Associated Collegiate Press presented Best of Show awards at the conclusion of the Spring National College Media Conference, March 9, 2024, in La Jolla, California.

More than 900 collegiate journalists, advisers, speakers and exhibitors attended the conference, sponsored by ACP, California College Media Association and the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Convention attendees were eligible to participate in the on-site contest.

The Best of Show competition honored current student work in two categories posted below —

Individual Recognition

Staff Recognition

Experienced advisers and professional journalists judged all but two categories. People’s Choice and the Design Museum, by the Society for News Design, were voted on by conference attendees.

First Place
Kendyl Wilson
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
United Apartments

Second Place
Ruka Yaga
Daily Titan, California State University, Fullerton
Teaching is a chance to save the world

Third Place
Cindy Nguyen
Mustang Media Group, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
WOW Concert

Fourth Place
Skyler Hawkins
The Graphic, Pepperdine University (CA)
Lee Bowling Malibu Homes Real Estate

First Place
Raya Torres
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Fentanyl Crisis in OC

Second Place
Quinn Alexander
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
CSU Trade Workers On Strike

Third Place
Quinn Alexander
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
CFA Strike @ CSUN

Fourth Place
Jess Brumana
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
Children Rally for a Ceasefire in Gaza

First Place
Ava Domenichelli
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Young Marine Activist

Second Place
Sara Leon, Jose Vazquez
The Hornet, Fullerton College (CA)
”Nowhere” is finally ”somewhere” in theaters

Third Place
Chris Benis, Nolan Nguyen
The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Exclusive: Crossing guard Albert McCoon considers leaving LMU over low pay

Fourth Place
Betsy Schlehuber
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
Taylor Swift Inspired Musician

First Place
Quinn Alexander
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
CSUN Women’s Golf Hosts Tri-Match in Prevention of Human Trafficking

Second Place
Michael Hernandez
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Mind over Matter

Third Place
Kevin Fernandez
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Angel City Sports

Fourth Place
Mason Willett
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
High School Athlete Tackles Challenges on and off the Field

Fifth Place
Ian Belton
The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
End of an era: women’s swim team reconciles with program cancellation

Sixth Place
Elle Laur
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
CSUN Women’s Rugby Season Opener

Seventh Place
Edward Segal
The Daily Sundial, California State University, Northridge
High Hopes for CSUN Women’s Tennis

First Place
Lily Beck, Megan Foster, Madilyn Larsen, Ileana Rea Martinez, Lilly Montgomery
Pulse, Central Washington University
Ellensbirds

Second Place
Ailyn Dumas, Nicolette Monique Luna
El Sol, Southwestern College (CA)
Mexico’s Women Battle Femicide

Third Place
Dylan Delaney, Summer Haddaway, Tomiko Osawa
Word, University of California, Santa Barbara
Stop and Smell in Your Own Backyard

Fourth Place
Lizzie Kristal, Sharron Lou, Darby Steininger, Juliana Warnock
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
Blue Jean Baby

Fifth Place
Lizzie Kristal, Sharron Lou
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
Blue Jean Baby Cover

Sixth Place
Mary Elisabeth, Will Fallmer
Currents, Pepperdine University (CA)
The Joys of Antique Shopping: Treasures Tell Stories

Seventh Place
Lizzie Kristal
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
Bleu Cover

Eighth Place
Staff
The Peak, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
What’s your sound vibe?

Ninth Place
Misabel Cruz, Dylan Delaney, Makenna Gaeta, Summer Haddaway
Word, University of California, Santa Barbara
Issue 50 cover

Tenth Place
Ethan Dosa, Julia Gomez, Izzy Lemus, Jared Lennon
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
Messi Madness

First Place
Abbas Ghor
The Shorthorn, The University of Texas at Arlington
A to Z: Celebrating Black History

Second Place
Erin Martin
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
Dancing through neurodiversity

Third Place
Iyarie Murguia
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Century Of Sewage

Fourth Place
Katie Stute
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
A guide to the 2024 student government elections

Fifth Place
Wyatt Bible
The Collegian, California State University, Fresno
Measure E

Sixth Place
Lauren Ferrer, Jenny Jacoby, Cecelia Runner
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
The AI Interruption

Seventh Place
Staff
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
It’s Not Enough Food

Eighth Place
Will Fallmer
The Graphic, Pepperdine University (CA)
”Music Man” magic aims to connect Pepp

Ninth Place
Brandon Davis
The Observer, Central Washington University
Fueled by the fans

Tenth Place
Tracy Escobedo
Spartan Daily, San Jose State University (CA)
Faith and Religion Special Issue Center Spread

First Place
Kira Sakai
The Tower, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
On call

Second Place
Carolina Camus
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
Filled with loud music

Third Place
Carolina Camus, Jennifer Vega
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
Sky blue waters

Fourth Place
Carolina Camus
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
They said what?

Fifth Place
Carolina Camus
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
Getting my diploma

First Place
Christine Vo
The Shorthorn, The University of Texas at Arlington
Celebration Spray

Second Place
Ailyn Dumas
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
”We Are Not Disposable”

Third Place
Milca Elvira Chacon
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Audience members join Ocelotecame’s performance

Fourth Place
Ciara Gonzalez
The Hornet, Fullerton College (CA)
New Eyes Art Exhibition

Fifth Place
Blake Wolf
The Collegian, California State University, Fresno
CFA Strike

Sixth Place
Joseph Navin
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
Fire in McLeansville

First Place
Kristy Mace
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Hairy defense

Second Place
Jared Lennon
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
UCelebration

Third Place
Katherine Martin
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
PBR Cowboy Days

Fourth Place
Jared Lennon
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Goal Line Fumble

Fifth Place
Nicholas Wire
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
Dons outran by Panthers, lose another tight game

Sixth Place
Alexandra Fisher
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Volleyball Celebrates

Seventh Place
Marie Underwood
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Northern Illinois, Tuesday, Oct. 31 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium

Eighth Place
Jordan Rivera
Daily Titan, California State University, Fullerton
CSUF men’s soccer clinches No. 1 playoff seed with UC Santa Barbara win 

Ninth Place
Kristy Mace
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Wingspan

Tenth Place
Jared Lennon
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Endzone Dive

First Place
Naomi Washington
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
‘You’re creating Black history’

Second Place
Nico Mendoza
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
How color paints our world

Third Place
Paige Strickland
Daily Titan, California State University, Fullerton
CSUF Drag Show winner forges their own runway

Fourth Place
Layomi Adeojo
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Creating “brave space” in the classroom, UM prof Simon Howard defies stereotypes and remembers his roots

Fifth Place
Raya Torres
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Deaf Musician

Sixth Place
Diego Higuera
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Unsaintly Persecution

Seventh Place
Mawil Mateo
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Chico State se ilumina con las Celebraciones del Día de la Independencia de América Latina

Eighth Place
Arianna Pastrana
Inside Fullerton, Fullerton College (CA)
The Asian Student Dilemma

Ninth Place
Julianna Rodriguez
The State Hornet, California State University, Sacramento
The life of a lowrider: Destigmatizing Latin car culture

Tenth Place
Carlos Rene Castro
The Collegian, California State University, Fresno
Stateless

First Place
Sophie Rosenthal
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
Alamance-Burlington schools grapple with financial strain after summer mold crisis

Second Place
Lauren Ferrer
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Nearly 30 parents move to sue the Cloisters living facility over unlivable conditions

Third Place
Katy Clark, Cassandra Garcia
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Students Counter Protest Turning Point USA

Fourth Place
Caroline Val
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
UPurr leads animal cruelty investigation after 6 cat injuries, 9 deaths over past year on campus

Fifth Place
Courtney Brown
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
What Wichita State gets right when accommodating students with disabilities, AI and areas to improve

Sixth Place
Iyarie Murguia
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwesten College (CA)
Century of Sewage

Seventh Place
Jazmin Alvarado
The Collegian, California State University, Fresno
What happened after the bomb threat?

Eighth Place
Ashley Bolter
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Legacy of the Lion

Ninth Place
Sabine Benda
The Oracle, Hamline University (MN)
Won’t you be their neighbor?

Tenth Place
Samantha Torre
The Graphic, Pepperdine University (CA)
Tragedy Impacts Us All: Pepperdine Community Mourns Loss of Four Students

First Place
Carolyn Marshall, Rahul Suresh Ubale
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
A Naturally Unnatural Life

Second Place
Nicolette Monique Luna
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Messengers of Heaven

Third Place
Isabel Cruz, Makenna Gaeta
Word, University of California, Santa Barbara
The Blame Game: Dissecting Online Cancel Culture

Fourth Place
Heather Taylor
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Violence and silence: California bill offers victims protection against defamation charges

Fifth Place
Peyton Sorosinski
The State Hornet, California State University, Sacramento
Veterans Day spotlight: Sac State veterans share their story of resilience

Sixth Place
Sabine Benda
The Oracle, Hamline University (MN)
A reflection on the 20th president of Hamline University, Dr. Fayneese Miller

Seventh Place
Aurora Abraham
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
‘She never gave up’

Eighth Place
Lily Beck, Morgana Carroll, Lilly Montgomery, Gunner Stuns, Lizeth Valdes
Pulse, Central Washington University
Weighing the Workload: Are On-Campus Jobs Worth It?

Ninth Place
Hannah Ly
The Daily Aztec, San Diego State University (CA)
’It’s like a jail to them’: Lahaina wildfire survivors seek long-term, dignified housing solutions

Tenth Place
Mia Hennen
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Wichita State alum infuses love for reading in ‘Book Bus’ work

Advertising Media Kit

Four-year campus

First Place
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Second Place
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Third Place
Pepperdine Graphic Media
Pepperdine University (CA)

Fourth Place
Main Hill Media
University of Arkansas

Fifth Place
The Poly Post
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Sixth Place
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Seventh Place
Northwest Student Media
Northwest Missouri State University

Eighth Place
Lancer Media Group
California Baptist University

Ninth Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Broadcast News Program

Two-year campus

First Place
DCTV News
San Joaquin Delta College (CA)

Broadcast News Program

Four-year campus

First Place
Hoosier News Source
Indiana University

Second Place
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Third Place
The State Hornet Broadcast
California State University, Sacramento

Fourth Place
CBU TV
California Baptist University

Fifth Place
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Sixth Place
The Avion Broadcast
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Seventh Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Eighth Place
MNTV
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Ninth Place
Blazer Beat
Utah Tech University

Digital Newsletter

Two-year campus

First Place
The Observer
Elgin Community College (IL)

Second Place
The Advocate
Contra Costa College (CA)

Third Place
Talon Marks
Cerritos College (CA)

Digital Newsletter

Four-year campus

First Place
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Second Place
Today’s Headlines
Central Michigan University

Third Place
Daily Forty-Niner Newsletter
California State University, Long Beach

Fourth Place
The Shorthorn Headlines
The University of Texas at Arlington

Fifth Place
Daily Titan: Top Stories This Week
California State University, Fullerton

Sixth Place
The Pixel
Pepperdine University (CA)

Seventh Place
Weekly Best of the Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University

Eighth Place
The State Hornet
California State University, Sacramento

Ninth Place
Dig
California State University, Long Beach

Tenth Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Feature Magazine

Two-year campus

First Place
El Sol
Southwestern College (CA)

Second Place
Naked
Las Positas College (CA)

Third Place
Inside Fullerton
Fullerton College (CA)

Fourth Place
Commuter
Linn-Benton Community College (OR)

Fifth Place
The Oak Leaf
Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)

Sixth Place
Viewpoint
Skyline College (CA)

Seventh Place
Pinnacle
Pierce College (CA)

Feature Magazine

Four-year campus

First Place
Nineteen Fifty-Six
University of Alabama

Second Place
Hill
University of Arkansas

Third Place
DÍG En Español
California State University, Long Beach

Fourth Place
Dig
California State University, Long Beach

Fifth Place
Converge
California State University, Bakersfield

Sixth Place
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
KRNL
University of Kentucky

Eighth Place
Word
University of California, Santa Barbara

Ninth Place
Pursuit
California Baptist University

Tenth Place
Xpress
San Francisco State University (CA)

Literary Arts Magazine

First Place
Havik
Las Positas College (CA)

Second Place
NMC Magazine
Northwestern Michigan College

Third Place
Wings
Cerritos College (CA)

Fourth Place
Untold Magazine
Hamline University (MN)

Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Two-year campus

First Place
The Sun
Southwestern College (CA)

Second Place
el Don
Santa Ana College (CA)

Third Place
Viewpoints
Riverside City College (CA)

Fourth Place
The Collegian
San Joaquin Delta College (CA)

Fifth Place
The Skyline View
Skyline College (CA)

Sixth Place
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Seventh Place
Talon Marks
Cerritos College (CA)

Eighth Place
La Voz News
De Anza College (CA)

Ninth Place
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Tenth Place
The Commuter
Linn-Benton Community College (OR)

Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Four-year campus with 15,000 students or fewer

First Place
The Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)

Second Place
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Third Place
The Observer
Central Washington University

Fourth Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Fifth Place
The Lumberjack
California Polytechnic State University, Humboldt

Sixth Place
The Northern Iowan
University of Northern Iowa

Seventh Place
The Banner
California Baptist University

Eighth Place
The Avion
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Ninth Place
The Outlook
Monmouth University (NJ)

Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Four-year campus with more than 15,000 students

First Place
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Second Place
College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University

Third Place
Spartan Daily
San Jose State University (CA)

Fourth Place
Paw Print/The Collegian
California State University, Fresno

Fifth Place
The Runner
California State University, Bakersfield

Sixth Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Seventh Place
The Shorthorn
The University of Texas at Arlington

Eighth Place
The Miami Hurricane
University of Miami (FL)

Ninth Place
The Daily Forty-Niner
California State University, Long Beach

Tenth Place
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Website

Two-year campus

First Place
The Skyline View
Skyline College (CA)

Second Place
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Third Place
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Fourth Place
The Oak Leaf
Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)

Fifth Place
The Hornet
Fullerton College (CA)

Sixth Place
SAC Media
Mt. San Antonio College (CA)

Seventh Place
Pinnacle
Pierce College (CA)

Eighth Place
Commuter
Linn-Benton Community College (OR)

Ninth Place
The Collegian
San Joaquin Delta College (CA)

Tenth Place
The Observer
Elgin Community College (IL)

Website

Four-year campus with 15,000 students or fewer

First Place
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Third Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Fourth Place
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Fifth Place
The Orion
California State University, Chico

Sixth Place
The Northern Iowan
University of Northern Iowa

Seventh Place
Pepperdine Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)

Eighth Place
The Case Western Reserve Observer
Case Western Reserve University (OH)

Ninth Place
The Observer
Central Washington University

Tenth Place
The Megaphone
Southwestern University (TX)

Website

Four-year campus with more than 15,000 students

First Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Second Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Third Place
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Fourth Place
Daily Forty-Niner
California State University, Long Beach

Fifth Place
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Sixth Place
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Seventh Place
The Daily Aztec
San Diego State University (CA)

Eighth Place
The Shorthorn
The University of Texas at Arlington

Ninth Place
DIG Magazine
California State University, Long Beach

Tenth Place
The Highlander
University of California, Riverside

Yearbook

First Place
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Second Place
Tower
Northwest Missouri State University 

Third Place
The Tower
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Fourth Place
The Year in Photos/Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fifth Place
Angelos
California Baptist University

People’s Choice

First Place
The Pendulum (Newspaper)
Elon University (NC)

Second Place
The Graphic (Newspaper)
Pepperdine University (CA)

Third Place
Spartan Daily (Newspaper)
San Jose State University

Fourth Place
The Collegian (Newspaper)
California State University, Fresno

Fifth Place
College Heights Herald (Newsmagazine)
Western Kentucky University

Sixth Place
DÍG En Español (Feature Magazine)
California State University, Long Beach

Seventh Place
Word  (Feature Magazine)
University of California, Santa Barbara

Eighth Place
Ibis (Yearbook)
University of Miami (FL)

Ninth Place
The Tower (Yearbook)
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Tenth Place
Havik (Literary Arts Magazine)
Las Positas College (CA)

Design Museum

Society for News Design

First Place
DÍG En Español
California State University, Long Beach