2024 Story of the Year finalists

Aug. 30, 2024

Associated Collegiate Press announces the finalists in its 2024 Story 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

Breaking News Story

Jenna Guzman
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
BREAKING: Stabbing occurs at Peacock Hall

Matthew Acosta, Christie Counts
The Poly Post, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
CPP Bronco Scholars’ coordinator terminated after misconduct allegations

Shane Aweeka
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Biology professor David Stachura resigns

Rose O’Keeffe, Lilly Keller, Claire Tweedie, Lucia Preziosi, Jake Cox
The DePaulia, DePaul University (IL)
CPD, Public Safety tear down protest encampment

Jazper Lu, Adway Wadekar
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
Duke student involved with campus overdose death sentenced to 3 months in federal prison

Abigail Hobbs
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
Faculty member killed in shooting at UNC Chapel Hill

Matthew Royer
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Prosecution granted retrial on all hung counts in James Heaps case

Catherine Hamilton, Matthew Royer
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Hundreds of protesters detained after police breach pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA

Emmy Martin, Abby Pender
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
One faculty member killed in shooting, suspect charged with first degree murder

Tasfia Alam, Aaditi Lele, Katherine Oung, Rachael Perrotta, Josh Rehders
Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University (TN)
BREAKING: Divest Coalition protesters sit in at Kirkland Hall, at least seven suspended

In-Depth News Story

Lilly Keller, Lucia Preziosi, Jake Cox, Rose O’Keeffe, Claire Tweedie
The DePaulia, DePaul University (IL)
Protest Encampment: ‘We plan to stay here’

Angela Osorio, Ma. Gisela Ordenes
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
Death of woman sends shockwaves to El Camino community; lack of communication from administration and police raises concern

Angelina Parker, Neil Shah
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
Copy-and-Paste: How Allegations of Plagiarism Became the Culture War’s New Frontier

Tim Bruns
The Equinox, Keene State College (NH)
Men’s rugby found responsible for hazing

Carmo Moniz
Washington Square News, New York University
A Tisch professor disappeared during a misconduct investigation. Two semesters later, he’s scheduled to teach again.

Caroline Stevenson
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Students react to series of swatting threats on campus

Nicholas Gutteridge
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
A&M’s failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy: An in-depth look

Dustin Staggs
Hill, University of Arkansas
Shame and Silence: The hidden struggles of women battling pelvic pain

Catherine Hamilton
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
“I thought I was going to die”: UCLA encampment protesters recall April 30 attack

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

Feature Story

Sebastian Studier, Abbigail Bates, Taylor Hanson, Emma Carmichael, Neelam Gujjar
Textura, Bethel University (MN)
Low to the ground

Soraya Keiser, Alyssa Malyon
The Clarion, Bethel University (MN)
Sitting with the silence

Natalie Tanaka
Pursuit, California Baptist University
From Hood to Hope: The story of Dr. Damon Horton

Sarah Jamil
Drake Mag, Drake University (IA)
A Generation in Crisis

Cam Garber
Arbutus, Indiana University
Seeking sobriety amidst a culture of parties and drugs

Yamillah Hurtado
Currents, Pepperdine University (CA)
Let the Light In Finding Hope Amid Darkness

Nicolette Monique Luna
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Deportee’ Still Haunts America

Samantha Olander
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
We are still alive: Friends, colleagues fundraise for SU alumnus’ evacuation from Palestine

Nicholas Gutteridge
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
“I was terrified”

Aidan McCahill
The Tulane Hullabaloo, Tulane University (LA)
Angola Prison Rodeo: Last vestige of gladiators

Sports Game Story

Ethan Smith, Max Sanborn
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
Mountaineers men’s basketball captures fifth straight win in upset over Auburn

Kyle Smedley
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
Ball State mens basketball stays alive in MAC Tournament contention, beats Kent State

Katharine Forst
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
Men’s Lacrosse Falls to Yale 17-15

Dalton James
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
Inside Indiana women’s basketball’s devastated locker room after season-ending loss to South Carolina

Wesley Miller
Northwest Missourian, Northwest Missouri State University
Mankato Madness

Sam Woloson
The Daily Collegian, Pennsylvania State University
Late Drew Allar TD helps Penn State survive nail-biter against Indiana

Emily Ingco
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Hardwood Superheroes

Cooper Andrews
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Dyaisha Fair era at Syracuse ends with 72-64 loss to UConn in 2nd round of NCAA Tournament

Tyler Schiff
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Syracuse upsets No. 7 North Carolina, defeats AP Top 10 team for 1st time since 2019

Shelby Swanson
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Every moment was special:” UNC men’s basketball reflects on season after stunning loss to Alabama in Sweet 16

Sports Feature Story

Jack Bynum
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
From France to Cali

Griffin Wong
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
Buddy’s Buddy: The Lifelong Friendship of Two Football Legends

Marissa Meador
Indiana Daily Student, Indiana University
The first season

Chris Benis, Olivia Palombo
Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
100 Lions: Changing the big leagues: Former MLB player Billy Bean (’86) reflects on historic career (E59)

Jake Epstein
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
Football: Northwestern’s Timi Oke embarks on journey from London to the Big Ten

Connor Smith
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
“The best of us”: Chris Snow’s belief, strength helped him leave an impact wherever he went

Seth Quinn
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Forever Young

Lys Goldman
The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Hockey streets and ice sheets, St. Louis and back again with Jake Barczewski

Brendan Lunga
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The untold story of Edwin Okoroma, UNC’s first Black varsity athlete

Elliott Deins
Flux, University of Oregon
“I Have to See How This Story Ends”

Editorial

Editorial Board
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
This can’t be the new normal

Jenna Fitzgerald
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Title IX response lacks reach, humility, engagement

Angel Barker, Dezmond Remington, Alana Hackman
The Lumberjack, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
Editorial board condemns the decision to evict students living in vehicles

Ma. Gisela Ordenes
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
El Camino and the First Amendment

Editorial Board
The Breeze, James Madison University (VA)
It’s concerning an administrator, SGA don’t know the law

Editorial Board
Washington Square News, New York University
NYU, why didn’t you call Robinson’s foul?

Luis Zavala
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Counselor Shortage Plagues Students

Jami Martin-Trainor
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Women’s basketball players deserve better

Cassidy Johnson, Anya Kelley, Kelly Hueckman
The Advance-Titan, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
LaCrosse Chancellor’s OnlyFans: Wrongful termination

Alexandria Anderson, Price Wilborn
College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky
University It’s time to hold WKU leadership to a higher standard

Column

Kyle Smedley
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
Negative thoughts surrounding body image don’t have to control you

Dezmond Remington
The Lumberjack, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
A billboard badly done beyond all believable bounds

Rachael Dziaba
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
How Harvard Killed Its Best Title IX Resource

Mateo-Luis Planas
Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Where should I go? Bridging the partisan divide on trans bathroom restrictions requires open dialogue

Claire Liddicoat
The Clarion, Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Impact of affirmative action ruling

Charis Adkins
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
A blatant disregard of tradition

Spencer Gibbs
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Spencer Gibbs | How to fire an Ivy League president

Zoe Abel
Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University (TN)
ABEL: In case I die in a school shooting

Olivia Chung
Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University (TN)
CHUNG: Vanderbilt reveals its true colors after dropping in rank

Tahura Badar
The Washtenaw Voice, Washtenaw Community College (MI)
Ramadan sees tragedy in Gaza

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting

Maci Hoskins
Ball Bearings, Ball State University (IN)
The Faces Behind Gray Divorce

Staff
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
The Newest New Yorkers

Eduardo Salazar
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
AI Boom Poses Threat to Trans Community, Experts Warn

Naomi Washington
Elon News Network, Elon University (NC)
“You’re creating Black history”

Ellie Klibaner-Schiff, Jade Lozada
The Harvard Crimson, Harvard University (MA)
“Medicine for Harvard”: Harvard’s Struggles to Repair Relationship with Native American Tribes

Lizeth Martinez
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
La Pachucada

Alexa Lima, Emily Esparza, Briana Nuñez
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
“Good Day To Be An Indian”

Jolie Zenna
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Advocates say pro-refugee stance creates a thriving Syracuse community

Bryana Plata
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Minority-serving institution designations and their implications at UCLA

Rachael Perrotta
Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University (TN)
Diversity remains focus in Vanderbilt admissions post-affirmative action and 2024 U.S. News ranking

Local Climate Change Reporting

Grant Menolascino, Adam Bagul, Makenna Gaeta
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
The Sticky Truth: Santa Barbara’s Unique Relationship to Oil

Pragya Shah
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
SHAH: Our climate curriculum is cursory — and that needs to change

Polina Belova, Teresa Mo
The Columbia Chronicle, Columbia College Chicago (IL)
Students for climate justice: The intersection between academics and activism

Eva Bard
14 East, DePaul University (IL)
Annual MI Healthy Climate Plan report shows movement toward state-wide goals

Kate Farr
14 East, DePaul University (IL)
Feeling like the last resort

Gia Clarke
Washington Square News, New York University
A Deep Dive Into Chicago’s Climate Inequality

Jared Lam
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Pilsen and the Green Space Gap in Chicago

Mary Cunningham
Word, University of California, Santa Barbara
Climate Crisis Requires Better Collaboration, Groups Tell NYC

Peyton Reich
The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Opinion: Columbia should address eco-anxiety, worries about sustainability as students confront climate change

Myra Hussain
Vanderbilt Hustler, Vanderbilt University (TN)
Researchers warn of potential rise in extreme weather in Westwood

Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile

Natalie Robbins
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
There’s Power in Being Onstage’: Clown Finds Calling

Kelly Feng
The Clarion, Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Madison College student shines a light on a world of possibilities

Naomi Taxay
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
My prison cell became my university’: Benard McKinley’s journey to civil rights law

Brandon Rowley
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
Hall of Fame Bowler, Barry Asher

Camila A. Gonzalez
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Humanitarian Founded Schools in Tijuana Dumps

Alicia Carhee, Sam Mulick
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Cooking up community: The UCLA student behind Poom Thai Cuisine

Rana Alsoufi
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Emily Ridings Weaves Her Own Story