Lemont’s Emily Bawiec earns medal at 2026 IHSA Journalism State Finals

Lemont High School advanced a school-record nine entries to the 2026 IHSA Journalism State Finals, which were contested at Heartland Community College on April 24. Junior Emily Bawiec earned a state medal by placing sixth in the Editorial Cartooning category. All seven of the competing students made their state finals debuts.

Lemont matched a program record established in 2014 by finishing as the sectional runner-up. Lemont set a school record with three sectional champions: Bawiec in Editorial Cartooning, and senior Ava Amato in both Copy Editing and Sports Writing. Amato became the first Lemont student to win sectional titles in one year, and Lemont had multiple sectional titlists in the same year for third time in school history.

Junior Kevin Collins also qualified for two state finals events after placing second and third, respectively, in the Newspaper Design and Headline Writing categories in sectional competition. Lemont’s other state finals qualifiers included seniors Ema Gaidukevicius (Radio News) and Teagan Lee (Yearbook Copy Writing), junior Daniela Sutas (Editorial Writing), and freshman Sophia Filisha (Yearbook Caption Writing), all of whom were sectional runners-up. The top three finishers in each category in sectional competition earn state finals berths.

IHSA Journalism Website

Lemont has advanced qualifiers to the IHSA Journalism State Finals 16 of 17 years dating back to 2009 (not including 2020, when the IHSA State Series was cancelled). Multiple Lemont students have qualified for the state finals on 15 occasions since 2009.

Andrew Kula ‘23 is Lemont’s only two-time journalism state champion, winning in Broadcast News in 2022 and Radio News in 2023. Lemont’s other state champions include Charmaine Balisalisa ‘12 (2012; Info Graphics) and Heather Miller ‘17 (2016; Editorial Writing). Miller, who also placed sixth in Advertising in 2016, is the only Lemont student to earn multiple state medals in the same year.

Lemont’s previous state medalists also include Avary Blazevich ‘24 (2021; 4th - Info Graphics), Reanna Comiso ‘16 (2016; 4th - Feature Writing), Madeleine George ‘12 (2012; 4th - Feature Photography), Laura Harding ‘13 (2013; 3rd - Editorial Writing), Peyton Jay ‘18 (2018; 5th - Editorial Writing), Emily Krivograd ‘18 (2018; 3rd - Feature Writing), Tess O’Brien ‘24 (2024; 3rd - Editorial Cartooning), David Timm ‘10 (2010; 4th - Headline Writing), Caroline Vranas ‘24 (2023; 5th - Headline Writing) and Kristin Washagan ‘15 (2014; 5th - Feature Writing).

In addition to Amato and Bawiec, Lemont’s sectional champions include Miller (Advertising, 2017), O’Brien (Editorial Cartooning, 2024), Natalie Barowsky ‘22 (Photo Story Telling, 2022), Erin Bendle ‘14 (Editorial Cartooning, 2014), Janelle Fennessey ‘11 (News Writing, 2010), Jordan Gembara ‘13 (Info Graphics, 2013), Kelly Lyons ‘11 (Editorial Writing, 2011), Marisa Mars ‘13 (News Writing, 2013), Ella Murray ‘24 (Newspaper Design, 2024), Morgan Page ‘18 (Editorial Cartooning, 2018), Leila Rexhepi ‘24 (Photo Story Telling, 2023), Alejandra Rodriguez ‘16 (Headline Writing, 2016), and Josh Traynere ‘14 (Info Graphics, 2015).

The IHSA Journalism State Finals includes contests in 18 newspaper- and yearbook related categories, with students being asked to meet a different challenge in each competition. The top three finishers in each category from each IHSA Sectional advance to compete at the IHSA State Finals. Lemont’s Journalism advisor is Brandon Hillary, and its head Yearbook sponsor is Cara Forde.