APW did quite well in the At-large division of the NFPW 2026 Communications Contest. Affiliate states that do not have their own contest can enter the at-large division. Entries must have been published or broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2025. This year there were 173 entries so a lot of competition! First place winners of the At-large and affiliate state contests go on to the national level competition. Sweepstakes award winners will be announced at the 2026 NFPW Conference in Maryland in September.

Severn APW members won awards for their submissions, including one member in two categories.

APW At-large Contest Winners

• Carol Baxter, 3rd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Children’s Book – Fiction – Oblee Ollie Olee’s Roly-Poly Rally Race
• Dianne Beeaff, 2nd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Infinite Paradise, Witnessing the Wild
• Bobbie Bennett, 3rd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Widowhood: The Next Chapter, I’m Still Here-Now What?
• Jan Cleere, 3rd: Writing – Third Place – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Biography or History – 100 Western Women: The Bold, Brave, Gutsy Women of Arizona’s Past
• Marie Fasano, 3rd: Writing – Personality Profiles – 750 words or fewer – Wright Brothers Master Flight Award
• Marie Fasano, Honorable Mentions for Writing – News story – Print-based newspaper – Temporary Tower at Payson Airport and Writing – Feature Story – Print-based newspaper – Students Achieve the Gift of Flight
• Nancy Marshall, 2nd: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Biography or History – Six Who Stopped the Steal
• Fawzia Tung, Honorable Mention: Writing – Books, Short Stories, Verse – Nonfiction Book for Adult Readers – Autobiography or Memoir – Mirror in the Sand
  

Winners were recognized at the State Conference on April 25, 2026. Four of the winners were in attendance: Fawzia Tung, Nancy Marshall, Bobbie Bennett, Marie Fasano.