NPR Pronounces greatest scholar podcasts : NPR

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From Hawaii to Maryland and from Illinois to Texas, from investigative reporting to in-depth interviews, 1000's of younger individuals have as soon as once more turned their ideas and concepts into audio, and NPR's judges have chosen from them the perfect scholar podcasts in America.

For the seventh yr of the Scholar Podcast Problem, we obtained almost 2,000 entries from 45 states and the District of Columbia. Among the many matters on the minds of center and excessive schoolers this yr had been: AI and its increasing position in school rooms, immigration and its results on their very own communities, and interviews with relations and family members.

Some college students produced extremely journalistic entries: The podcasting membership in a Southern California elementary college reported on how the devastating Palisades Hearth remodeled their group. Two Maryland excessive schoolers investigated the challenges LGBTQ college students face in scouting.

Different college students went all out with creativity, weaving pure sound into their podcasts or scoring their tales with unique music. In Oakland, Calif., a gaggle of fifth graders celebrated their favourite monster, Bigfoot, whereas a younger musician in Cicero, Sick., took listeners together with him as he composed a love music.

As in previous years, our entries spanned the unimaginable vary of backgrounds and experiences of younger individuals in the USA. We heard from city, suburban and rural communities. From college students in private and non-private faculties, and from completely different properties and households.

NPR's training staff spent the final three months listening to all of our entries, and introduced them to our panel of judges. Later this month, we'll announce our two Grand Prize winners, in grades 5 via eight, and 9 via 12.

Along with our 11 center college and 10 highschool finalists, our staff acknowledged 69 standout podcasts for Honorable Point out awards. You'll be able to examine and take heed to them right here.

Thanks once more to all the scholars, and their lecturers, mother and father and sponsors, who participated, and congratulations to our winners.

Beneath are the center and highschool finalists of the 2025 NPR Scholar Podcast Problem, listed in alphabetical order.

Center College Finalists

Mobile Utilization

College students: Saniyah Alam, Aria Palmisano, Anthony Puglise and Elijah Ver Hoven

Trainer: Sasha Freger, Mount Olive Center College, Budd Lake, N.J.

NPR Member station: WNYC, WBGO

At a center college that bans cellphones throughout college hours, college students surprise what it might be like if they may use their telephones: "Ought to we limit apps? Would telephones at lunch trigger issues or wouldn't it ease issues?" They interview their classmates, lecturers, and the vice principal for his or her ideas.

Far From House - Shikata Ga Nai

Scholar: Ameya Desai

Trainer: Melissa Gallo, Williams Elementary College, San Jose, Calif.

NPR Member station: KQED, KAZU, KALW

One sixth grader in San Jose discovers that her dwelling city performed a big position within the internment of Japanese People throughout World Conflict II. Ameya sits down along with her neighbor's 84-year-old grandmother, who was pressured out of California and despatched to an internment camp in Wyoming as a younger lady.

From Right here To There

Scholar: Juliana Nelson

Trainer: Daniel Lago, Casa Ranch Montessori, Miramar, Fla.

NPR Member station: WLRN

"Comply with me as I speak about transferring from right here to there." By means of conversations with pals, lecturers and household, center schooler Juliana displays on what it was like when her household moved distant from her Maryland dwelling, to Florida.

Thoughts and Machine - AI Magical Maker or Machine Menace!

Scholar: Benjamin Shimano

Trainer: Jenny Chio, Presidio Center College, San Francisco, Calif.

NPR Member station: KQED, KALW

"Is AI a magical maker or a machine menace?," a center schooler in San Francisco asks in his podcast. Benjamin talks to individuals in numerous professions about how they use AI of their work, and explores the difficult emotions they've about generative AI.

Combined Voices

College students: Abby Dutra and Oryan Navarrete

Trainer: Rebecca Carnahan, Excessive Tech Center Media Arts, San Diego, Calif.

NPR Member station: KPBS

How are you going to study and maintain on to your tradition if you come from a number of distinct backgrounds? Two excessive schoolers focus on the challenges – and the fun – of rising up in a multiracial household.

Monster Insanity

College students: Ryan Betts-Ng and Marshall Betts-Ng

Trainer: Lyndsay Schaeffer, Mills Faculty Youngsters's College, Oakland, Calif.

NPR Member station: KQED, KALW

Utilizing inventive sound results, Ryan and Marshall share their analysis on none apart from … bigfoot! Are the creatures actual? What will we make of current sightings in Washington State? Nicely, take heed to Monster Insanity for his or her findings.

Neglected

Scholar: Grant Haubenreich

Trainer: Emily Deegan, Pembroke Hill College, Kansas Metropolis, Mo.

NPR Member station: KCUR

Immigration has been a contentious matter within the information these days, however sixth grader Grant felt like he barely knew his family's immigration story. So he sat down together with his mother, an immigration lawyer, and grandma, who immigrated to the U.S. from Iran.

Rising From The Ashes

College students: Henry Snyder, Itzel Mas, Kenley Taylor, Lucy Luria, Molly Ward, Olivia Christensen, Quinn David, Remy Gunn, Sadie Boyle, Sophie Weenig, Vivi Oziel, Cian Lawlor, Eivan Wheyland, Eliana Bentley, Elin Lough, Everly Dudley, Gabby De Sa, Lincoln Hern, Noah Rivera, Cruz Bradshaw, Jimmy Beaman, Mirabel Madson, Nora Haslam and Rowan Jendrusina

Trainer: Andrew Luria, MagTV at Magnolia Elementary College, Carlsbad, Calif.

NPR Member station: KPBS, KCLU

An elementary college broadcasting membership in Southern California paperwork the aftermath of the Palisades Fires, and spotlights the hope, kindness and group that may rise from the ashes of tragedy.

Russian-Ukrainian Conflict

College students: Anastasiia Koshyk and Ashley Yang

Trainer: Alysson Olsen, Irving A. Robbins Center College, Farmington, Conn.

NPR Member station: Connecticut Public, WSHU, NEPM, WAMC

From two scholar journalists in Connecticut, this Russian-Ukrainian Conflict podcast discusses the historical past and impression of the warfare via conversations with individuals at present dwelling in Ukraine.

The Anti Conformist Information to Conforming

College students: Kinsley Glassel and Wynnona Mattison

Trainer: Gina Luber, Rocky Heights Center College, Lone Tree, Colo.

NPR Member station: Colorado Public Radio

"Are you raging to insurgent?" On this how-to podcast, youngsters Kinsley and Wynnona educate you "tips on how to conform in probably the most non-conformist means potential." That is tips on how to mix in, whereas nonetheless being simply completely different sufficient.

What makes trainer?

College students: Vedika Shivi Patel and Maya Shah

Trainer: Jill Stedronsky, William Annin Center College, Basking Ridge, N.J.

NPR Member station: WNYC, WBGO

What actually makes trainer? An excellent diploma or certification? Extra years of expertise? Two center schoolers in New Jersey survey their classmates, and ask their favourite lecturers how they get the job accomplished.

Excessive College Finalists

Discovering the One

Scholar: Ayah Al-Masyabi

Trainer: Anne Hellman, Branson College On-line, Branson, Colo.

NPR Member station: KENW

Ayah (a former center college finalist) paperwork her journey to discovering the best remedy for psychological well being. However after physician's appointment after physician's appointment, the excessive schooler learns that "discovering the one" is tougher than she may've ever imagined.

It Took A Conflict To Make Us Ukrainian

Scholar: Maya Ellenbogen

Trainer: Mary Wiltenburg, Pals College of Baltimore, Baltimore, Md.

NPR Member station: WYPR

Rising up, Maya would watch her mother and grandmother introduce themselves as Russian immigrants, as a result of it felt pointless and too difficult to elucidate their Ukrainian heritage. However that modified in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. In her podcast, the highschool senior grapples along with her household's historical past and questions her personal nationwide identification.

Kindness Served One Cup at a Time

Scholar: Lily Boyum, Naomi Jeske, Kate Ruane and Maddie Margulis-Ohnuma

Trainer: Molly Earle, Edgemont Jr./Sr. Excessive College, Scarsdale, N.Y.

NPR Member station: WNYC, WFUV, WBGO, Connecticut Public, WSHU

In a comfy espresso store within the suburbs of New York, 4 excessive schoolers study what they'll do to make their group a extra inclusive, welcoming place for disabled individuals. They sit down with workers and the proprietor of Sleepy Espresso, a office that is dedicated to hiring and coaching individuals with mental or developmental disabilities.

Making Frybread - A Historical past

Scholar: Kimimila Beetso

Trainer: Mariah Driggs, Horizon Honors Secondary College, Phoenix, Az.NPR Member station: KJZZ

For a lot of Native households, frybread serves as a connection between generations, and a meals that brings individuals collectively. On this podcast, Mariah discusses its historic and cultural significance and asks her grandmother, who was born and raised on the Navajo reservation, to prepare dinner up some frybread and share her recollections.

Queer Scouts

College students: June Kepka and Lark Jeffers

Trainer: Montgomery Blair Excessive College, Silver Spring, Md.

NPR Member station: WAMU

In Queer Scouts, two pals in Maryland discover the intersection between scouting and the LGBTQ group. They interview transgender classmates on how they're making an attempt to create space, however struggling throughout the constraints of Lady Scouts.

Actual Voices, Actual Tales

College students: Anna Myers and Jimin Park

Trainer: Andy Arellano, New Tech Excessive @ Coppell, Coppell, Texas

NPR Member station: KERA

"A straight white man who's both non-verbal or a genius … like Sheldon from 'The Massive Bang Idea.'" Excessive schooler Anna desires everybody to know that that is not the one means autism presents itself. In an interview along with her good friend, Anna explores the vary of experiences and coverings autistic individuals undergo.

One thing Stunning

Scholar: David Reyes

Trainer: Joel Ruvalcaba, Morton East Excessive College, Cicero, Sick.

NPR Member station: WBEZ, Illinois Public Media, WBAA

"Once we're older and you have grown up, will we nonetheless be pals?" That is the musical query that David, a excessive schooler in Illinois, asks as he performs his guitar and sings in his podcast. He shares his love of music and walks listeners via how he composed his love music, "Grown Up."

Fighting A Cleft Palate

Scholar: Owyn Aaberg

Trainer: Clare Miller, Delta Excessive College, Richland, Wash.

NPR Member station: Northwest Public Broadcasting

Excessive schooler Owyn was born with a bilateral cleft palate, a facial deformity that not solely introduced challenges for him but additionally his mother. Owyn interviews her about what it was like studying about his situation, and the way she made the tough determination to have him and proceed to assist him.

The Issues We Buried

Scholar: Avani Yaltho

Trainer: Timothy Nesser, St. Agnes Academy, Houston, Texas

NPR Member station: Houston Public Media

Increased schooler Avani grew up listening to numerous tales about her grandparents' village in Kerala, India. However by the point she bought older and visited her household's hometown, a lot had already modified. In The Issues We Buried, the excessive schooler discusses the sense of loss that comes with dropping a model of dwelling.

Waves & Knowledge

College students: Wyatt Brantaus, Jett Jarrett, Jenna Nguyen, Emi Nishimura, Maximos Spheeris and Emma Wittig

Trainer: Kathy Shigemura, Kalaheo Excessive College, Kailua, Hawaii

NPR Member station: Hawaii Public Radio

What makes it price dwelling in Hawaii? A gaggle of excessive schoolers report on the excessive monetary price of dwelling on the islands. They interview their lecturers and group members on the tradition and connection to the land that retains them there.

Thanks once more to college students, lecturers and educators for being part of our annual contest! Please share your expertise, ship us images and provides us suggestions at studentpodcastchcallenge@npr.org.