2024 Photo of the Year finalists

Aug. 30, 2024

Associated Collegiate Press announces the finalists in its 2024 Photo of the Year competition.

Individual Award winners will be announced at the Fall National College Media Convention at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Sheraton New Orleans.

A gallery of winners will be posted after the Nov. 2 announcement.

Finalists below are listed in alphabetical order by school.


Please join us at the National College Media Convention in New Orleans Oct. 30 – Nov. 2. Register online.

This convention provides a unique opportunity to network with industry professionals, learn from seasoned journalists, and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of media and journalism.

Individual Award finalists

Story of the Year

Reporter of the Year

Multimedia Story of the Year

Design of the Year

Photo of the Year

Cartoon of the Year

Broadcast Story of the Year


News/Breaking News Photo

Camille Kao
The Rice Thresher, Rice University (TX)
All out for Palestine’ protest sees 2,000 at Houston City Hall

Adriana Hernandez
Golden Gate Xpress, San Francisco State University (CA)
San Francisco Police Department stands off with Parkmerced resident

Maximilian Lenhart
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Street Preacher Chris Svochak yells the Word of God

Patrick King
Salt, Syracuse University (NY)
Duty calls

Patrick King
Salt, Syracuse University (NY)
Sets and reps

Patrick King
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Syracuse mourns slain officer

Ethan Young
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Pro-Palestinian protesters remove barricades around encampment

Joel Solis
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Meeting eruption

Dominic Di Palermo
College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
Ayanna Morgan vigil

Cameron McKinney
Talisman, Western Kentucky University
A week of whirlwinds

Feature Photo

Merrina O’Malley
Textura, Bethel University (MN)
A sorrowful celebration

Frank Zhou
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
Francis Helps Plant a Tree

Briana Pace
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Kane Brown

Kaela Belingon
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Back 2 School Audience Cheering

Alexis Starks
Northwest Missourian, Northwest Missouri State
University Bid Day

Danilo Perez
The Corsair, Santa Monica College (CA)
Campus Dance

Tess Crowley
The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Wooden Skis and Warrior Spirits

Ronaldo Bolaños
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Powwow potato

Joel Solis
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Total Eclipse at the Park

Emilee Arnold
Talisman, Western Kentucky University
A Snowy Welcome Back

Sports Game/Action Photo

Daniel Kehn
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
Vaughn Pemberton gets tackled

Michael Claycamp
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Little 500 collision

Wittney Hammeke
Royal Purple, Kansas State University
Bucking Bronco

Ethan James
The Clarion, Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Safe at second

Lily McCabe
Technican, North Carolina State University
Lemieux Punches

Aaron Hare
Northwest Missourian, Northwest Missouri State
University NW T&F Morgan 1/20

Kayla Breen
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Flippin’ Football

Grace Smith
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Crossover at Kinnick

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

Kristy Macwe
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Hairy defense

Sports Feature Photo

Kassidy Tsikitas
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Retiring Griner’s jersey

Sean Stroud
The Et Cetera, Dallas College Eastfield Campus (TX)
Baseball celebration

Hallie Walker
Nubian Message, North Carolina State University
Why Not Us?

Caylo Seals
The Corsair, Santa Monica College (CA)
Clásico Tapatio smoke bombs cancel soccer match

Danilo Perez
The Corsair, Santa Monica College (CA)
Harlem Globetrotter Holds Up Fan

Kyle Heise
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Husking the 1st Round competition

Jonathan Suni
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
The Prefontaine Classic and Diamond League Final

Taylor Kitchens
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
WBB championship celebration

Eli Randolph
College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky
University Collins’ 100th win

Eli Randolph
Talisman, Western Kentucky University
Volleyball face palm

Environmental Portrait

Hallie Walker
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Xue Mullane Portrait

Geovanni Esparza
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
Local shop a home for metalheads

Cassandra Roshu
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Sammy Curcuru is breaking into the music scene and is ‘hungry’ for more

Andrew Skiver
Salt, Syracuse University (NY)
The Rifleman

Abbey Cutrer
Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
One raptor at a time

Sydney Turner
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Gloves up, Guard Down: How Bekah Robinson Became the Queen of Sting

Lily Foster
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Beyond The Chair: An Homage to Black Beauty Spaces

Alicia Caracciolo
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
Humphries in studio

Mary Abby Goss
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Historical house gallery

Ian Pitchford
College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
Self expression 2