NFPW 2025 Communications Contest Winners

Winners of the 2025 National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Contest were recognized Sept. 13, 2025, at the NFPW contest awards dinner and ceremony in Golden, Colo.

Twenty NDPC members earned 40 awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches. More than 250 professional communicators earned honors with about 1,900 entries submitted in this year’s contest. 

Amy Wieser Willson tied for second place in the NFPW National Communications Contest Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes awards are determined by a weighted point system based on place and the number of entries in each category of the NFPW Communications Contest. Wiser Willson received a $75 cash award for placing second.

NDPC nominated Amanda Kosior of Grand Forks for the NFPW Communicator of Achievement award. She is a Board Member and Marketing Director at JLG Architects and the founder of the popular blog NorthDakotaNice.com. Donna Bryson of Denver, Colo., received the 2025 NFPW Communicator of Achievement Award and Cathy Koon of St. Anthony, Idaho, was the runner up. 

The winners include: 

Kate Ankrom, North Dakota
1st Place – Social Media Campaign
2nd Place – Special Interest Video

Candace Brekke, Minot
1st Place – Web Copy
2nd Place – Advertising Poster, Billboard or Banner 
Honorable Mention – Single Advertisement

Tyler Brown, Jaryn Homiston, Adam Watts, Fargo
1st Place – Advertising Campaign

Tyler Brown, Betsy Beaton, AnnMarie Campbell, Adam Watts, Fargo
3rd Place – Nonprofit, government or educational brochure

Debora Dragseth, Dickinson
2nd Place – Newsletter/other publication - non-profit, government, or educational
3rd Place – Photo Illustration
3rd Place – Columns
Honorable Mention – Personality Profile, 750 words or fewer
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Food

Leora Hilman, Cailin Shovkoplyas, Fargo
1st Place – Public Relations Campaign

Jaryn Homiston, Fargo
1st Place –Television Advertising

Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks
1st Place – Specialty Articles, Arts and Entertainment
2nd Place – Specialty Articles, Hobby
Honorable Mention – News Story, Print-Based Newspaper
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Reviews
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Science or Technology

Elizabeth Leonard, Nathan Ambrose, April Anderson, Camille Haman, NDSU
3rd Place – Collegiate / Education Public Relations, Social Media, or Recruitment / Involvement Campaign

Chloe Piekkola, Grand Forks
Honorable Mention – Book Designed by Entrant

Amanda Poehls, Kate Ankrom, Amanda Kosior, Grand Forks
2nd Place – Social Media Presence, Corporate or For-Profit

Amanda Poehls, Grand Forks
2nd Place – Podcast
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Education

Danielle Teigen, Turton, S.D.
1st Place – Specialty Articles, Obituary
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Business
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, History

Adam Watts, Fargo
1st Place – Electronic Newsletter, Nonprofit, Government, or Educational

Amy Wieser Willson, Ottertail, Minn.
1st Place – Website Edited or Managed by Entrant, Corporate or For-Profit
1st Place – Public Relations Campaign, External Communications
1st Place – Website Edited or Managed by Entrant, Nonprofit, Government or Educational
2nd Place – Graphics and Design, Infographics
2nd Place – News or Feature Releases, Multiple Releases
2nd Place – News or Feature Release, Single Release
3rd Place – Video for Web, Video for Nonprofit or Government Organization
Honorable Mention – Editorial/Op-Ed
Honorable Mention – Personality Profile, More than 750 words
Honorable Mention – Specialty Articles, Agriculture
Honorable Mention – Social Media Presence, Nonprofit, Government or Educational
Honorable Mention – Blog, Personal

View winners list>>