(Atlantic, IA) – Officials with SNO Sites – the nation’s leading provider of online publishing solutions since 2008 – has recognized the AHSneedle, an Atlantic High School student-run publication, as a 2025-2026 SNO Distinguished Site; one of the highest honors a scholastic news website can achieve.
Established in the 2013-2014 academic year, SNO’s Distinguished Sites program is designed exclusively for SNO customers and reflects the highest standards in scholastic online journalism.
The program awards digital badges in six key areas: Site Excellence, Story Page Design, Writing, Multimedia, Continuous Coverage, and Audience Engagement. By earning all six badges, AHSneedle has demonstrated a commitment to excellence across every aspect of modern digital journalism. Jason Wallestad, co-founder of SNO sites, says “These badges represent the essential elements of a professional online newsroom. It’s always impressive to see student journalists push their sites – and their storytelling – to this level.”
Launched to set clear standards for high-quality student journalism online, the SNO Distinguished Sites program celebrates the hard work of student journalists and their advisers. In the most recent cycle, 73 schools earned Distinguished Site status by earning the full badge set.
To explore the work of the AHSneedle team, visit https://ahsneedle.com .
