What makes Michigan the very best state ever? How is dating in high school nowadays various from an earlier generation? Why is everybody in New york city City unbothered by the noise of sirens?
These are simply a handful of the lots of concerns raised– and addressed– by countless middle and high school trainees around the nation who got in NPR’s 5th yearly Trainee Podcast Obstacle
This year, we got more than 3,300 entries, from 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It’s a huge dive over in 2015, and the most entries we have actually gotten considering that we started the contest started back in 2019!
The NPR Ed group has actually invested weeks listening to, painful over, and evaluating their work. And at long last, we’re thrilled to share our 13 intermediate school and 13 high school finalists From these impressive podcasts, our judges will select one intermediate school and one high school Grand Reward winner.
It’s the 5th anniversary of the Trainee Podcast Obstacle: Possibly you, dear instructor, have actually stuck with us considering that the early days of the pandemic. Or, you just recently started listening to– and teaching about– podcasting, and found our contest. In either case, we have actually delighted in hearing from your trainees, and the stories they have actually brought us. So thank you all for sticking to us. We intend to speak with you once again next year!
Below are our 13 intermediate school and 13 high school finalist podcasts, noted in alphabetical order. Congratulations!
Material caution: Some podcasts on this list handle delicate subjects, consisting of injury and school shootings.
Intermediate School
Everything about Tourette’s Syndrome— Victor Middle School, Victor, N.Y.
Trainee: Tyler Picard, Eva Cherpel, Zach Pallifrone and Andrew Noeson
Teacher/Sponsor: Amy Smith-Faczan
4 schoolmates share the story of their good friend who has Tourette Syndrome. Their podcast notifies listeners how the condition can impact trainee life– and how to be a buddy to somebody who has it.
Amelia’s Storytelling— Hawkins STEMM Academy, Toledo, Ohio
Trainee: Amelia Hankinson
Teacher/Sponsor: Rodney West-Estell
In this wonderful first-person podcast, Amelia pictures what it resembles to be the quickest individual in her class. In her imaginary story, she attempts almost whatever in an effort to alter that, from consuming garlic to extending and grabbing her toes.
An Attack On Our Future— Compass Neighborhood Collaborative School, Fort Collins, Colo.
Trainees: Cole Anderson, Iris Beachy-Quick and Julia Walkowiak
Teacher/Sponsor: Allison Horsch
To much better comprehend the enduring effect of school shootings, 3 trainees talk to a member of their neighborhood in Colorado who made it through the Columbine massacre in 1999.
Diligent Consumerism— DeWitt Intermediate School, Ithaca, N.Y.
Trainee: Corallus Meeks
Teacher/Sponsor: Rosina Belcourt
Born and raised on a little household farm, Corallus understands a thing or 2 about processed meats. Her podcast checks out the principles of where our food originates from, and about the food options we make: “By our easy modifications in food options, we can make a substantial effect in our farming system and make it another action towards a more ethical world.”
DalyanAgcaNPRPodcast— Maret School, Washington, D.C.
Trainee: Dalyan Agca
Teacher/Sponsor: Senay Agca
This podcast asks, “Do you enjoy symphonic music … and your family pets? If so, keep listening!” Dalyan strolls us through how some popular classical pieces were affected by the authors’ felines and pet dogs. “And, you never ever understand,” Dalyan informs us, “possibly your animal will be the motivation of your next piece.”
Hawaii Innocence Task— Highlands Middle School, Pearl City, Hawaii
Trainees: Brynna Colmenares and Emma Forges
Teacher/Sponsor: Kelli Kajiwara
2 middle schoolers from Hawaii present the origin story of the Hawaii Innocence Task, and take a look at the legal non-profit’s efforts to complimentary mistakenly founded guilty prisoners in their state.
J&D Podcast— Millburn Intermediate School, Millburn, N.J.
Trainees: Jhanvi Wong and Devin Wong
Teacher/Sponsor: Emily Surman
How do we actually determine the effect that phones and social networks have on the lives of youths? These brother or sisters put this long-running concern to the test, when Jhanvi quits her phone for a week, while Devin observes. The very first day begins with a battle: “I’m attempting so hard not to think of my phone. I in some cases grab it, believing it’s to the side of me. I actually desire my phone back.” After that, the bro and sibling duo discover some unexpected lessons.
NWEY Middle Schools Now— Presidio Intermediate School, San Francisco
Trainees: Norah Weiner and Erika Young
Teacher/Sponsor: Jenny Chio
Intermediate school isn’t rather what it utilized to be. The consistent danger of weapon violence; extensive issues about psychological health; Instagram and TikTok. As this podcast notes, instructors in an earlier time didn’t shop feline litter in their class, in case a lockdown requires them to develop a do it yourself restroom. And after that, there are the pressures to adhere that social networks brings. For much better and for even worse, Norah and Erika conclude, intermediate school has actually altered in extensive methods.
Self Care Excitement— Charles N Holden Primary School, Chicago
Trainees: Leslie Herrera-Godinez and Etta Nevius
Teacher/Sponsor: Mark Stickler
Leslie and Etta go on a journey of self-care discovery: They invest 5 days attempting various methods that will help in reducing tension: consisting of checking out books, baking, listening to music, and sleeping. Through their experiment, the 2 middle-schoolers discover that looking after yourself can look various for everybody.
Tales of Humiliation— Charles N. Holden Primary School, Chicago
Trainee: Maisey Marshall
Teacher/Sponsor: Mark Stickler
Everybody has those cringe-worthy minutes– for Maisey, it’s the memory of needing to get up in front of the entire class and excuse a temper tantrum. Along the method, this trainee gets some schoolmates, and instructors, to review their humiliating stories, as a method of exploring what we can all gain from such minutes.
Undocumented— Seward Communications Arts Academy, Chicago
Trainees: Anian Andrade, Carlos Morales and Gabriel Mendez
Teacher/Sponsor: Greg Michie
3 8th graders from Chicago set out to inform the stories of undocumented youths from their neighborhood. Part of a three-part series, this episode includes an intimate discussion with Luna, a high school trainee who immigrated from Mexico at an extremely young age.
We The Trainees— Luria Academy of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Trainee: Mia Tweel
Teacher/Sponsor: Chiara Cafiero
How can you enjoy democracy after losing an election? Mia, a middle-schooler in Brooklyn, asks this concern– through a new trainee federal government.
Women Life Liberty— The Northwest School, Seattle
Trainee: Nina Goldin
Teacher/Sponsor: Susan Fine
Fourteen-year-old Nina informs the history of the very first women-led transformation in Iran, and asks listeners to provide it their attention and assistance.
High School
Bulletproof— After School Matters, Chicago
Trainee: Natalie Martinez
Teacher/Sponsor: After School Matters
Natalie informs the scary story of being at a Chicago shopping mall throughout a mass shooting in 2022. “When I heard 6 gunshots and went to the back of the shop, all of a sudden I felt horrified, aghast, and scared. While I was sitting and sobbing, I called my pals and household, informing them I’ll miss out on and enjoy them to the moon and back, due to the fact that I believed I was going to pass away.” The high schooler talks about how she endured this fatal occurrence, and interviews a Chicago law enforcement officer for guidance on what to do in these scenarios.
Splitting the Nutcracker: Balancing Custom with Development— University of Chicago Lab Schools, Chicago
Trainees: Kriti Sarav and Sarina Zhao
Teacher/Sponsor: Menaka Sarav
A precious vacation ballet, The Nutcracker showcases a variety of culturally-inspired dances. 2 high schoolers in Chicago challenge a few of the out-of-date elements of the program and take a look at how a dance business in their city is improving the classical ballet.
Dealing With Fentanyl: An Expedition of the Opioid Crisis in our County— Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Md.
Trainees: Caroline Bathon, Maxwell Erlebacher and Lili Miller
Teacher/Sponsor: Sarah Forman
A school district in Maryland is dealing with a lethal crisis– from fentanyl. 3 trainees report by themselves experiences, and those of their schoolmates: the worry, injury, and loss. They likewise talk to school authorities to report on the policies being executed to handle the rise in overdoses.
Sorrow and the Power of Art— Cypress Woods High School, Cypress, Texas
Trainee: Cameron Wallace
Teacher/Sponsor: Lori Andrade
Cameron talks about the interconnected nature of art and sorrow, how art-making can assist us overcome unfavorable sensations and even bring individuals together.
How The Jackson Water Crisis Impacts Education— Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, Columbus, Miss.
Trainee: Georgianna McKenny
Teacher/Sponsor: Thomas Easterling
Media protection of the water-quality crisis previously this year in Jackson, Miss., has actually concentrated on the blame video game. Whose fault was it? As typical, while the “grownups” argued, the trainees of Jackson had a hard time to cope. Georgianna informs the story, in part, through the experience of her cousin, Mariah, who just recently participated in Jackson Public Schools: “Mariah begins her day by going to the restroom, to examine if her water pressure is working prior to preparing for school,” Georgianna informs us. “No water originates from the faucet.”
Jiah Hwang’s Podcast— Stanford Online High School, Redwood City, Calif.
Trainee: Jiah Hwang
Teacher/Sponsor: Estefany Arenas
In this individual and psychological podcast, Jiah opens about her relationship with her older sibling, and how seeing her face– and conquer– discrimination in school has actually led the 2 brother or sisters to a much deeper relationship.
OCD 101— Emma Willard School, Troy, N.Y.
Trainees: Patty Kongsomjit and Narmene Omer
Teacher/Sponsor: Laszlo Bardos
2 trainees with obsessive-compulsive condition interview a psychiatric nurse specialist to discuss its intricacies, and to check out why it is very important to raise awareness on how OCD impacts daily life.
Soccer in the United States: My Fascination with America’s New Favorite Activity— Branson School, Branson, Colo.
Trainee: Ayah Al-Masyabi
Teacher/Sponsor: Anne Hellman
Ayah discusses the history of American soccer, interviews soccer gamers and fans, and shares how she fell for the video game: “Soccer has actually been my life– through lots of unpleasant 90 minutes, and frustrating minutes of delight, however more significantly, memories with those I enjoy.”
The Down ‘Loe— Enloe Magnet High School, Raleigh, N.C.
Trainee: Leeya Chaudhuri and Jacob Harrenstein
Teacher/Sponsor: Brian Hedgepeth
The Down ‘Loe traces the essential however obscure history of Oberlin Town, a historical Reconstruction-era freedmen’s nest in North Carolina.
The Joy Desire— West Adams Preparatory High School, Los Angeles
Trainee: Sara Roshan
Teacher/Sponsor: John Foley
” Hi, my name is Sara.” Therefore starts this effective first-person story of an Afghan refugee, her journey to the United States, and the value she and her household put on education. “Certainly I can’t make huge modifications,” she states, “however I can study more difficult for myself, for my pals, and for all individuals in my nation.”
deal— Clayton High School, Clayton, Mo.
Trainee: Stella Plein
Teacher/Sponsor: Amy Doyle
This collage-style podcast functions voices from 5 transgender teenagers who share their stories of maturing in St. Louis, where gender-affirming care was prohibited by the state.
Trans Children in America— Marblehead High School, Marblehead, Mass.
Trainee: Dylan McDonald
Teacher/Sponsor: Jennifer Billings
In this sincere discussion with his mommy, one Massachusetts teen opens about his experience being a transgender youth. “Kids like me are why we require to eliminate these anti-trans expenses,” Dylan states.
Undocumentary— Palos Verdes High School, Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Trainee: Sia Presser
Teacher/Sponsor: Kristin Lyons
These trainees interview schoolmates who have actually immigrated from Mexico, and the obstacles they have actually dealt with once they made it to the U.S.
The winners in our Honorable Reference classification will be revealed later on this summer season.
All finalist certificates will be sent by mail to schools in the fall. Please connect to [email protected] with any concerns.
