Tavio Mares-Van Praag is an 11th grade student at Brimmer and May in Newton, MA. He is currently the Editor-In-Chief for his school's student news website, The Gator. He enjoys writing and filming sports content, as well as reporting on general news. Outside of the newsroom, he likes playing and watching soccer along with sailing, snowboarding, and basketball. Tavio founded The Gator‘s sports broadcasting initiative and is a proud producer and commentator for the livestreams.
The Gator:
Journalist - 9th Grade
Social Media Manager - 9th Grade
Sports Editor - 10th Grade
Sports Editor/Editor In Chief - 11th Grade
Jesse Sports Broadcasting (jessesports.com):
Student Broadcaster (Color and Play-By-Play) - 11th Grade
Brimmer and May School:
Social Media Intern - 10th and 11th Grade
Personal Awards:
NESPA All New England Journalist, Rising Star Distinction
NSPA Clips and Clicks First Place Sports Story of the Semester, 2024: Andre Mills ’24: The Odyssey of a Basketball Prodigy
NESPA First Place for Sports Story, 2025, Beyond The Buzzer: AJ Reeves '18
CSPA Gold Circle Second Place Sports Story of the Year, 2025: BREAKING: Gators Defeat Penguins in Quarterfinal Upset
NSPA Digital Third Place Multimedia Sports Story-of-the-Year, 2025: From Underdogs to Champions
NSPA Digital Fifth Place Multimedia Feature of the Year, 2025: Beyond the Buzzer: AJ Reeves ‘18
NESPA Third Place Personality Profile, 2026: Mr. Szwartz Goes to Hollywood
NESPA Fifth Place for Sports Story, 2025: From Underdogs to Champions
NSPA Clips and Clicks Honorable Mention for Sports Story of the Semester, 2024: Rimon Zhao ’27 Kicks Off a New Chapter
NESPA Honorable Mention for Sports Story, 2025: Rimon Zhao Kicks Off a New Chapter
NESPA Honorable Mention for News Story, 2025: School Presses Pause on Argentina Exchange Program
NESPA Special Achievement for Page Design, 2024: BREAKING: Gators Defeat Penguins in Quarterfinal Upset
SNO Sites Excellence in Arts and Entertainment Writing, 2026: Mr. Szwartz Goes to Hollywood
NSPA Leadership In Student Journalism Award: 2025, 2026
Newsroom Awards:
CSPA Gold Crown (Online Publication): 2024, 2025
CSPA Silver Crown (Online Publication): 2026
NSPA Pacemaker Winner (Online Publication): 2025
NSPA Pacemaker Finalist (Online Publication): 2024
NESPA All-New England Achievement in Scholastic Editing and Publishing (2024)
NESPA First Place, All-New England, Scholastic Editing and Publishing for Schools Under 750 Enrollment (2025) (2026)
NESPA Highest Achievement in Scholastic Editing and Publishing (2024)
NESPA Honorable Mention in Home Page Design (2025)
NESPA First Place in Home Page Design (2026)