MIJA is proud to announce and congratulate its All-State Journalism Team for 2026. The team consists of 10 students from six different schools across the state. Congratulations to all the recipients and their advisers!
Jadynne Brady, Blue Springs South High School
Jadynne Brady is the Editor-in-Chief to Blue Springs South’s Online Newspaper, “JagNewsOnline.com.” With 3-plus years of experience in journalism, she has written a multitude of stories, from features to editorials. As an editor, she has overseen other reporters and given critiques that improve their writing. Beyond print journalism, Jadynne is also a reporter for South’s Mid-America Emmy winning broadcast, “SouthJagTV.” There, she has developed hands-on skills that model professional reporters. For her entire high school career, Jadynne has also been involved with her school’s theater department, most recently as the Assistant Crew Chief for their tech department. She has been a part of productions both on stage and behind the scenes. Through theater, she is also a part of South’s Cappies Critic team and one of her reviews was selected to be published by Independence’s The Examiner last fall. The previous year, Jadynne was also a Regional Editor for the Real-World Learning’s Publish Our Voices (POV) Magazine. This opportunity through the Kauffman Foundation allowed her to work with other student reporters across a range of Kansas City school districts while also managing her own team of reporters. The year before that, she had the opportunity to be a Co-Leader for the POC and Allies Club, which gave her a new understanding and allowed her to develop her interpersonal skills. Most recently, Jadynne became the Business Editor for Blue Springs Literary Magazine, Mirrors of the Soul, in which she both collaborated with her team and was published. After graduation, she plans to attend Mizzou and pursue a degree in Journalism.
Brady’s adviser Frank McCleary said, “Jadynne Brady is driven to get better as a journalist. Every story she has written this year, she takes the notes and improves the story, and then she applies those skills to the next thing. She does not need to be retaught. She is curious, inciteful, hard-working and dedicated to the purpose of journalism – to inform. She has a better understanding of what journalism is and should be than any student I have ever had. She is ready for the next level of journalism instruction.”
Vanessa Ng, Francis Howell North High School
Vanessa Ng is a senior at FHN. After taking broadcast journalism, she joined the Video Staff freshman year to continue her passion for videography. On staff, Vanessa is the Co-Editor-in-Chief, overseeing all the individual content created in the room and the staff’s social media content. She enjoys being in front of the camera anchoring as well as behind the camera producing.
Ng’s adviser Aaron Manfull said, “One of her best qualities, is her creativity, particularly as one of the most gifted visual storytellers in the program. Vanessa understands how to craft a video narrative with both strong visual and verbal messages, a skill that has earned her national awards for both her journalistic-style videos and the supporting social media content she creates for the staff channels. Her biggest single accomplishment is the daily video announcement show she co-created and co-manages. This complex, high-stakes production has run without missing a day since its inception in 2024, a testament to her creative problem-solving and follow-through.”
Annabelle Reagan, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
Annabelle Reagan has been on Ladue Media staff for two years. As a junior staffer, she produced content for both Panorama News Magazine and ID Specialty Magazine. As senior Content Editor-In-Chief of ID, she expands coverage while ensuring that content is up to standard with that of Ladue Media.
Reagan’s adviser Sarah Kirksey said, “Apart from Annabelle’s leadership ability, she is also incredibly innovative and a problem solver. Annabelle wrote a feature story about our superintendent as he is retiring this year, and rather than simply recording herself reading the story as we normally do for our ID pieces, Annabelle took on the challenge of adding a video slideshow to accompany her piece, modeling to our staff how they can keep enhancing their story telling skills.”
Will Nolan, Liberty (Wentzville) High School
Will Nolan is a two-year student journalist who strives for equality and storytelling throughout the workplace. In his two years, he has received two Best of SNO stories, along with multiple awards at the state and national level. As editor-in-chief of the broadcast media class, he has helped gain more than 100 subscribers just this school year. He manages the sports livestream program and has broadcast every home football game and basketball game. He is also a reporter for online news, where he was awarded the first Best of SNO story of the year as well as publishing the 5,000th story on the website. Will is involved outside of journalism as he is in the National Honors Society as well as DECA. Will is passionate about journalism and shows how getting better takes time as long as you work hard.
Nolan’s adviser Jonathan Hall said, “I have rarely had a student as dedicated, hardworking and consistent as Will. It is like having another teacher in the classroom. He is highly respected by his peers and can lead a class with ease. He’s a natural at it. Over the two years I’ve known him, Will has developed a true passion for journalism and has put in many extra hours by participating in programs to enhance his craft. Journalism is his main school passion and the Liberty community knows it. He is well-known by teachers and administrators and has built a trustworthy relationship with them.”
Katherine Basler, Lindbergh High School
Kate Basler is in her second year as Co-Editor-in-Chief for Lindbergh High School’s yearbook. She is also the band vice president and lead Musicthon coordinator, vice president of Tri-M, secretary of NHS, and she runs the social media accounts for her church’s youth group, LHS publications, Tri-M, Band Leadership, Band Pit, and NHS. Kate’s contributions and commitment to the yearbook program has resulted in the 2024 and 2025 yearbooks receiving NSPA Pacemaker and CSPA Crown recognition. Basler has been recognized on the national scale with first place in 2025 Design of the Year: Theme Package contest for the 2025 yearbook theme and an honorable mention in the 2025 Design of the Year: Informational Graphic contest.
Basler’s adviser Carrier Rapp said, “After her sophomore year as a staff member, Kate was promoted to Co-Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook. Kate fits seamlessly into this role with her excellent time management and strong ability to communicate, conference with staffers, provide feedback to peers, and complete demanding publications tasks. Now as a senior EIC, Kate continually impresses me with her leadership, intelligence, problem-solving, and compassion. Her passion for creating community and making everyone feel seen and heard is inspirational to me as an adviser, and her service to the yearbook goes beyond her commitment to mentoring new staff members, meticulously editing pages, or working late into the night on whatever task demands her attention. Whenever I look around the room during yearbook class, Kate is always a strong presence, and I can find her checking in with students, encouraging other editors to support staff members, or collaborating with her co-EICs to create, edit, and perfect content.”
Daniel Indelicato, Lindbergh High School
Danny Indelicato is a senior at Lindbergh High School. He is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a Special Projects member for his school’s broadcast, a Content Editor for the yearbook, and a Student Election Judge for the St. Louis County Board of Elections. For four years, he’s worked vigorously to produce publications for the Lindbergh community and has been able to explore first-hand what it takes to produce refined pieces of journalism, and has particularly explored the integrity and ethics associated with journalism through his work with election processes.
Indelicato’s adviser Krystle Hoisington said, “Within this position, I have seen Danny eager, willing to learn, and able to use his gained knowledge to aid in the learning and growth of others. He is quick to ask for guidance if he does not understand something. He is also quick to assist others who might need extra help. In addition, he displays exemplary skills of organization and creativity.”
Maeve McGonigle, Park Hill South High School
Maeve McGonigle is the Executive Producer for Park Hill South’s broadcast program.
McGonigle’s adviser Justin Ford said, “In broadcast journalism, Maeve has found a passion for telling the story. She collaborated on our best news story and best feature story of the current school year. The feature was on a skate park, but not just any skate park. Maeve helped craft the story about students who are blind, yet show their capabilities on a skateboard while being mentored by a caring instructor. The news story was on a new school policy requiring a specific school attendance rate to participate in prom. Maeve fearlessly covered all sides to the issue, while accurately reporting the facts about trends in attendance.”
Teagan Shupe, Park Hill South High School
Teagan is responsible for covering news and feature stories in the school and community. For the daily newscast, Teagan will work in several roles from anchor to director.
Shupe’s adviser Justin Ford said, “Teagan Shupe is one of the most driven students I’ve had the pleasure of having in broadcast journalism class. Her passion to tell the story, produce a quality live newscast, or edit an entire documentary is only matched by her preparation and accountability to meet deadline each and every day.
Adelaide Bonsignore, Platte County High School
Adelaide Bonsignore is a multimedia journalist with experience in broadcast, newspaper and yearbook. In her senior year, she serves as the Editor-in-Chief of The Pirateer yearbook and Copy Editor for The Clipper Newspaper. Adelaide has received multiple awards from MIJA and JEMKC, including Best of Show for overall yearbook theme and multiple All-Missouri broadcast recognitions. Her commitment to journalistic excellence, multimedia reporting and First Amendment rights will continue to serve her as she pursues journalism as her major in college, at either Mizzou, Syracuse or Northwestern. Adelaide spends her free time reading, teaching journalism basics to students across the district, playing the trumpet or participating in the school’s plays.
Bonsignore’s adviser Devan Foos said, “She has a passion for journalism and storytelling, and does her best to share that passion with our teams.
Her writing skills are exceptional, and her strong knowledge of the journalistic process set her apart from her peers. She is a natural reporter, both in front of the camera and behind it. She is well spoken when reporting for broadcast and provides colorful, in-depth details when writing copy. Her knowledge and confidence in my room has done nothing but flourish throughout her time in the program and, appropriately so, she intends to make a career out of this field. This year, she even led third grade students through lessons on camera use and capturing b-roll when they came to visit our program at the high school. She has also helped students at a second district elementary building launch and maintain their broadcast program in her free time after school, teaching more future journalists of America.”
Jack Shroyer, Platte County High School
Jack Shroyer is the returning Editor-in-Chief of The Clipper newspaper and People Editor of The Pirateer yearbook. He has received multiple awards from MIJA and JEMKC for his work covering stories in his school and community. He has dedicated three years of his high school career to growing the journalism program and attending multiple national conventions, summer workshops, and countless journalism field trips. Jack has also volunteered his time to help host the Kansas City NHSJC and teach journalism skills to elementary students in the district. In his free time you can find him running, lifeguarding and recruiting his little sisters to join newspaper, too.
Shroyer’s adviser Devan Foos said, “What I am currently most proud of Jack for is how he has led, alongside our yearbook EIC, a challenge against a recently encountered, unjust and illegal prior restraint by our administration ahead of a student protest. He has taken the lead role in combatting this decision, communicating and meeting with administrators, and has plans to speak to the school board and advocate for an updated scholastic journalism policy. Through all of this, he has even further demonstrated his understanding of journalism law and ethics, and how to be a leader in tough situations where you must stand up for what is right.”
