The Gator joins 33 other newsrooms from across the country, representing schools of various types and sizes, in receiving this prestigious honor.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” Executive Director Laura Widmer said in the organization’s announcement. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

This year’s recognition comes on the heels of The Gator introducing live-streaming and play-by-play commentary of home basketball games, which has attracted a boost in visitors to the site. Sports Editor Tavio Mares-Van Praag ’27, who spearheaded the initiative, felt apprehensive about maintaining the winning streak with a smaller newsroom.

This semester, The Gator, which meets as an elective class, has 14 students enrolled, compared to 27 in Spring 2024, 32 in Spring 2023 (when the newsroom won the top prize), and 30 in Spring 2022.

“We really didn’t know how were going to do this year, and while we’ve won in the past, there is now some added excitement because this win feel special,” Mares-Van Praag said. “Against the odds, we got this nomination and a huge win.”

Sports broadcaster Jackson Tarbox ’26 shared similar sentiments.

“It’s a pleasure to be nominated for this award and be honored for the work that I’ve done with all the other members of The Gator,” Tarbox said. “I’m very excited and again honored to be nominated for this award.”

Judging will continue for the sites named as Pacemaker finalists.

“The Pacemaker winners will be selected shortly before they are named in April, so for the 34 schools we are naming as finalists today, the competition is still happening in real time,” Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, said in a press release.

According to Cutler, Pacemaker judges are aware that many private schools, including The Gator, are closed for several weeks due to spring break, while most public schools continue classes until their April recess.

“No matter the outcome, I’m incredibly proud of my students,” Cutler said. “Time and again, they’ve demonstrated that it’s not about how many people you have in the newsroom, but having the right people—those who are motivated, eager to learn, and committed to growing together—that truly matters.”

Cutler also offered “tremendous credit” to the current editorial board, comprised of Editor-in-Chief Amelia Bowman ’25, Managing Editors Mary Wang ’26 and Edward Flint ’26, News Editor Rachael Rosenberg ’28, and Sports Editors Gabe Cohen ’26 and Mares-Van Praag.

“The Pacemaker win is absolutely amazing,” Flint said. “The entire newsroom totally deserves this award. They really worked for it—and they made it happen.”

As a independent school without the luxury of any First Amendment Protections, Cutler also praised Head of School Judith Guild for her unwavering support for student voice and responsible scholastic journalism.

“My students and I deeply appreciate Mrs. Guild’s choice to actively encourage independent student journalism, especially when she could otherwise censor or end the publication without any legal repercussion,” Cutler said. “I wish more independent schools were judged by the strength of their student publications, which, more than anything, reflect how deeply a school trusts its students and the skills and values it fosters.”

Editor’s note: The Gator’s Adviser David Cutler serves as a Pacemaker judge exclusively for websites from schools with enrollments of 1,800 or more. He had no involvement whatsoever in judging websites from schools with smaller enrollments, including The Gator.