2026 North Dakota Professional Communicators

NDPC 2026 Contest Winners

North Dakota Professional Communicators announced the winners of the 2026 NDPC Communications Contest on April 30 during the organization’s spring conference and awards ceremony. This year’s event was held at the Gorecki Alumni Center on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks. NDPC members from North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota earned awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, video, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches.

Amy Wieser Willson, president of Neon Loon Communications, took first place in the sweepstakes competition. Roxane Salonen, owner of Beauclair Communications and a columnist for Forum Communications, took second. Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks Herald reporter, received third in the sweepstakes. Sweepstakes winners are determined by a weighted point system based on place and the number of entries in each category of the Communications Contest.

Roxane Salonen, a columnist for Forum Communications, received the 2026 Communicator of Achievement award. As a nationally published journalist, author, and speaker, Salonen has built a distinguished career over more than 30 years by championing First Amendment freedoms through thoughtful, faith‑centered writing that elevates religious dialogue in the public square. Communicator of Achievement is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members.

Salonen now advances to the national Communicator of Achievement competition at the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) Communications Conference. All first place NDPC Communications Contest award winners also advance to the national competition. NFPW will announce the national winners at the conference scheduled for September 24-26 in Ellicott City, Md. 

The individual winners at the state level are:

Catherine Dorsher, Grand ForksSecond: GraphicsThird: GraphicsHonorable Mention: Graphics 

Dr. Debora Dragseth, DickinsonFirst: Feature Story – Online PublicationFirst: Specialty Article - Food​First: Columns – InformationalFirst: Writing – Essay, Chapter, or Section in a BookFirst: Book Edited by EntrantSecond: Personality Profile – 750 Words or FewerSecond: Specialty Article – Arts & EntertainmentSecond: Specialty Article – SportsSecond: Book Edited by EntrantSecond: Single General PhotoHonorable Mention: Specialty Article – History

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Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks

First: Continuing Coverage or Unfolding NewsFirst: In-Depth ReportingFirst: Feature Story – Print-Based NewspaperFirst: Personality Profile – More than 750 WordsFirst: Specialty Article – AgricultureFirst: Specialty Article – HistoryFirst: Specialty Article – HobbyFirst: Specialty Article – ObituaryFirst: Specialty Article – Science

First: Specialty Article – Social Issues

Second: Specialty Article – EducationSecond: Specialty Article – Food

Third: Specialty Article – Arts & Entertainment

Third: Specialty Article – HealthHonorable Mention: News Story – Print-Based Newspaper

Honorable Mention: Specialty Article – Government or Politics

Amanda Kosior, Grand ForksFirst: ​PR Campaign – Internal Communications 

Erica Rapp, FargoFirst: Social Media Campaign – Corporate or For-ProfitFirst: Specialty Article - Style 

Tracy Nicholson, West Fargo

First: Publication Edited by Entrant – MagazineSecond: Feature Story – Magazine/Newsletter/OtherThird: Feature Story - Magazine/Newsletter/OtherHonorable Mention – Editorial / Op-Ed

Honorable Mention – Editorial / Op-Ed

Chloe Piekkola, Grand ForksFirst: Creative Verse – Single PoemSecond: GraphicsThird: Creative Verse – Single PoemThird: ​Single General Photo

Roxane Salonen, FargoFirst: Podcast

First: Columns – Personal Opinion

First: Specialty Article – Arts & EntertainmentFirst: Specialty Article – Education

First: Specialty Article – Personal Essay

First: Specialty Article – ReligionFirst: Specialty Article – Sports

First: Specialty Article – TravelSecond: Feature Story – Print-Based NewspaperSecond: PodcastSecond: Specialty Article – History

Second: Specialty Article – HealthSecond: Specialty Article – ReligionSecond: Specialty Article – Social issues

Third: Column – Personal OpinionThird: Specialty Article – HealthHonorable Mention: Feature Story – Print-Based NewspaperHonorable Mention: Specialty Article - Arts & Entertainment 

Raquel Strand, Coon Rapids, Minn.Second: Public Relations Materials – Report 

Alizjah Swenson, Grand ForksFirst: ​Video for Web – Web Reporting, Single News or Feature StorySecond: Social Media Campaign – Corporate or For-Profit 

Danielle Teigen, Turton, S.D.

Third: ​Specialty Article – History

Third: Personality Profile – More than 750 Words

Honorable Mention: News Story – Print-Based Newspaper

Phillip Voeller, BeulahFirst: Video for Web – Special InterestFirst: Video for Web – Non-Profit or Government OrganizationSecond: Video for Web – Non-Profit or Government Organization 

Amy Wieser Willson, Moorhead, Minn.

First: Graphics – InfographicsFirst: Website Edited / Managed by Entrant – Nonprofit, Government or EducationalFirst: Book Designed by EntrantFirst: Feature Story – Magazine / Newsletter / Other PublicationFirst: Personality Profile – 750 Words or FewerFirst: Single General Photo

First: Public Relations Materials – Catalog, Manual or HandbookFirst: Advertising CampaignFirst: Electronic Newsletter – Nonprofit, Government or EducationalFirst: Social Media Campaign – Nonprofit, Government or EducationalFirst: Social Media Presence – Nonprofit, Government or EducationalFirst: Web CopySecond: Personality Profile – More than 750 WordsSecond: Public Relations Campaign – Internal CommunicationsSecond: Social Media Presence – Corporate or For-Profit

Second: Website Edited / Managed by Entrant – Corporate or For-ProfitThird: Video for Web – Nonprofit or Government OrganizationThird: Book Edited by Entrant​

The group entry winners at the state level are:

Kate Ankrom, Elizabeth Winkelman & Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

Second: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Honorable Mention: Public Relations Materials – Brochure – Corporate or For-Profit

Andrea Boe & Alizjah Swenson – AE2SSecond: Video for Web – Special Interest 

Julia DeSantis, Leora Hillman & Brandon Novak – NoridianThird: Public Relations Campaign – Internal Communications

Catherine Dorsher & Elizabeth Winkelman – JLG Architects

First: Graphics

Third: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Dr. Debora Dragseth & Michael Dragseth First: Children’s Book – Non-Fiction

Dr. Debora Dragseth, James (Scooter) Pursley & Jim Dahl – Dickinson State UniversityFirst: Non-Fiction Book for Adult Readers – General Nonfiction 

Tracy Nicholson & Haley Darling – JLG Architects

Third: Feature Story – Magazine, Newsletter / Other Publication

Leah Parker, Amanda Poehls, Catherine Dorsher, Elizabeth Winkelman, Erica Rapp,

Haley Darling, Hattie Gompf, Kate Ankrom, Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

First: Social Media Presence – Corporate or For-Profit

Amanda Poehls & Tracy Nicholson – JLG Architects

First: Public Relations Materials – Brochure – Corporate or For-Profit

Honorable Mention: Specialty Article – Health

Amanda Poehls, Tracy Nicholson & Elizabeth Winkelman – JLG Architects

First: Publication Regularly Edited by Entrant – Newsletter / Other Publication

First: Page Design – Newsletter / Other Publication

Roxane Salonen & Karen Anne Mahoney

First: Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir

Cody Schuler & Andrew Spratta – AE2SFirst: Public Relations Campaign – Integrated Communications

Andrew Spratta, Marty Doll & Raquel Strand – AE2SFirst: Public Relations Materials – Report

Source: https://www.aboutndpc.org/2026NDPCwinners