TYPE
The University of Wisconsin-Superior’s student newspaper, The Promethean, earned seven awards in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2025 Better Newspaper Contest.
The publication received two first-place awards, one second-place award, one third-place award and three honorable mentions.
About the Competition
The 2025 Better Newspaper Contest featured 23 categories, including five new additions: lifestyle story, club or intramural sports story, business coverage, technology coverage and environmental coverage.
Top Honors for Lifestyle and Environmental Coverage
The Promethean earned first place in both lifestyle story and environmental coverage.
Lifestyle Story
Winning entries in the lifestyle category included:
- Maddie Schaffer’s “UWS Celebrates Black History Month With Annual Soul Food Dinner”
- Jennifer Cadotte’s “University of Wisconsin–Superior Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day With Ojibwe Cultural Exhibition” and “UWS’ Red Cross Day”
- Emmett Appleby’s “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Wisconsin-Superior”
A total of 11 staff members contributed to the winning submission through reporting, photography and storytelling.
Environmental Coverage
First-place honors in environmental coverage were awarded to Ella Hill, Noa Mikami, Maison Wiberg and Alicia Zoltowski.
Submitted work included:
- Ella Hill’s “Wisconsin Point Brings Back Ishkode ‘Good Fire’”
- Hill’s social media video covering the Wisconsin Point prescribed burn
- Maison Wiberg’s “UW-Superior Is Ready to Go Solar”
Multimedia and Photography Recognition
Second Place in Multimedia
Second place in use of multimedia was awarded to former staff members Sama (Sky) Abdullayeva, Carter Lansdale, Maddie Schaffer and Xavier Walt.
Their submissions included:
- Walt’s “UW-Superior’s Master of Jazz Retires”
- The May 2025 Promethean podcast
- Walt’s video report, “Music Professor Greg Moore Retires From UWS”
Third Place in News Photography
Ella Hill and Alicia Zoltowski earned third place in news photography for their coverage of the Wisconsin Point controlled burn.
Entries included:
- Hill’s article, “Wisconsin Point Brings Back Ishkode ‘Good Fire’”
- Three photos by Zoltowski documenting the prescribed burn, including images of a Fond du Lac elder and the mayor of Superior, firefighters clearing a fire break, and firefighters gathered in a circle
Honorable Mentions Across Categories
Club/Intramural Sports Story
An honorable mention went to Patrick Douglas, Abby Hoffman, Noa Mikami, Xavier Walt, Maison Wiberg and Daniel Young.
Submissions included:
- Walt’s “SCCU Stadium Set to Host First Intramural Sports Games”
- Young’s “UWS Athletics Department Announces Three New Offerings for Sports on Campus”
- Alicia Zoltowski’s photo of Katlyn Jones setting during a match against St. Scholastica
Technology Coverage
Aidan Salama received an honorable mention for:
- “Building Connection in a Digital World”
- “How AI Is Shaping the Future of Learning at UW-Superior”
Column Writing
Jennifer Cadotte earned an honorable mention in column writing for “Two Generations: One Stage for Mother and Son,” which reflects on graduating alongside her son.
A Continued Commitment to Excellence
The Promethean staff said they are proud of the recognition and remain committed to producing accurate, ethical and award-winning journalism for UW-Superior students and the broader community.
Interested in becoming a part of the Promethean? Email [email protected] or advisor Tom Hansen at [email protected] or visit the office during one of our weekly meetings either Tuesday or Thursday at noon.
For more information on the WNA Foundation and Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest, visit wnanews.com/wna-foundation/ college/.