2026 Individual Category Contest Divisions

MIPA’s Individual Category Contest includes 112 categories in various areas of student media. MIPA received 3,191 total entries the 2026 contest. Entries were judged at Michigan State University on Saturday, Feb. 28, or remotely by MIPA advisers, college faculty, professional journalists and college journalists. View the MIPA’s annual contest report for more information.

MIPA member programs are divided into divisions in the below contest areas based on school enrollment figures or, for yearbooks, page counts in their 2025 books.

Enrollment figures for public schools were obtained from the Michigan Department of Education for the most recent year available. In cases where enrollment was not available from MDE, data was obtained from the Michigan High School Athletic Association or directly from advisers.

Digital Media & Multimedia

1-2 Divisions: Programs are placed into divisions based on school enrollment. These categories are open to all types of media programs.

Division 1

27 media programs, 24 schools (listed alphabetically)

Division 2

Categories DM-02 and DM-06 were split into 2 divisions for judging. Division 2 programs are indicated with an (*). 11 media programs, 10 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Lake Orion HS – WDBC Dragon Broadcasting	2035
Troy HS – Film Club	2035
Loy Norrix HS – Knight Life	1785
Ann Arbor Huron HS – The Emery	1696
Davison HS – DTV	1623
Troy Athens HS – Athens TV	1468
West Bloomfield HS – Laker Update	1434
Utica HS – Arrow	1391
Traverse City West Senior HS – Occidentalist	1384
H. H. Dow HS – Bolt Media	1272
H. H. Dow HS – The Charger	1272
H. H. Dow HS – Update	1272
Skyline HS – The Skyline Post*	1237
East Lansing HS – Portrait*	1233
Portage Northern HS – The Northern Light*	1194
South Lyon East HS – Beast News*	1174
Grosse Pointe South HS – GPTV	1135
Grosse Pointe South HS – The Tower*	1135
Midland HS – Focus*	1129
Wylie E. Groves HS – Scriptor*	1108
Jackson HS – The Reflector News	989
Northwest HS – Moxie Mountie*	958
Grosse Pointe North HS – Norsemen News*	933
Lake Shore HS – Shorian Report*	914
Traverse City East MS – Trojan TV	829
Chelsea HS – The Bleu Print*	750
Clague MS – The Cougar Star	696
Annapolis HS – The Cougar Crier*	682
Detroit Country Day School – The Day Times*	610
Ann Arbor Community HS – The Communicator*	513
Ovid-Elsie HS – OETV Update	372
Frederick V. Pankow Center – LCPS-TV “CreuseLine”	50

Print & Online News, including Design, Infographics & Art; News Writing; & News Photography

5 Divisions: Print and online news programs are placed into divisions based on school enrollment. Middle school programs may compete in Division 4 whenever 2 or fewer programs submit entries in a category.

Division 1

12 media programs, 12 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Plymouth-Canton Educational Park – The Perspective	5603
Grand Blanc HS – Bobcat Banner	2377
Troy HS – The Chariot	2032
Adlai E. Stevenson HS – The Vanguard	1913
Brighton HS – BHS Times	1887
Loy Norrix HS – Knight Life	1785
Dearborn HS – The Pioneer Press	1775
Ann Arbor Huron HS – The Emery	1696
Rochester HS – The Talon	1682
Pioneer HS – Pioneer Optimist	1671
Henry Ford II HS – The Generator	1663
Eisenhower HS – The Eagle’s Eye	1625

Division 2

10 media programs, 10 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Bloomfield Hills HS – The Hawkeye	1481
Utica HS – Arrow	1391
Traverse City West Senior HS – Occidentalist	1384
H. H. Dow HS – Update	1272
Mona Shores HS – The Sailors’ Log	1268
Lakeview HS – The Crystal	1241
Roosevelt HS – Wy-News	1239
Skyline HS – The Skyline Post	1237
East Lansing HS – Portrait	1233
Portage Northern HS – The Northern Light	1194

Division 3

11 media programs, 11 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Grosse Pointe South HS – The Tower	1135
Midland HS – Focus	1129
Wylie E. Groves HS – Scriptor	1108
Northview HS – The Roar	1078
Dexter HS – The Squall	1053
Forest Hills Central HS – Central Trend	999
Detroit Catholic Central HS – Spectrum	998
Jackson HS – The Reflector News	989
Fenton HS – InPrint	982
Northwest HS – Moxie Mountie	958
Grand Rapids City High Middle School – The City Voice	955

Division 4

11 media programs, 11 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Grosse Pointe North HS – North Pointe	933
St. Joseph HS – Wind-Up	933
Waterford Kettering HS – Captain’s Call	909
East Grand Rapids HS – The East Vision	908
Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School – The Crane-Clarion	812
Chelsea HS – The Bleu Print	750
Annapolis HS – The Cougar Crier	682
Detroit Country Day School – The Day Times	610
Ann Arbor Community HS – The Communicator	513
Stockbridge HS – Uncaged	481
Mercy HS – Newsprint	474

Division MS

2 media programs, 2 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Clague MS – The Cougar Star	696
Cranbrook Kingswood Boys MS – Crane	175

Video Journalism, Video Production & Video Talent

2 Divisions: Programs are placed into divisions based on school enrollment. Middle school programs competed in Division 2.

Division 1

12 programs, 11 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Novi HS – Cat’s Eye News	2141
Lake Orion HS – WDBC Dragon Broadcasting	2035
Troy HS – Film Club	2032
Loy Norrix HS – Knight Life	1785
Rockford HS – Beyond the Rock	1750
Ann Arbor Huron HS – The Emery	1696
Davison HS – DTV	1623
Saline HS – Hornet Nation	1519
Saline HS – SHS Today	1519
Troy Athens HS – Athens TV	1468
West Bloomfield HS – Laker Update	1434
H. H. Dow HS – Bolt Media	1272

Division 2

20 programs, 18 schools

School – Media Program	Enrollment
Lakeview HS – Channel 101 News	1241
Lakeview HS – Spartan Nation	1241
RoosevelRoosevelt HS – WyTV	1239
South Lyon East HS – WSLE-TV	1174
Grosse Pointe South HS – GPTV	1135
Northview HS – The Roar	1079
Northwest HS – Mountie Nation Station	958
t HS – Moxie Mountie	958
Grosse Pointe North HS – Norsemen News	933
Lake Shore HS – Shorian Report	914
Traverse City East MS – Trojan TV	829
Haslett HS – Haslett Media Productions	774
Clague MS – The Cougar Star	696
Annapolis HS – The Cougar Crier	682
Detroit Country Day School – DCDS: School of Film	610
Hill-McCloy HS – MDM-TV.com	449
Ovid-Elsie HS – OETV Update	372
McBain HS – Rambler Review	294
Cranbrook Kingswood Boys MS – CKTV	175
Frederick V. Pankow Center – LCPS-TV “CreuseLine”	~

Yearbook

4 Divisions: Yearbooks are placed into divisions based on page count in their books. Middle school programs may compete in Division 3 whenever 2 or fewer programs submit entries in a category.

Division 1

7 yearbooks

School – Yearbook Program	Enrollment	Page Count
Lake Orion HS – Dragon	2035	364
Troy HS – Gladiator	2032	328
Saline HS – The Salinian	1519	315
H. H. Dow HS – The Charger	1265	314
Grand Blanc HS – Echo	2377	308
Troy Athens HS – The Odyssey	1468	280
Lakeview HS – The Log	1241	272

Division 2

7 yearbooks

School – Yearbook Program	Enrollment	Page Count
Grosse Pointe South HS – The Viewpointe	1135	266
Eisenhower HS – Esprit de Corps	1625	256
Waterford Kettering HS – Kismet	909	256
East Lansing HS – Ceniad	1233	248
Loy Norrix HS – Accolade	1785	240
Henry Ford II HS – The Executive	1663	233
Ann Arbor Huron HS – The Enthymion	1696	224

Division 3

11 yearbooks

*MS programs may elect to compete up in divisions of smallest high schools

School – Yearbook Program	Enrollment	Page Count
Lakeshore HS – Driftwood	843	216
Northwest HS – Retrospective	958	216
Adlai E. Stevenson HS – The Ambassador	1913	208
Fenton HS – Fentonian	982	208
Holt HS – Rampages	1529	208
Utica HS – Warrior	1391	204
St. Joseph HS – Mazenblue	942	184
Monroe HS – Highlighter Yearbook	1332	168
Wayne Memorial HS – Wayne Memorial Spectator	1263	164
Ann Arbor Community HS – The Midnight Sun	513	152
Saline MS – The Hornet*	1081	124

Division MS

2 yearbooks

School – Yearbook Program	Enrollment	Page Count
Traverse City East MS – Flashback	829	116
Clague MS – Paw Prints	696	80