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.
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 Chonicle, 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
The Arkansas Traveler, 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 (IN)
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 Magazine, 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
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
Camila Gonzalez
The Clarion, Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Humanitarian Founded Schools in Tijuana Dumps
Emily Rogers
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
A Commitment to the Struggle
Naomi Taxay
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
“My prison cell became my university”: Benard McKinley’s journey to civil rights law
Alicia Carhee, Sam Mulick
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
Cooking up community: The UCLA student behind Poom Thai Cuisine
Natalie Robbins
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
“There’s Power in Being Onstage”: Clown Finds Calling
Annie Poteat
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
South Carolina baseball bullpen catcher breaks barriers, supports players as 1st woman in position for Power Five team
Kelly Feng
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Madison College student shines a light on a world of possibilities
Brandon Rowley
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Hall of Fame Bowler, Barry Asher
Rana Alsoufi
Flux, University of Oregon
Emily Ridings Weaves Her Own Story
Elliott Deins, Flux Staff
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
“I Have to See How This Story Ends”