NDPC 2026 Contest Winners

North Dakota Professional Communicators announced the winners of the 2026 NDPC Communications Contest on April 30 during the organization’s spring conference and awards ceremony. This year’s event was held at the Gorecki Alumni Center on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks. NDPC members from North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota earned awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, video, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches.

Amy Wieser Willson, president of Neon Loon Communications, took first place in the sweepstakes competition. Roxane Salonen, owner of Beauclair Communications and a columnist for Forum Communications, took second. Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks Herald reporter, received third in the sweepstakes. Sweepstakes winners are determined by a weighted point system based on place and the number of entries in each category of the Communications Contest.

Roxane Salonen, a columnist for Forum Communications, received the 2026 Communicator of Achievement award. As a nationally published journalist, author, and speaker, Salonen has built a distinguished career over more than 30 years by championing First Amendment freedoms through thoughtful, faith‑centered writing that elevates religious dialogue in the public square. Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members.

Salonen now advances to the national Communicator of Achievement competition at the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Conference. All first place NDPC Communications Contest award winners also advance to the national competition. NFPW will announce the national winners at the conference scheduled for September 24-26 in Ellicott City, Md. 

The individual winners at the state level are:

Catherine Dorsher, Grand Forks
Second: Graphics
Third: Graphics
Honorable Mention: Graphics 

Dr. Debora Dragseth, Dickinson
First: Feature Story – Online Publication
First: Specialty Article - Food​
First: Columns – Informational
First: Writing – Essay, Chapter, or Section in a Book
First: Book Edited by Entrant
Second: Personality Profile – 750 Words or Fewer
Second: Specialty Article – Arts & Entertainment
Second: Specialty Article – Sports
Second: Book Edited by Entrant
Second: Single General Photo
Honorable Mention: Specialty Article – History

​Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks

First: Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News
First: In-Depth Reporting
First: Feature Story – Print-Based Newspaper
First: Personality Profile – More than 750 Words
First: Specialty Article – Agriculture
First: Specialty Article – History
First: Specialty Article – Hobby
First: Specialty Article – Obituary
First: Specialty Article – Science

First: Specialty Article – Social Issues

Second: Specialty Article – Education
Second: Specialty Article – Food

Third: Specialty Article – Arts & Entertainment

Third: Specialty Article – Health
Honorable Mention: News Story – Print-Based Newspaper

Honorable Mention: Specialty Article – Government or Politics

Amanda Kosior, Grand Forks
First: ​PR Campaign – Internal Communications 

Erica Rapp, Fargo
First: Social Media Campaign – Corporate or For-Profit
First: Specialty Article - Style 

Tracy Nicholson, West Fargo

First: Publication Edited by Entrant – Magazine
Second: Feature Story – Magazine/Newsletter/Other
Third: Feature Story - Magazine/Newsletter/Other
Honorable Mention – Editorial / Op-Ed

Honorable Mention – Editorial / Op-Ed

Chloe Piekkola, Grand Forks
First: Creative Verse – Single Poem
Second: Graphics
Third: Creative Verse – Single Poem
Third: ​Single General Photo

Roxane Salonen, Fargo
First: Podcast

First: Columns – Personal Opinion

First: Specialty Article – Arts & Entertainment
First: Specialty Article – Education

First: Specialty Article – Personal Essay

First: Specialty Article – Religion
First: Specialty Article – Sports

First: Specialty Article – Travel
Second: Feature Story – Print-Based Newspaper
Second: Podcast
Second: Specialty Article – History

Second: Specialty Article – Health
Second: Specialty Article – Religion
Second: Specialty Article – Social issues

Third: Column – Personal Opinion
Third: Specialty Article – Health
Honorable Mention: Feature Story – Print-Based Newspaper
Honorable Mention: Specialty Article - Arts & Entertainment 

Raquel Strand, Coon Rapids, Minn.
Second: Public Relations Materials – Report 

Alizjah Swenson, Grand Forks
First: ​Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature Story
Second: Social Media Campaign – Corporate or For-Profit 

Danielle Teigen, Turton, S.D.
Third: ​Specialty Article – History
Third: Personality Profile – More than 750 Words
Honorable Mention: News Story – Print-Based Newspaper

Phillip Voeller, Beulah
First: Video for Web – Special Interest
First: Video for Web – Non-Profit or Government Organization
Second: Video for Web – Non-Profit or Government Organization 

Amy Wieser Willson, Moorhead, Minn.

First: Graphics – Infographics
First: Website Edited / Managed by Entrant – Nonprofit, Government or Educational
First: Book Designed by Entrant
First: Feature Story – Magazine / Newsletter / Other Publication
First: Personality Profile – 750 Words or Fewer
First: Single General Photo

First: Public Relations Materials – Catalog, Manual or Handbook
First: Advertising Campaign
First: Electronic Newsletter – Nonprofit, Government or Educational
First: Social Media Campaign – Nonprofit, Government or Educational
First: Social Media Presence – Nonprofit, Government or Educational
First: Web Copy
Second: Personality Profile – More than 750 Words
Second: Public Relations Campaign – Internal Communications
Second: Social Media Presence – Corporate or For-Profit

Second: Website Edited / Managed by Entrant – Corporate or For-Profit
Third: Video for Web – Nonprofit or Government Organization
Third: Book Edited by Entrant
​

The group entry winners at the state level are:

Kate Ankrom, Elizabeth Winkelman & Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

Second: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Honorable Mention: Public Relations Materials – Brochure – Corporate or For-Profit

Andrea Boe & Alizjah Swenson – AE2S
Second: Video for Web – Special Interest 

Julia DeSantis, Leora Hillman & Brandon Novak – Noridian
Third: Public Relations Campaign – Internal Communications

Catherine Dorsher & Elizabeth Winkelman – JLG Architects

First: Graphics

Third: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Dr. Debora Dragseth & Michael Dragseth 
First: Children’s Book – Non-Fiction

Dr. Debora Dragseth, James (Scooter) Pursley & Jim Dahl – Dickinson State University
First: Non-Fiction Book for Adult Readers – General Nonfiction 

Tracy Nicholson & Haley Darling – JLG Architects

Third: Feature Story – Magazine, Newsletter / Other Publication

Leah Parker, Amanda Poehls, Catherine Dorsher, Elizabeth Winkelman, Erica Rapp, Haley Darling, Hattie Gompf, Kate Ankrom, Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

First: Social Media Presence – Corporate or For-Profit

Amanda Poehls & Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

First: Public Relations Materials – Brochure – Corporate or For-Profit

Honorable Mention: Specialty Article – Health

Amanda Poehls, Tracy Nicholson & Elizabeth Winkelman – JLG Architects

First: Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant – Newsletter / Other Publication

First: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Roxane Salonen & Karen Anne Mahoney

First: Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir

Cody Schuler & Andrew Spratta – AE2S
First: Public Relations Campaign – Integrated Communications

Andrew Spratta, Marty Doll & Raquel Strand – AE2S
First: Public Relations Materials – Report

View winners list>>