Members of the 2026-27 ODYSSEY Media Group Cabinet pose in front of the OMG trophy case on Sept. 14. The 2025-26 ODYSSEY Newsmagazine and ODYSSEY Media Group website were awarded NSPA’s highest rating, which was accompanied by a critique of the publication with both praise and suggestions for improvement. “The All-American is different from a lot of the awards we receive in the fact that we receive feedback alongside the recognition,” ODYSSEY Media Group Editor-in-Chief Lea D’Angelo, a senior, said. “The feedback the judges give us is extremely helpful as we move into the school year and implement both our ideas and suggestions the judge has given us.” Photo by Grady Dunston
The ODYSSEY Media Group’s newsmagazine and website received All-American ratings from the National Scholastic Press Association.
The National Scholastic Press Association recognized the ODYSSEY Media Group for its newsmagazine and online coverage in the 2025-256 school year by evaluating the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine and OMG website with an “All-American” ranking in critiques released on Aug. 4 and May 18, respectively.
The NSPA critique service for websites provides publications with evaluations and guidance on improving reader services. The OMG website received marks of distinction in the following areas: Coverage & Content, Interactivity & Community, Breaking News, Design & Navigation, Interactive Media & Frequency and Site Design.
The website’s overall score of 471 out of 500 points sets it at NSPA’s highest ranking, “All American.” The site earned Marks of Distinction for Coverage & Content, Interactivity & Community, Breaking News and Interactive Media & Frequency.
“The site’s use of multimedia is especially strong. Videos, graphics, photo galleries and interactive packages do not feel tacked on; they strengthen the reporting and help readers understand the stories more fully. The graphics are well done, the photography is consistently impressive, and the captions are among the strongest I have seen this year,” NSPA judge David Cutler wrote in his critique. “In fact, the captions go well beyond basic identification and often add meaningful context. I also want to applaud the newsroom’s clear respect for copyright and ethical use of media, which reflects well on the professionalism of the publication.”
The website has earned back-to-back All-American ratings under the guidance of OMG Editor-in-Chief Lea D’Angelo.
“The All-American is different from a lot of the awards we receive in the fact that we receive feedback alongside the recognition,” D’Angelo said. “The feedback the judges give us is extremely helpful as we move into the school year and implement both our ideas and suggestions the judge has given us.”
Through its critique service, the NSPA provides print publications with suggestions for improvement in reader services and coverage. The ODYSSEY Newsmagazine received Marks of Distinction for Coverage & Content, Coverage & Content, Text, Visuals and Presentation.
“The Odyssey staff does an incredible job of covering the students and community in a variety of engaging ways,” NSPA judge Sarah Kirksey wrote in her critique. “They help connect events and people within the community to the students.”
The ODYSSEY, which was led by Print Editor-in-Chief Liza Larson for three issues before handing off the magazine to D’Angelo for the fourth issue, had an overall score of 473 out of 500 possible points, repeating its All-American status from the previous year.
“Taking on this magazine was certainly a daunting task but receiving this feedback over the summer helped me feel more prepared coming into the year knowing where we were doing well versus where we had room for improvement,” D’Angelo said.
“We had a great deal of talent last year. In many ways, the recognition is a testament to that group, but also provides incentive to continue to grow, evolve and reset the way the staff conducts themselves as teammates, journalists and ambassadors for Clarke Central High School.”
— David Ragsdale,
OMG adviser and founder David Ragsdale
For 2025-26 OMG Managing Editor Peter Atchley, currently a freshman at the University of Georgia, the recognition was especially impressive as he reflected on his four-year career, three years of which were on the Editorial Board.
“It feels amazing to hear that a publication I poured into over four years continues to be rewarded for its exceptional work,” Atchley said. “The ODYSSEY deserves to be recognized at this level because the people on staff care so deeply for every piece that goes to print.”
OMG adviser and founder David Ragsdale felt the two evaluations put the previous year in perspective.
“We had a great deal of talent last year. In many ways, the recognition is a testament to that group, but also provides incentive to continue to grow, evolve and reset the way the staff conducts themselves as teammates, journalists and ambassadors for Clarke Central High School,” Ragsdale said.
