South Bend Schools earns 16 awards in statewide media competition, named 'News School of the Year'
South Bend Community School Corporation SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The South Bend Community School Corporation announced the Broadcast Media & Film program within the Career & Technical Education Department received 16 awards from the 2026 Indiana Association of School Broadcasters competition.
School officials say the student media team was named “News School of the Year” for the third time and “Video School of the Year – 1st Runner-Up” for the second time, and it's the seventh year in a row the team earned top honors in the state.
These rankings are determined by accumulated points from student placements across the competition’s five divisions: News, Video, Radio, Sports and Emerging Media.
“This program gives students the opportunity to learn professional media production while still in high school,” said Tim Richardson, Broadcast Media & Film instructor for SBCSC. “They’re writing scripts, producing broadcasts, shooting video and editing stories just like professionals in the field. To see their work recognized at the state level year after year is something we’re incredibly proud of.”
Entries were judged by professionals and educators in media production and broadcasting.
School of the Year Awards:
- News School of the Year – South Bend Community School Corporation
- Video School of the Year – 1st Runner-Up – South Bend Community School Corporation
1st Place:
- Video Magazine – “Kids in the Bend” – SBS-TV Media Team
- Radio Spot Production – Eli Bueno-Pedraza
- Radio In-Depth – Aayla McCann
- Video Package – Treylen Criglear
- Field Reporter – Jesse Brownlee
2nd Place:
- Video Magazine – “Buzz in the Bend” – SBS-TV Media Team
- Corporate Video – Eli Bueno-Pedraza
- Radio In-Depth – Elijah Young
3rd Place:
- School Newscast – SBS-TV Media Team
- Video Package – Elijah Young & Leo Abrajan
- Photojournalism – Cooper Harradon
- Video Copywriting – Alyssia Montgomery
- Video Show Open – Greg Harris
Finalists:
- Television News Anchor – Jesse Brownlee
- Radio News Anchor – Cooper Harradon
Honorable Mentions:
- Radio Copywriting – Leo Abrajan
- Video Spot Production – Felipe Sanchez & Bruce Thompson
- Corporate Video – Cooper Harradon
Over 40 state high schools and career centers submitted over 628 entries across 44 categories.
You can watch a full playlist of the 2026 award-winning videos on YouTube.
