Washington High School junior Ellie Hopen recently received the honor of Best Landscape Photo in the St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Contest. Hopen and her family attended the awards reception at St. Louis Public Radio on the Saint Louis University campus on May 14. She received $200 and a framed 16X20 copy of her photo entitled, “Icy Cold Winter Day.”

The St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize provides professional recognition, publicity, encouragement, hands-on training, and resources to area high school students who demonstrate a talent for documenting their world through photography.

The competition is open each spring to teens in the St. Louis area, Rolla, Missouri, and Quincy, Illinois. Local schools and youth organizations throughout our listening area are encouraged to participate.

Hopen’s photo, “Icy Cold Winter Day,” features ice floating down the Missouri River toward the Labadie based Ameren Power Plant on Friday, January 12, at Klondike Boat Ramp in Augusta.

The contest received more than 225 student entries from 27 high schools, plus home schools in Missouri and Illinois.

“The submissions this year had a sense of wonder, showing us judges the intimate portraits of friends and loved ones, the ups and downs of athletics and how nature interacts with humans,” said STLPR photojournalist and contest judge Eric Lee. “The wide breadth of imagery impressed me and proved that this generation of photojournalists are empathetic, caring and thoughtful with their work.”

In addition to the grand prize and category winners, judges awarded 14 honorable mentions in the seven contest categories. Cristina Fletes-Mach, judge and STLPR visual communications specialist, said choosing the winners took intense deliberation.

“I was very impressed with the level of talent throughout the entries in the teen photojournalist prize," Fletes-Mach said. "I could see how the entrants were really ‘seeing’ the world around them and transforming it into memorable images. All of our entrants should be proud of their work as they made picking winners a very, very difficult process.”

Judges selected eight winners in the 2024 St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize, including senior Ankita Pandurangi of Francis Howell North High School, who won the Best in Show award.

Other category winners include:

Best general news: Senior Joshua Deichman of Ritenour High School

Best landscape: Ellie Hopen of Washington High School

Best feature: Senior Mya Willis of Hazelwood Central High School

Best portrait: Senior Ava Carson of Nerinx Hall High School

Best animal and wildlife: Senior Bayley Rowe of Nerinx Hall High School

Best sports action: Senior Thomas Krueger of Chaminade College Preparatory School

Best sports feature: Sophomore Vincent Hsiao of Ladue Horton Watkins High School

Sports Action: Senior Karissa Simmons of Francis Howell High School

Sports Feature: Junior Austin Griffin of Francis Howell North

Sports Feature: Sophomore Brayden Cook of Granite City High School

General News: Sophomore Jack Auer of St. Louis University High School

General News: Senior Raina Straughter of Francis Howell Central High School

Feature: Junior Rachel Brazier of Parkway West High School

Feature: Senior Ava Carson of Nerinx Hall High School

All 22 winning photos and honorable mentions will be featured in a framed gallery exhibition and giant screen display in the Public Media Commons at St. Louis Public Radio.