The Gator has earned a record-setting five finalist selections in this year’s National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Individual Pacemaker Awards, one of the highest honors in student journalism.

Andrew Flint ’26 was recognized in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Reporting category for My Journey Through Stuttering.

In Digital Story of the Year, Mary Wang ’26 earned two finalist spots—one for Gym Construction Disrupts Parking, Pick-Up, and Drop-Off in Multimedia News Story, and another for Sparking a School-Wide Push-Up Craze in Multimedia Feature Story.

Gabe Cohen ’26 and Tavio Mares-Van Praag ’27 were named finalists in Multimedia Feature Story for Beyond the Buzzer: A.J. Reeves, while Mares-Van Praag also earned a solo nod in Multimedia Sports Story for From Underdogs to Champions.

Even being named a finalist is considered a major accomplishment in scholastic journalism, as entries come from across the nation’s top programs. Winners will be announced Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Fall National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville.

“I’m really honored to receive these—our accolades were well-deserved,” Editor-in-Chief Mary Wang ’26 said. “As a small newsroom, all of us worked really hard to earn them.”

Sports Editors Tavio Mares-Van Praag ’27 and Gabe Cohen ’26 shared Wang’s excitement.

“I’m honored to be considered for a pacemaker,” Mares-Van Praag said. “I’m always happy to see the newsroom succeed.”

“I feel really proud of our newsroom, and of the people that have made this recognition possible,” Cohen said. “I’m super appreciative for the recognition of a prestigious award.”

This marks the first time in program history that The Gator has received five individual Pacemaker finalist honors in a single year, underscoring the newsroom’s dominant reputation on the national stage.