Manchester Central Senior Wins 2026 Brodsky Prize For Student Journalism

MANCHESTER, NH — A Central High School senior has won the top award in the 2026 Brodsky Prize for Excellence in Student Journalism, a statewide contest recognizing New Hampshire high school journalists.

Catherine Tenn, editor-in-chief of Central’s Little Green newspaper, received the first-place prize of $5,000, according to the announcement from the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications.

The announcement said judges were impressed by Tenn’s portfolio and her essay responses about artificial intelligence’s impact on journalism and the role student journalists can play in rebuilding public trust in the news. Howard Brodsky co-founded the contest with his son, Jeffrey, in 2018.

"I am so pleased to see the strength of candidates from across the state and working in different media," Howard Brodsky said. "Catherine stood out as a star, and it's wonderful that she will continue her journalism career at Dartmouth."

Two other students were also recognized this year.

Noel Beauchaine, a senior at Stevens High School in Claremont, received second place and a $1,500 award. The announcement said judges cited her initiative in creating and hosting “Cardinal Perspectives,” a current events program featuring interviews that air on community television.

Jahrie Houle, a senior at Oyster River High School in Durham, received third place and a $1,000 award for work on the school’s Mouth of River newspaper, according to the announcement. Since its inception, the Brodsky Prize has awarded more than $76,000 to high school journalists.

Jeffrey Brodsky served as co-editor of the Little Green in the 1990s before later becoming a historian and documentary producer. After his death in 2023, his father continued the prize’s original vision of fostering “boldness and innovation” among student journalists.

This year’s judges were Howard Brodsky, Misbah Tahir, Susan Geier, Joseph McQuaid, Rebecca Pereira, and Zoë Mitchell. The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and defend the First Amendment and to foster interest, integrity, and excellence in journalism and other forms of communication by educating students from varying backgrounds.

To learn more about prior winners or enter for the 2027 prize, visit this link: https://www.loebschool.org/the-brodsky-prize