Javascript is required to use this website.

Meet the Omaha World-Herald's 2026 All State Academic Team

Meet the Omaha World-Herald's 2026 All State Academic Team

Luna Stephens World-Herald Staff Writer
May 10, 2026
May 10, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago
0
17 min to read

Following their impressive high school careers, the nine members of the 2026 World-Herald All State Team will begin their next chapter at universities both near and far this fall.

Meet the Omaha World-Herald's 2026 All State Academic Team.

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-02.JPG (copy) — "'1984' by George Orwell, which I first read in seventh grade. Especially with the ubiquity of online media, '1984' has made me more aware of what I consume and the importance of thinking on my own. It’s one of the few books that have actually reshaped how I understand the world around me."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-03.JPG (copy) — "My favorite book series is 'Big Nate.' The main character presents himself as overly confident, but his thoughts and actions reveal a deeper desire to be accepted. It’s funny, but also relatable because it reflects experiences that I have had growing up."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-08.JPG (copy) — "My favorite book now is 'Mistborn' by Brandon Sanderson. While there are a lot of fantasy books that I have really enjoyed, 'Mistborn' stands out to me as a book that does an incredible job of creating a vivid and imaginative world with a nuanced story. I often read books as a form of escapism, and 'Mistborn' quickly enveloped me into its world of magic and rebellion. Whenever I feel tired or annoyed, I know I can also come back to it to get away for an hour."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-05.JPG (copy) — "Stephen King has a knack for creating wicked, twisted characters that provoke my imagination. His book 'Misery' has my favorite character, Annie Wilkes. Her unpredictable behavior made the book gripping and something I still think about today."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-07.JPG (copy) — "'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' is easily my favorite series of novels. It isn’t up to par linguistically with some of the more complicated books I’ve read, but I’d argue that its stories can be just as, if not more, intriguing. Jeff Kinney doesn’t try to make the books overly difficult to follow and uses a wide variety of humor to constantly amuse the reader. Greg is an interesting character who often fluctuates from relatable to appalling, and the illustrations highlight the absurdity of the situations he finds himself in."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-01.JPG (copy) — "My favorite book will always be 'Shelter' by Harlan Coben. It is by no means one of the greatest novels, but it was the first book I remember from my childhood. What makes it special is the fact that I was recommended the book by my school’s librarian, who was someone I looked up to as a kid."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-09.JPG (copy) — "My favorite book is 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas. I like it because it’s exciting, but also really deep at the same time. It’s not just about revenge — it’s about patience, intelligence and how someone can completely change after what they go through. I also like how detailed the story is and how everything connects in the end. It’s one of those books that keeps you interested the whole time and actually makes you think about justice, choices and how far someone might go when they feel wronged."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-06.JPG (copy) — "My favorite book is 'Murder Games' by James Patterson. I love the way James Patterson writes, and you can always tell a work is his by the style of his books. Although I’ve read a lot of his books, this one really stood out for me. 'Murder Games' in particular had a really good plot line that kept me thinking about it long after I read it."

051026-owh-new-scholars-print-nf-04.JPG (copy) — "My current favorite book is 'Ancillary Mercy' by Ann Leckie. I am a big fan of science fiction, but this book stands out to me for its unique worldbuilding, balance between action and emotion, and how it ties the rest of its trilogy together. I also like that the book is very women-centered."