We believe journalism starts with curiosity, empathy and community connection – and this year, students from Soquel High School embodied all three in a remarkable way.
Five of the 10 finalists in Lookout Santa Cruz’s 2026 Student Journalism Scholarship competition came from Soquel High, an extraordinary showing that reflects the talent, dedication and community-minded storytelling happening inside their classrooms this year.
In April, we had the opportunity to celebrate these student journalists on campus alongside their families, teachers and the community members they profiled in their stories. The afternoon was filled with pizza, conversation and recognition as we presented each finalist with certificates and Lookout swag bags to honor their hard work and accomplishments.
What made the celebration especially meaningful was seeing the students surrounded by the very people they chose to write about: local unsung heroes whose stories might otherwise go untold. Parents gathered proudly, students shared their reporting experiences, and the room reflected exactly what the scholarship is meant to inspire: young people listening to their communities and learning the power of storytelling.
The five Soquel High finalists were:
The scholarship invites students across Santa Cruz County to profile an “unsung hero” in their community – someone making a positive difference through service, leadership or care for others. The challenge asks students to step into the role of a journalist by conducting interviews, taking photographs and crafting a compelling story grounded in facts and real community experiences.
What makes Soquel High School’s showing even more impressive is how the project came together in the classroom. One teacher incorporated the Lookout Student Journalism Scholarship into a class assignment, encouraging students to dive into community storytelling and interview local unsung heroes. To motivate participation, students were told that if they placed among Lookout’s top 10 finalists, they would be exempt from taking the class final exam – a challenge that clearly paid off. The result was an impressive five finalists from a single school.
This year marked Lookout’s biggest scholarship group yet, with submissions from students across the county. Although none of the Soquel High finalists finished in the top three overall, having half of the finalists come from one school speaks not only to the students’ talent, but also to the educators fostering journalism, civic engagement and storytelling in their classrooms.
We’re incredibly proud of these students and grateful to everyone who helped support and celebrate them. Their stories remind us that local journalism is not just about reporting the news, it’s also about seeing the people around us, asking thoughtful questions and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard.
You can read more about the 2026 Student Journalism Scholarship finalists and winners here:
Celebrating our 2026 Student Journalism winners — and the teachers who inspire them
Programs like the Student Journalism Scholarship are part of Lookout’s broader commitment to youth engagement and media literacy through Lookout in the Classroom and Lookout for Teachers.
Lookout for Teachers gives every middle and high school educator full access to Lookout’s trusted local journalism, along with a robust weekly stream of curriculum-aligned, classroom-ready resources, including quizzes, discussion guides, lesson plans and media literacy activities. By bringing local news directly into classrooms, the program helps students strengthen critical-thinking skills, engage more deeply with their community and better understand the role journalism plays in civic life.
