2019 Finalists (Aberdeen) American News Shannon Marvel Arkansas Democrat-Gazette John Moritz Amanda Claire Curcio Celia Storey David Barham Doug Thompson Emily Walkenhorst Eric Besson Gavin Lesnick Ginny Monk Jillian Kremer John Brummett John Deering John Moritz Kat Stromquist Lisa Hammersly Maggie McNeary Michael R. Wickline Mitchell Pe Masilun Nathan Owens Nikki Dawes Philip Martin Ryan Tarinelli Sean Clancy Sports Staff Staff Stephen Steed Tommy Metthe Walter Hussman Arkansas Life Arshia Khan Emma Devine Johnny Carrol Sain Jordan Hickey Katie Bridges Liz Chrisman Nikki Dawes Seth Eli Barlow Wyndham Wyeth Arkansas Traveler -- University of Arkansas Alex Nicoll Andrea Johnson Chase Reavis Raleigh Anderson Traveler Staff dailyiowan.com -- University of Iowa Aadit Tambe Gage Miskimen Katelyn Weisbrod Des Moines Register Matthew Bain DITV -- University of Iowa Kaylyn Kluck FOX23 News Brent Snider Caitlin Huggins Danny Boy O'Connor Ron Terrell Global Sisters Report Dawn Araujo-Hawkins Golf Oklahoma Ken MacLeod GRAND Lifestyle Magazine Jaci Satterlund Patrick Miller Hail Varsity Aaron Babcock Brandon Vogel Eric Francis Mike Babcock Paul Bellinger Quentin Lueninghoener Kansas State Collegian -- Kansas State University Olivia Bergmeier KJRH, Channel 2 Tulsa Sarah Dewberry KTUL Andrejs Dabars Maureen Wurtz Lincoln Journal Star Alex Lantz Cindy Lange-Kubick Francis Gardler Margaret Reist Peter Salter Staff NET Bill Kelly Brian Seifferlein Chad Davis Dennis Kellogg Emily Kreutz Erin Green Grant Gerlock Jim Lenertz Mary Anne Andrei Matthew Hodapp Mike Tobias Ralph Hammack, Jr Werner Althaus Oklahoma Daily -- University of Oklahoma Caitlyn Epes Kayla Branch Oklahoma Today Heidi Jo Mann Oklahoma Watch Jennifer Palmer Omaha Magazine Bill Sitzmann Derek Joy Doug Meigs Joe Pankowski Leo Adam Biga Lindsay Wilson Mady Besch Matt Wieczorek Otis Twelve Sarah Locke William Hess Omaha World-Herald Alia Conley Betsie Freeman Blake Ursch Brendan Sullivan Chris Heady Chris Machian Dirk Chatelain Erin Grace Henry J. Cordes Jeff Bundy Jeff Koterba Jeffrey Robb Jessica Thompson Joe McCarty Kent Sievers Matt Haney Matthew Hansen Micah Mertes Michael Boenhlein Paul Hammel Ryan Soderlin Sarah McCallister Staff Steve Liewer Tom Shatel Sauce Magazine Allyson Mace Carmen Troesser Heather Hughes Meera Nagarajan St. Louis Magazine Emily Cramsey Jeannette Cooperman Staff Tom White St. Louis Post-Dispatch Aisha Sultan Staff Tod Robberson Tony Messenger Sunflower Publishing Amanda Nagengast Bill Stephens Brian Goodman Jenni Leiste Kelly Gibson Leslie Andres Marcus George Nathan Pettengill Nick Krug Sarah Reeves Seth Jones The Curbside Chronicle Matt Goad Nathan Poppe The Daily Iowan -- University of Iowa Gage Miskimen James Year Katelyn Weisbrod Lily Anne Smith Marissa Payne The Daily O'Collegian -- Oklahoma State University Hallie Hart John Helsley The Daily Republic Matt Gade The Gazette -- Langston University Jasmine Mayes The Oklahoman Adam Kemp Berry Tramel Brandy McDonnell Bryan Terry Carla Hinton Chris Casteel Chris Landsberger Darla Slipke Dave Cathey David Dishman David Morris Felicia Murray Jack Money Jacob Unruh Jeff Patterson Jenni Carlson Josh Dulaney Ken Raymond Nolan Clay Randy Ellis Staff Todd Pendleton The Oracle -- Oral Roberts University Josh Crow Sterling Zoe Rubottom The Tulsa Voice Angela Evans Lyndsay Knecht Madeline Crawford The Volante -- University of South Dakota Austin Lammers Leah Dusterhoft Tulsa Kids Magazine Betty Casey Charles Foshee Diane Morrow-Kondos Kristi Roe Owen Natalie Mikles Tara Rittler Tulsa World Andrea Eger Bruce Plante Corey Jones Guerin Emig Ian Maule James Royal James Watts Jimmie Tramel Kyle Margerum Matt Barnard Michael Overall Mike Simons Samantha Vicent Scott Cherry Staff Stephen Pingry Tim Stanley Tom Gilbert Vanessa Pearson Wayne Greene Tulsa World Magazine Scott Cherry University Daily Kansan -- University of Kansas Chandler Boese Shaun Goodwin