Outstanding Young Nebraska Journalist

The Outstanding Young Nebraska Journalist Award was created and funded by Zean & Marilyn Carney, former publishers of the Wahoo Newspaper, Waverly News, Ashland Gazette, and David City Banner-Press and Past President of the Nebraska Press Association.

This award is given to nominees from combined weekly and daily newspapers. The nominees must be reporters, editors, photographers, graphic designers, production or advertising professionals who have worked for at least one year with a legal Nebraska newspaper.

A panel of judges appointed by the Executive Director of Nebraska Press Association considers, among other items, the nominee’s professionalism, creativity, comments or statements on goals, impact of their work on print journalism, the community of journalistic excellence.

  • 2023 Cheyenne Rowe, Aurora News-Register
  • 2023 James Murphy, Norfolk Daily News
  • 2022 Shaun Friedrichsen, Alliance Times-Herald
  • 2021 Susan Szuch, North Platte Telegraph (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2021 Lauren Wagner, Norfolk Daily News (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2020 Tyson Agler, Elkhorn Douglas Co. Post-Gazette (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2020 Cole Bauer, Norfolk Daily News (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2020 Tiffany Stoiber, Kearney Hub (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2019 Grant Egger, Washington Co. Pilot-Tribune, Blair – First Place
  • 2019 Nick Gebhart, Norfolk Daily News – Runner-up
  • 2018 Emily Hemphill, Seward Newspaper Group (First Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2018 Samantha Goff, Grant Tribune-Sentinel (Second Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2018 Spike Jordan, Scottsbluff Star-Herald & Derek Noehren, North Platte Telegram (Tied for First Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2017 Ryan Edwards, Kearney Hub (First Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2017 Kamie Stephen, North Platte Telegraph (Second Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2017 Michael Wunder, Waverly News (First Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2017 Samantha Cleveland, Orchard News (Second Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2016 Kyle Cummings, Alliance Times-Herald (First Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2016 Kamie Stephen, North Platte Telegraph (Second Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2016 Tessa Burgener, Aurora News-Register (First Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2016 Mark Vrbicky, Pender Times (Second Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2015 Bethany Rachow, Albion News and Petersburg Press (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2015 Nick Benes, Norfolk Daily News (First Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2015 Scott Koperski, Beatrice Daily Sun (Second Place – Daily Newspaper)
  • 2014 Isaiah May, Norfolk Daily News (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2014 Kris Moody, Sutton Clay Co. News (First Place – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2014 Logan Tuttle, Milford Times & April Refior, Hickman Voice-News (Second Place TIE – Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2013 Chris Dunker, Beatrice Daily Sun (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2013 Erik Dodge, The Waverly News (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2012 Skylar Osovski, Norfolk Daily News (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2012 Crystal Wells, Wausa Gazette (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2011 Vince Kuppig, Hastings Tribune (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2011 Gerri Peterson, Mullen Hooker Co. Tribune (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2011 Chris Rhoades, Enterprise Publishing (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2010 Betsy Friedrich, Kearney Hub (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2010 Mark Mahoney, Hickman Voice News (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2009 Tom Behmer, Norfolk Daily News (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2009 Jenn Lampila, Crete News (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2008 Dane Stickney, Omaha World-Herald (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2008 Charis Ubben, Sutton Clay Co. News (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2007 Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2007 Corbey Dorsey, Cozad Tri-City Tribune (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2006 Brian Christopherson, Lincoln Journal Star (Daily Newspaper)
  • 2006 Kristine Hueftle, Broken Bow Custer County Chief (Weekly Newspaper)
  • 2005 Matthew Hansen, Lincoln Journal Star
  • 2004 Lynn Safranek, Omaha World-Herald
  • 2003 Tony Dreibus, Papillion Times
  • 2002 Kevin Abourezk, Lincoln Journal Star
  • 2001 Anna Henkens, Chadron Record