ACP names top student collegiate magazines

Pacemaker competition recognizes 31 finalists

Aug. 28, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated College Press recognized 31 top collegiate student magazines as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition. 

Pacemaker winners will be announced at the Fall National College Media Convention at the ACP Awards Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

The 31 magazines named as finalists represent 17 states. California set the pace with six finalists followed by Florida with three.

From the 31 finalists, eight will earn Pacemakers. Magazines competed in feature/general audience and literary arts divisions. Magazines produced at four-year and two year institutions competed in separate categories.

In the feature/general audience magazine category, there are 16 finalists — three from two-year and 13 from four-year institutions. Of these 16 finalists, four will earn Pacemakers.

In the literary arts magazine category, there are 15 finalists — six from two-year and nine from four-year institutions. Of these 15 finalists, four will earn Pacemakers.

Three judges, with extensive magazine-editing and advising experience, studied each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.

Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals.

“The verbal and visual storytelling in the winning magazines is incredible and robust long-form stories combined with shorter quick-reads to pace the reader through the pages of the feature magazines,” Lundgren said.

“And the creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible — the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art,” he said.

Please join us at the National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-18.

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.

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Fall Pacemaker finalists

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Pursuit
California Baptist University
Editor-in-chief: Kassidy Blount
Adviser: Casey Maldonado

Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Stefanie Frith

Inside Fullerton
Fullerton College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Karla Garcia, Mikey Moran
Adviser: Jessica Langlois

El Sol
Southwestern College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Valeryah Lara-Urea, Alexa Lima
Advisers: Max Branscomb, Kenneth Pagano

Distraction
University of Miami (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Salvatore Puma
Adviser: Randy Stano

Ke Alaka’i
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Editors-in-chief: John Andrew Quizana, Ranitea Teihoarii
Adviser: LeeAnn Lambert

Ball Bearings
Ball State University (IN)
Editor-in-chief: Jessica Velez
Adviser: Corey Ohlenkamp

Drake Mag
Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Bella Spah
Adviser: Jennifer Wilson

Drake Political Review
Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Parker Wright
Adviser: Jennifer Konfrst

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky
Editor-in-chief: Laurel Swanz
Advisers: Ryan Craig, Bryce McNeil, David Stephenson

Talisman
Western Kentucky University
Editors-in-chief: Cecilia Alali, Ragan Harrington
Adviser: Sam Oldenburg

Beaver’s Digest
Oregon State University
Editors-in-chief: AJ Damiana, Ella Mashroutechi
Adviser: Jennifer Moody

Flux
University of Oregon
Editor-in-chief: Mayla Fass
Advisers: Steven Asbury, Charlie Deitz, Chris Pietsch

Ponder
Black Hills State University (SD)
Editors-in-chief: Alec Butterfield, Noah Westergaard
Advisers: Justin Bergh, Skott Chandler, Allen Morris

SMU Look
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Editors-in-chief: Leighton Cottrell, Cristiana Montalvan
Advisers: Andrea Arterbery, Jenny B. Davis

The Planet
Western Washington University
Editor-in-chief: Julia Hawkins
Adviser: Jeff Shaw

The Auburn Circle
Auburn University (AL)
Editor-in-chief: Cole Anderson
Adviser: Brit Bowen

Aura Literary Arts Review
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Editor-in-chief: Eden Bartlett
Adviser: Jackie Alexander

Havik
Las Positas College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Jesse Naranjo
Advisers: Melissa Korber, Martin Nash

Wall Literary Journal
Saddleback College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: William Stanley
Adviser: Gina Shaffer

Miambiance
Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (FL)
Editors-in-chief: Aitana Salmeron, Joelle Worcester
Advisers: Tony Chirinos, Rita Fernandez-Sterling

Phoenix
Valencia College (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Advisers: Meg Curtiss, Jackie Zuromski

Catch
Knox College (IL)
Editors-in-chief: Danielle Miron, Jessica Shannon
Adviser: Cyn Kitchen

The Bridge
Bridgewater State University (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Katie Johanson
Advisers: Alain Blunt, Jessica Melendy

Parnassus
Northern Essex Community College (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Patrick Lochelt

Leonardo
Central New Mexico Community College
Editors-in-chief: Fiona Page, Maria Pearson
Adviser: Jessica Mills

Scribendi
University of New Mexico
Editors-in-chief: Truchell Calabaza, Kadra Guillermo, Ana Olivas
Adviser: Amaris Ketcham

The Peel
Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Brittany Helms
Adviser: Leigh Tauss

Palatine Hill Review
Lewis & Clark College (OR)
Editors-in-chief: Elizabeth Huntley, Burton Scheer
Advisers: Amy Baskin, Mary Szybist

Apricity
University of Texas at Austin
Editor-in-chief: Kerryn Xu
Adviser: Lauren Murrah

Volition
George Mason University (VA)
Editor-in-chief: Natalia Romero
Adviser: Jason Hartsel