MANCHESTER, NH – In celebration of excellence and innovation in student journalism, the prestigious Brodsky Prize has announced its 2026 winners, recognizing three of New Hampshire’s most promising high school journalists.
Catherine Tenn, a senior at Manchester Central High School and editor-in-chief of its Little Green newspaper, received the first-place award of $5,000. Judges were impressed by her strong portfolio and thoughtful responses to essay questions exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and the role student journalists can play in rebuilding public trust in the news.
“I am so pleased to see the strength of candidates from across the state and working in different media,” said Howard Brodsky, who co-founded the contest with his son, Jeffrey, in 2018. “Catherine stood out as a star, and it’s wonderful that she will continue her journalism career at Dartmouth.”
Noel Beauchaine, a senior at Stevens High School in Claremont, received second place and a $1,500 award. Judges cited her initiative in creating and hosting “Cardinal Perspectives,” a current events program featuring insightful interviews that airs on community television.
Jahrie Houle, a senior at Oyster River High School in Durham, earned third place and received a $1,000 award for her work in the school’s Mouth of River newspaper.
Since its inception, the Brodsky Prize has awarded more than $76,000 to outstanding high school journalists. Jeffrey Brodsky served as co-editor of the Little Green in the 1990s before pursuing a distinguished career as a historian and documentary producer. Following Jeffrey’s death in 2023, his father has continued the Prize’s original vision of fostering “boldness and innovation” among a new generation of student journalists.
Serving as judges were Howard Brodsky, co-founder and chairman of CCA Global Partners; Misbah Tahir, a biotechnology finance executive and former Little Green co-editor; Susan Geier, executive director of the Loeb School; Joseph McQuaid, former president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News; Rebecca Pereira, news editor and reporter at the Concord Monitor; and Zoë Mitchell, community engagement manager at NH Public Radio.
Learn more about previous winners here.
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications, Inc. is a nonprofit with a mission to promote and defend the First Amendment and fosters interest, integrity, and excellence in journalism and other forms of communication by educating students of various backgrounds and providing them with the tools and knowledge to improve their skills. Learn more at loebschool.org.