2020 Story of the Year

Oct. 22, 2020

Associated Collegiate Press salutes the winners of its 2020 Story of the Year competition.

Winners were announced during the ACP/CMA Fall National College Media Convention awards ceremony, presented virtually on Oct. 22.

Ernie Pyle

The Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile Award is in honor of the 1944 Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, and the award is sponsored by the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation and Scripps Howard.

Pyle was an extraordinary journalist who had the ability to reach out and make folks feel comfortable, as they shared both good times and tough times. For the last 10 years of his life, Pyle’s columns ran six times a week, primarily in Scripps-Howard newspapers.

The Local Climate Change Reporting contest is in partnership with the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.

The center develops and applies social-science insights to help society make informed decisions that will stabilize the earth’s life-sustaining climate and prevent further harm from climate change.

WATCH
the awards ceremony for Pacemakers and Individual Awards
on Oct. 22, 2020.

2020 ACP Individual Awards

AdvertisementCartoonDesign
MultimediaReporterPhoto • Story
Best Use of Social MediaCOVID-19 Coverage

2020 ACP Pacemakers

Broadcast • Business • Innovation
Magazine • Newspaper • Online • 2019 Yearbook

Best of Show
Virtual 2020
Fall National College Media Convention
Oct. 24, 2020

ACP Awards page

ACP Awards archive


Breaking News Story

McCain Institute head Kurt Volker steps down as US diplomat

First
Andrew Howard
The State Press
Arizona State University
Phoenix, Arizona

Protest spills into the streets as both sides dispute negotiation efforts

Second
Kallan Arkeder, Toby Craner, Meilin Quinn
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Nursing open wounds

Third
Zach Walker
The Clarion
Bethel University
St. Paul, Minnesota

Jerry Sandusky’s 30-to-60-year prison sentence doesn’t change after resentencing hearing

Fourth
Maddie Aiken
The Daily Collegian
Penn State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Disheartening: Students, faculty react to calls to fire WSU President Jay Golden over Ivanka Trump fiasco

Fifth
Daniel Caudill, Emily Dulohery, Lindsay Smith
The Sunflower
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Seven arrests, 110 officers, tear gas and flash bangs down Santa Rosa in San Luis Obispo Protests

Honorable mention
Aidan McGloin
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California

Breaking down the UK cheerleading hazing investigation

Honorable mention
Natalie Parks
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

King’s freshmen rescued after jumping into Hudson

Honorable mention
Mattie Townson
Empire State Tribune
King’s College
New York, New York

OU Gaylord College professor uses racial slur during class in comparison to ‘OK, boomer’ phrase

Honorable mention
Nick Hazelrigg, Bailey Lewis, Jordan Miller
OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma

Former ICE Director Thomas Homan returned to speak at Penn. Protesters returned too

Honorable mention
Jonah Charlton, Pia Singh
The Daily Pennsylvanian
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


In-Depth News Story

Three Renowned Harvard Anthropologists Face Allegations of Sexual Harassment

First
James Bikales
The Harvard Crimson
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

New York college students eagerly await  marijuana legalization

Second
Rocio Fortuny, Patrick Linehan
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

The full story: How lack of oversight allowed a UGA employee to steal $1.3 million over a decade

Third
Spencer Donovan, Hunter Riggall, Savannah Sicurella
The Red & Black
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

‘It cannot be full consent’: OU drama alumna reports sexual relationship with professor who resigns amid Title IX inquiry

Fourth
Jana Allen
OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma

Lexington’s East End: A changing neighborhood

Fifth
Bailey Vandiver
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

ASU abandoned most of its operational sustainability goals

Honorable mention
Molly Stellino
The State Press
Arizona State University
Phoenix, Arizona

Freedom Wall Saga Casts Light on Relationship between Pepperdine and LGBTQ+ Students

Honorable mention
James Moore, Alex Neis
Graphic
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

When the Dean Said a Slur, and Then Got Promoted

Honorable mention
Leo Smith
F Newsmagazine
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Texas Tech sexual assault complaints, arrest follow Jett Duffey in recruitment to CMU

Honorable mention
Evan Petzold
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Student Government Assembly Chair Resigns Over Conflicting Statement, Relationship Between the NYPD and NYU Public Safety Remains Unclear

Honorable mention
Matthew Fischetti
Washington Square News
New York University
New York, New York


Feature Story

Courageous: The Maggie Nichols story

First
George Stoia
OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma

By chance:
Students who switched tickets escaped the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing

Second
Jordan Muller
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

One Year Later: Beauregard Mourns

Third
Cory Blackmon, Trice Brown, Evan Mealins
The Auburn Plainsman
Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

You Can’t Not Take That Home’:
Penn Nurses on the Emotional Toll of Coronavirus

Fourth
Annabelle Williams
34th Street Magazine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

An inside look at the struggle of a sexual assault survivor

Fifth
Cecilia Lenzen
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas

Humanitarian pushes through traumatic past to help others

Honorable mention
Fernando Haro
The Union
El Camino College
Torrance, California

Art Student’s Paint Brush Draws ‘Giants’

Honorable mention
Ande Richards
Collegian
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, California

Walking dynamite lights up community

Honorable mention
Cheyenne Miller
Crusader News
Seward County Community College
Liberal, Kansas

Life unveiled

Honorable mention
Maddie Christy, Emma Harville, Manisha Shakuntala, Katie Viesselman
Textura India
Bethel University
St. Paul, Minnesota


The story of a Paralympic gold medal-winning sled hockey player

Honorable mention
Dominic Hoscher
Lindenlink
Lindenwood University
St. Charles, Missouri


Sports Game Story

‘Absolutely devastating’:
This loss, 98-96 in OT to Duke, is a brutal one for UNC

First
Chapel Fowler
The Daily Tar Heel
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Louisville crushes Syracuse’s bowl game ambitions with 56-34 win

Second
Andrew Graham
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Michigan fails to overcome early deficit, loses to Penn State, 28-21

Third
Max Marcovitch
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Richmond stunts men’s basketball’s two-game win streak

Fourth
Emily Maise
The GW Hatchet
The George Washington University
Washington, D.C

State Women Stunned by Denver

Fifth
Landon Dierks
The Collegian
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

Gonzaga Outlasts Pepperdine in Conference Battle

Honorable mention
Austin Hall
Graphic
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Guy’s Game Winner Leads Eagles to Season Sweep of Notre Dame

Honorable mention
Emma Healy
The Heights
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

‘LeBron Tillman’ and the final play that helped MSU men’s basketball escape Illinois

Honorable mention
Chase Michaelson
The State News
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Final foul lifts Louisville over Pitt, 73-68

Honorable mention
Stephen Thompson
The Pitt News
University of Pittsburg
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bobcats knock off panthers in triple-overtime thriller

Honorable mention
Colton McWilliams
The University Star
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas


Sports Feature Story

In a city full of Girards, Joseph Girard III made it big

First
Josh Schafer
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Walk-on to coach:
How Jon Fleming moved from one seat on the bench to another

Second
Ian Kreider
KentWired.com
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio

Untold Legacy

Third
Taylor Jennings-Brown
Garnet & Black
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina

Crissy Shannon: Bending over backwards for Pitt band

Fourth
Trent Leonard
The Pitt News
University of Pittsburg
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fighting forever

Fifth
Emma Eidsvoog, Nala Goyal, Braeden Peterson, Vada Stoddard, Jake Van Loh
Textura India
Bethel University
St. Paul, Minnesota

Jim Harbaugh’s drive home

Honorable mention
Ethan Sears
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

This is our normal and it’s wonderful’:
How OU’s coaches’ wives will make sure Santa finds Sooner families in Atlanta at College Football Playoff

Honorable mention
George Stoia
OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma

Chase Adams steps up as ‘glue of the family’ as grandmother battles coronavirus

Honorable mention
Kyle Garcia
The Beacon
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon


Where his brother’s memory lives on, Penn State men’s lacrosse’s Teddy Darcey blazes his own trail

Honorable mention
Shane Connelly
The Daily Collegian
Penn State University
State College, Pennsylvania

Following physical and emotional hardship, Courtanae Calhoun is looking to strike back

Honorable mention
Brianna Harmon
The Et Cetera
Eastfield College
Mesquite, Texas


Editorial

Mayor Bottoms, tear down this statue!

First
Staff
The Signal
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Call a fire a fire

Second
Tori Pender
The College Voice
Mercer County Community College
Cranbury, New Jersey

It’s On Us, but it’s also on MSU

Third
Staff
The State News
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Administrators need to issue parking permit refunds this month

Fourth
Omar Rashad
The Union
El Camino College
Torrance, California

Dropping the ball:
Moving rivalry game to Detroit upsets students, locals

Fifth
Dylan Goetz
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Denying proposed calendar ignores the needs of students, disrupts shared governance

Honorable mention
Kaylie McLaughlin
The Collegian
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

UK planning committees, here are some things you must consider

Honorable mention
Natalie Parks
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Editorial: UNC’s coronavirus response the good, the bad and the ugly

Honorable mention
Staff
The Daily Tar Heel
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina


Column

First
Solé Ruiz
The Sun
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Disrespect of Black men is demoralizing

The Ghost of Your Hands

Second
Jules Graebner
Stephens Life
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Piecing life together after an eating disorder

Third
Missy Johnson
Talisman
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Breath is Precious: The Vaping Disease Killed My Mother

Fourth
Mary Margaret Davis
The Graphic
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

On George

Fifth
Alyssa Story
Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

Fearing for my father’s life

Honorable mention
Erin Holve
The Orion
California State University, Chico
Chico, California

Shiavon’s Jawn: I was raised by a village that didn’t talk about feelings

Honorable mention
Shiavon Chatman
The State Hornet
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, California

Tracing the origins and present-day resurgence of anti-Semitism

Honorable mention
Madison Lotenschtein
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Opinion | One year later: Perspective from a Tree of Life congregation member

Honorable mention
Aidan Segal
The Pitt News
University of Pittsburg
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

His name is Justin Howell

Honorable mention
Joshua Howell
The Battalion
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas


Diversity Story

Funded But Forgotten

First
Megan Conn, Georgina Hallowell, Larisa Karr Karr, Modou Nyang
NYCity News Service
City University of New York
New York, New York

’We are tenacious’:
The first-generation, low-income student experience at Duke

Second
Shannon Fang
The Chronicle
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

We can help ourselves:’ Native women come together to confront high rates of maternal mortality

Third
Delia Johnson, Kyley Warren
Cronkite News
Arizona State University
Phoenix, Arizona

She can do it too

Fourth
Kevin Caparoso
Warrior Life
El Camino College
Torrance, California

A little less than kind

Fifth
Annie Aguiar
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

Preserving Mother Tongues

Honorable mention
Karina Zapata
Calgary Journal
Mount Royal University
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

From memes to meetups, the subtle asian traits Facebook page unites cultures in a worldwide community

Honorable mention
Bridgette Baron, Lauren Ho, Dustin Newman, Kaia Sherry, Max Wu
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California

If it isn’t intersectional, it isn’t feminism

Honorable mention
Makena Huey, Maria Belen Iturralde, Brianna Willis
Currents
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

When the illness is invisible:
Kent State students living with chronic illness turn to each other for support

Honorable mention
Lyndsey Brennan
KentWired.com
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio

Racism continues to surface in the Church and at BYU

Honorable mention
Lisi Merkley
The Daily Universe
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah


Local Climate Change Reporting

The Local Climate Change Reporting contest is in partnership with the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.

Climate 414

First
Quinn Clark, Sam Dahm, Michael Greer, Meghan Gresk, Jeanna Prudhomme
Arches
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In Focus: As climate change worsens, combined sewers pose new issues

Second
Emma Edmund
The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Sea Level Rise and Its Impact on Coastal Cities Like Malibu

Third
Jenna Gaertner, Brianna Willis
The Graphic
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California

Point of no return?

Fourth
Max Zambrano
Talisman
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Divestment, Part 2: A ‘Neutral’ Policy

Fifth
Dustin Lowman
F Newsmagazine
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

It’s gettin’ hot in here:
Reproductive, climate justice intersect at  ‘A Case for Climate and Sex Symposium’

Honorable mention
Layla Chamberlin
The Daily Californian
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California

Cal State LA goes green

Honorable mention
Richard Tzul
University Times
California State University – Los Angeles
Cerritos, California

Climate Inaction: Historical activism and the University’s response to the climate movement

Honorable mention
Erin White
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Big Ten students call for fossil fuel divestment

Honorable mention
Wendy Guzman
The State News
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Behind Penn’s 1.5* Minute Climate Lectures

Honorable mention
Fernanda Brizuela
34th Street Magazine
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile

The Human-Interest Profile Award is sponsored by the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation and Scripps Howard.

Live and learn

First
Caroline Anders
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

It fills my soul’: One woman’s goal to train psychiatric service dogs for survivors

Second
C.J. Moore
The State News
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

2 years ago, she was pre-med at the UI. Now, she’s running her own organic farm

Third
Katelyn Weisbrod
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Neal Powless: SU Ombuds brings a message of healing to a polarized world

Fourth
Amanda Paule
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Life after loss

Fifth
Kimiko Dugan
SALT: Military Photojournalism 2020
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Making a discovery: How Julianna Ramirez used her passion for science to find success

Honorable mention
Michelle Johnson
The Arbiter
Boise State University
Boise, Idaho

All little butterflies

Honorable mention
Zach Walker
The Clarion
Bethel University
St. Paul, Minnesota

Financial independence at 25 cents an hour

Honorable mention
Omar Padillo
Washington Square News
New York University
New York, New York

Chasing ice with the U.S. Coast Guard

Honorable mention
Mia Werner
The Beacon
University of Portland
Portland, Oregon

Finding stillness in the chaos


Honorable mention
Skye Seip
The Et Cetera
Eastfield College
Mesquite, Texas