Taariq Ahmed is a member of the Class of 2025 and serves as the news editor. He joined the Midway as a sophomore after moving from St. Louis, where he completed Introduction to Journalism at his previous school in ninth grade. Taariq is the co-president of his school’s Young Men of Color group and Being Racially Aware and Valuing Ethnicity conference board. Outside of school, Taariq enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising and reading the news.
Awards:
2025 National Scholastic Press Association Design of the Year: Newspaper Front Page, honorable mention
2025 Youth Journalism International Student Journalist of the Year
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association, Illinois Journalist of the Year, runner-up
2025 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle: Photo slideshow, first place (with Jaya Alenghat, Taariq Ahmed, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), Eclipse Excitement
2025 Scholastic Press Association of Chicago, news story, superior
2025 Scholastic Press Association of Chicago, special coverage (with Clare McRoberts, Taariq Ahmed, Chloë Alexander, Lila Coyne, Declan Smith), superior
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, news story Problematic ‘confessions’ shared
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, centerspread story package (with Chloë Alexander, Light Dohrn, Edward Park, Sygne Stole), Freedom in the Balance
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, centerspread story package (with Clare McRoberts, Milo Platz-Walker, Jaya Alenghat, Skye Freeman, Naomi Benton, Lila Coyne, Sygne Stole), Addicted to the Algorithm
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, in-depth news story, TikTok remains a staple amid security scare
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, multimedia story package (with Jaya Alenghat, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), Eclipse excitement: Lab community gathers to celebrate unique celestial event
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, news story (with Jaya Alenghat, Clare McRoberts), Lab adapts to reality of tighter budget
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, front-page design, Taariq Ahmed, Vol. 99, Issue 10, May 30, 2024
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Third place, front-page design, Taariq Ahmed, Vol. 100, Issue 3, Oct. 24, 2024
2025 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Honorable mention, multimedia story package (with Skye Freeman), Dynamic Duets: Through co-teaching, music faculty improve engagement, experience
2024 Journalism Education Association National Student Media Contests, Philadelphia convention: Excellent, commentary
2024 National Scholastic Press Association Digital Story of the Year: Photo Slideshow (with Jaya Alenghat, Mia Lipson, Nathan Li, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel, Grace LaBelle, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Bryce Light), honorable mention
2024 Illinois All-State Journalism Team
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, sports news story, 7 seniors commit to play college athletics in community event
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, photo gallery or slideshow (with Chloë Alexander, Skye Freeman), ArtsFest activities reflect students spirit, creativity
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, personality profile, Juggling Act: Senior works to explore passions with numerous roles in upcoming fall play
2024 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Second place, photo gallery or slideshow (with Mia Lipson, Alex Diamond, Bryce Light, Olin Nafziger, Eli Raikhel), U-High celebrates community spirit in annual Homecoming assembly
2023 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Third place, news (with Mia Lipson, Téa Tamburo), With powerful testimonials of discrimination, groups call for action
