News Briefs: New Trier News collects awards; Highland Park passes out various honors; mulch giveaway in Wilmette

The New Trier News, the New Trier High School newspaper, staff earned honors across 12 categories during the annual Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Conference on April 10, according to a news release from the organization.

The staff as a whole also took home the Golden Eagle award — an award reportedly given to the top third of news websites in the conference — for their ongoing online coverage

“It feels very validating. We’ve tried to achieve a wider range of coverage this school year, and we’ve worked really hard to feature a lot of new stories,” said Margy Burgoon, co editor-in-chief and New Trier senior, in the release. “It’s exciting to see our work pay off and see our staff win awards across so many categories.”

The New Trier News is a student-run news publication that since 2020 has expanded to include continuous online and multimedia coverage of local and school events, in addition to its quarterly print issues.

New Trier teachers Sarah Hands and Kristan Kenney are the publication’s co-advisers, and Burgoon and Carolina Mangum its editors-in-chief since May 2025.

The winnerson April 10 were:
• Margy Burgoon for Feature Writing: Blue Ribbon — ‘Stop pretending racism is patriotism:’ NT students march for justice at No Kings protest
• Emma Foster for Graphics: Blue Ribbon — Image: The sophomore slump takes over NT students
• Sofia Fernandez and Gaia Saraf for Multimedia Package: Blue Ribbon — Sherman takes the stage as NT’s new theater teacher
• Gaia Saraf for Profile Writing: Blue Ribbon — Famed trombonist and bandleader John Fedchock visits NT jazz classes
• Isla Luciano for Review Writing: Blue Ribbon — Big Thief’s ‘Double Infinity’ explores the infinite possibilities of sound
• Carolina Mangum, Margy Burgoon, Mara Saltzman, and Izzy Elkin for Team In-Depth: Blue Ribbon — “My experience at the Chicago No Kings Protest” by Mara Saltzman; “‘Stop pretending racism is patriotism:’ NT students march for justice at No Kings protest” by Margy Burgoon; and “NT responds to ICE activity on North Shore” by Carolina Mangum and Izzy Elkin
• Lorelei Hansen for Blogging: Honorable Mention — The in-class essay: The troubling bane of English class; AI usage on social media fosters hate, misinformation; and Is it possible for just one high schooler to change the world?
• Izzy Elkin, Isabella Castro, Gaia Saraf, and Lorelei Hansen for Breaking News: Honorable Mention — BREAKING: NT responds to Canvas shutdown
• New Trier News Editorial Board for Editorial Writing: Honorable Mention — Admit it—when it comes to college, we’re all in this together
• Carolina Mangum and Izzy Elkin for News Writing: Honorable Mention — NT responds to ICE activity on North Shore
• Declan Quigley for Photography: Honorable Mention — Photo: NT Boys Lacrosse returns to championship form
• Declan Quigley for Sports Game Story: Honorable Mention — NT Boys Golf wins state championship

Highland Park passes out annual awards

The City of Highland Park announced last week the recipients of its annual awards program, the Highland Park Awards.

According to the city, the program recognizes those “who have made positive, sustained, and impactful contributions to the community in their respective category.” Categories range from arts to the environment to humanities, photography and more, and the recipients will be honored during a ceremony on April 23 at Highland Park High school.

The winners are:
• Arts Award: Secret World Books
• Environmental Award: Heather & Colin Cosgrove
• Humanitarian Award: Louis Greenwald
• Character Counts Pillar Awards: Brianna Aragon, trustworthiness; Alice Banerji, respect; Eleanor Berman, caring; Meher Chodha, responsibility; Kody Cohen, caring; Marceline Edison, responsibility; Joel Espinosa, responsibility; Alexandra Fingerman, caring; Hania Fuschetto, caring; Delmy Mariela Damaso Garcia, responsibility; Jessica Gill, responsibility; Eileen Rubenstein Goldstein, caring; Tatum Good, caring; Lucas Hoobler, citizenship; Reina Kini, citizenship; Malina Krowka, trustworthiness; Annie Lerner, responsibility; Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, citizenship; Harold Lupa, caring; Evelyn Makris, caring; H. George Mann, citizenship; Joe Peddle, citizenship; Ashley Quintana, responsibility; Dr. Cary Rositas-Sheftel, citizenship; Dylan Saffro, responsibility; Andrew Sequeira, respect; Shay Simpson, caring; Patti Solem, caring; Nathaniel Wieden, respect
• Business Recognition: HP Community Early Learning Center, 75 years; Pasquesi Plumbing, 50 years; Pasquesi & Son, 50 years; Ruben & John Auto Body Repair Inc., 50 years; Dahlmann Properties Co., 50 years.
• Photography: Arts & Architecture — “The Ultimate Cold Wave at Millard Beach,” by Robert Limoges; Daily Life — “Dusk-Fog,” by Brad Slater; Environmental: “Ice Wave at the Highland Park Boat Launch,” by David Kopka; Food Photography — “Sushi Sensation,” by Lynn West; Community Favorite — “Autumn in Fort Sheridan,” by Steve Schaumberger; Student: “Homecoming,” by Lucas Hoobler; Honorable mention: “Spring at the Fort,” by Mark Wagner; “Hummingbird,” by Karen Kaplan; “Fog 2,” by Deborah Rubenstein; “My Favorite Cheese Quesadilla at The Mixto Cuisine,” by Jennifer Dotson;

Free mulch in Wilmette

Mulch is available to the public at the Centennial Recreation Complex, 2300 Old Glenview Road, courtesy of the Village of Wilmette and Wilmette Park District.

Mulch made from chipped trees and woody material will be added as it becomes available to the pile in the Centennial parking lot through Memorial Day.

Residents are invited to fill their own bag/bin with mulch from the site, which is near the Crawford Avenue side of the parking lot. 

The park district notes that is not guaranteed that mulch is pesticide/herbicide free or free of weed seed.

For more information, reach out to Sustainability Coordinator Lucy Mellen, sustainability@wilmette.com.

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