Georgetown, Calif.
Turbans Are Not Terrorists – Princeton Day School, Princeton, N.J.
Hijab Pride, Hijab Hide – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.
How Does Social Media Impact Teens? – Ames Middle School, Ames, Iowa
I am American – Pierrepont School, Westport, Conn.
Ice Cream Madness – Lake Tahoe School, Incline Village, Nev.
Journey to Enlightenment – Burnsville School, Burnsville, Miss.
Kids On Covid – The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
Kyle’s Grandma’s Story of the Korean War – John Sinnott Elementary School, Milpitas, Calif.
LGBTQIAndCommunity – The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
Living a Full Life – Zeeland Christian School, Zeeland, Mich.
Loser Podcast – Iron Horse Middle School, San Ramon, Calif.
Managing Mental Health Student Podcast – Woodford County Middle School, Versailles, Ky.
Mental Health Podcast– Mannion Middle School, Henderson, Nev.
More Lunchtime!– Victor Intermediate School, Victor, N.Y.
Mother Tongue – Pierrepont School, Westport, Conn.
My Beautiful Stutter– Winston Preparatory School, New York, N.Y.
My Grandpa Vs. The 1956 Revolution– Olympic Hills Elementary, Seattle, Wash.
My Grandfathers’ Story– Lynbrook South Middle School, New York, N.Y.
My Story – Burnsville School, Burnsville, Miss.
NEMJDS Turandot NPR Contest – NEMJDS, Birmingham, Ala.
NPR Podcast Competition 2023 – Tessellations School, Cupertino, Calif.
NPR Student Podcast – High Point Academy, Pasadena, Calif.
Pantsed – Larchmont Charter Selma Campus, Los Angeles, Calif.
Passing Time In Between Classes – Mount Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, N.J.
Pickles vs Corn – Acton Academy of Bergen County, Closter, N.J.
Podcastjulietacamarynhailey– Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, Clearwater, Fla.
Popularity– Swift Creek Middle School, Midlothian, Va.
Pteranodon vs. Fighter Jet – Clearwater Fundamental Middle School, Clearwater, Fla.
Read Banned Books – The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
Refugee Podcast – University School Of Nashville, Nashville, Tenn.
Reviews Are For Readers– Seattle Country Day School, Seattle, Wash.
School Leisure Time – Mount Olive Middle School, Budd Lake, N.J.
School vs Home – Mickelson Middle School, Brookings, S.D.
Shiba Podcast – Lake Tahoe School, Incline Village, Nev.
Should there be two teachers in a classroom? – Weddington High School, Matthews, N.C.
SMS Podcast: How Do Car Engines Work?– St. Michael’s School, Poway, Calif.
Talk with us – Saint Pius V Catholic School, Buena Park, Calif.
Teachers Need a Salary Increase – John F. Kennedy Middle School, Cupertino, Calif.
Teenage Daydream– Burnsville School, Burnsville, Miss.
The Black Plague – Swift Creek Middle School, Midlothian, Va.
The Corner We Come From – Burnsville School, Burnsville, Miss.
The Dark Side Of Gymnastics – The Clinton School, New York, N.Y.
The Grinders of 6th Grade Bip– Charles N Holden Elementary School, Chicago, Ill.
The Impact of Damar Hamlin – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.
The Willow Project – Essex Middle School, Essex Junction, Vt.
The Questionnaire– Acton Academy of Bergen County, Closter, N.J.
Think About It! Homework– Swift Creek Middle School, Midlothian, Va.
This is Your Brain on Self-Paced learning– Noe Middle School, Louisville, Ky.
Tragedy Podcast– Enumclaw Middle School, Enumclaw, Wash.
Tree Octopus – Ames Middle School, Ames, Iowa
Turning On Our Mics – Alabama Virtual Academy, Eufaula, Ala.
Under the Rainbow– Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena, Calif.
Unearthing Sexism – ATLAS Middle School, New Haven, Conn.
Unfair School Expectations – Gold Trail School, Placerville, Calif.
Viridian – Twelve Corners Middle School, Rochester, N.Y.
What About Plants? – Brookwood Elementary School, Dalton, Ga.
What Does It Mean To Be Healthy– The Learning Community School, Swannanoa, N.C.
We (Heart) Our New New Yorkers – PS 163 Alfred E. Smith School, New York, N.Y.
What IS Justice? – King Phillip Middle School, Hartford, Conn.
What is leadership? – Evergreen School, Shoreline, Wash.
What Makes A Great Friend – Pine Bush Elementary School, Schenectady, N.Y.
Why Culvers is the best– Pecatonica Area School District, Blanchardville, Wis.
Why Middle Schoolers Act The Way They Act – Ross Middle School, Hamilton, Ohio
High School
A Journeyman’s Journey – Bard High School Early College, New York, N.Y.
A Missing Piece – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
All About Teenage Love – Kauai High School, Lihue, Hawaii
An Interview with June Carryl– Bresee Youth Foundation, Los Angeles, Calif.
Are You Listening?– The Bush School, Seattle, Wash.
Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler?– Morgan County High School, West Liberty, Ky.
A Tiny Museum with a Huge Impact– The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
B4 English Podcast – Forgotten History– Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Basi Festival ZMF– Sitka School District, Sitka, Alaska
Been Brown, Done That – The Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable – Kauai High School, Lihue, Hawaii
Belonging Beyond Borders – York Community High School, Elmhurst, Ill.
Black Hair Why Its None Of Your Business– Robert G Cole High School, San Antonio, Texas
Body Image, Bear Pod– Berkley High School, Berkeley, Mich.
Bound for Glory– Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Full Day, Hartford. Conn.
Challenges of Sibling Relationships– Newton South High School, Newton Centre, Mass.
Changing Shells– The Dalton Academy, Dalton, Ga.
Charlotte Country Day Motivational Men – Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, N.C.
Cleveland Consolidation Revisited – Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
Daring Or Caring – The Portrayals Of Femininity In Young Adult Literature – Jericho High School, Jericho, N.Y.
Dear Future Me– Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dear Yahir– Lexington High School, Lexington, Neb.
Devastation of Gentrification – Hoover High School, San Diego, Calif.
Did You Know? Weird Facts About Our Founding Fathers– Effingham College and Career Academy, Rincon, Ga.
Discomfort Food – Mercer Island High School, Mercer Island, Wash.
Discussion on Child Abuse – Fellowship Baptist Academy, Carson City, Mo.
E Malmborg– Weber High School, Ogden, Utah
Empty Cup – Dalton Junior High School, Dalton, Ga.
Endangered Sounds Podcast– Southern High School, Harwood, Md.
English Podcast – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Experience of Education– Pompano Beach High School, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Facade Of Ivy Leagues – West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, Plainsboro, N.J.
Facing My Truth: How Anti-Asian Rhetoric is Embedded in the American Upbringing– The Nightingale Bamford School, New York, N.Y.
Fantasy Crime – A Parody of True Crime Podcasts – Kamiakin High School, Kennewick, Wash.
Finished Podcast– Homewood High School, Homewood, Ala.
Food and Culture Podcast– The Hewitt School, New York, N.Y.
For Preston – Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.
Generation Differences In Dating– Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.
Hattiesburg’s Sewer Woes – The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
HER: The Podcast – Upper Merion High School, King of Prussia, Pa.
High School POV on School Shootings – Desert Garden Montessori, Phoenix, Ariz.
High School Social Hierarchy– Robert G Cole High School, San Antonio, Texas
How to Survive High School – Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
I Plant– Weber High School, Ogden, Utah
Jackson Heights: Threats of Gentrification Interwoven into a Bustling Neighborhood– Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Japan Festival Boston Podcast – Milton Academy, Milton, Mass.
Just Some Trash Talk? – Buffalo Grove High School, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Laughing Through The Struggle – Milton Academy, Milton, Mass.
Laurel Legacy – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Leaders and Tough Questions– Mississippi School for Math and Science, Columbus, Miss.
Leo: NPR Podcast Contest 2023– LEAF Charter School, Alstead, N.H.
Life Inside The Green Band Tents – Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, Wash.
Lost In Expectations: The Struggles Of Indian Youth– Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Luciana Masoni Podcast– The Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Ly Podcast– AmTech Career Academy, Amarillo, Texas
Male High School Athletes Don’t Cry – Central Union High School, El Centro, Calif.
ManyaPodcastOnFaithAndFunbotics– Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Va.
Mass Exodus – Newton South High School, Newton Centre, Mass.
Multiplied by a Million– The Walker School, North Marietta, Ga.
Murder: After Dark– Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
My America– Tennessee High School, Bristol, Tenn.
My Ao Dai– St. Francis High School, Mountain View, Calif.
Navigating Female Friendships– Montrose School, Medfield, Mass.
Not Gun Control– PrepNet Virtual Academy, Grand Rapids, Mich.
NPR Podcast Project– Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Nuclear Proliferation – NYC iSchool, New York, N.Y.
Obsessive – Rampart High School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Opening Up is Manning Up – Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Va.
Parental Penalties– New Hampton School, New Hampton, N.H.
Peculiar Past Podcast – Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Perception In Color – Newton South High School, Newton Centre, Mass.
Police Brutality– Trumbull Career & Technical Center, Warren, Ohio
Pregnancy at a Young Age– J Sterling Morton East High School, Cicero, Ill.
Reaching Out To An Outreach – Achievement First University Prep High School, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Redefining the Boundaries of the Human Body– The Potomac School, McLean, Va.
Save The Drama For Your Llama– Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Secrets In The Sky – Ben Lacher’s Story – Alliance High School, Alliance, Ohio
Skunktastic Tale– Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.
Stuck Behind Bars: The Injustice of the Dysfunctional Bail System– Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Sports Podcast Final– Carmel High School, Carmel, Calif.
SUPERwomens Podcast– Homewood High School, Homewood, Ala.
Table Talk – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Tainted Land – Perry High School, Massillon, Ohio
Talk the Talk– The Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Teenager’s Take On Taxes– Kauai High School, Lihue, Hawaii
Teen Evolution – Capital High School, Helena, Mont.
Testosterone, Estrogen and American Legislation – Carmel High School, Carmel, Calif.
The Battle for Educational Access: The Impact of YouTube Restrictions on High School Learning – Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, Calif.
The Darker Side of Volunteering – Canyon Crest Academy, San Diego, Calif.
The Drama of Drama– Carmel High School, Carmel, Calif.
The Feminist History of Barbie– Greater Hartford Academy of the Art, Hartford, Conn.
The Guest User– Stanford Online High School, Redwood City, Calif.
The Heralds of Life, Love, and Creation – Shaler Area High School, Pittsburgh, Penn.
The Last of You – J Sterling Morton West High School, Berwyn, Ill.
The Locket– Louisville Collegiate School, Louisville, Ky.
The Magic of Putting Myself First – Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Mo.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis – Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, Colo.
The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teens – Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.
The Perfect Romance Novel– Albuquerque Academy, Albuquerque, N.M.
The Problem With The American School System – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
The Second Shift – West Covina High School, West Covina, Calif.
The Senior Song Debate: Navigating School Spirit and Social Responsibility – Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, Calif.
The State Line Mob – The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
The Will of the Unconscious Mind – Sheyenne High School, West Fargo, N.D.
Things that Don’t Make Sense – Fontbonne Hall Academy, Brooklyn, N.Y.
TikTok is a Problem – Robert G Cole High School, San Antonio, Texas
Toxic Masculinity!– Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
Unsung Lyrics– Carmel High School, Carmel, Calif.
VIDEO – 2023-04-25-01-51-49– Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School, Scarsdale, N.Y.
Violet Migration Podcast– Open World Learning, Saint Paul, Minn.
VK Baller Podcast: Specialist vs. Swiss Army Knife– Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Washed Away– Morgan County High School, West Liberty, Ky.
We Need Rap– Oyler Community Learning Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
What Even Is Confidence?– The Bush School, Seattle, Wash.
What is a woman? – Kauai High School, Lihue, Hawaii
What Is Home? – The Bush School, Seattle, Wash.
What Makes a Suburb a Good Place to Live?– The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
What We Are and What We Were – Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
When We See Ourselves– Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, Ill.
Why Are You So Distracted?– Herbert Hoover High School, San Diego, Calif.
Why Is Dance So Important To Me?– The Bush School, Seattle, Wash.
Wintle And Chippa – Weber High School, Ogden, Utah
Woolly Mammoth Meatballs– Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Xavier Podcast – AmTech Career Academy, Amarillo, Texas
Yin Yang – Yerba Buena High School, San Jose, Calif.
Your Mom Added Me On Snapchat– The Morris County School of Technology, Denville, N.J.
Zoe’s Podcast– Tennessee High School, Bristol, Tenn.
Learn more about Alabama Virtual Academy, at https://alva.k12.com/.
