ACP names top student newspapers/newsmagazines

Pacemaker competition recognizes 49 finalists

Aug. 27, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS — Student newspapers and newsmagazines from 49 colleges and universities have been recognized as Pacemaker finalists by the Associated College Press.

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 49 newspaper/newsmagazine finalists represent 21 states and the District of Columbia. California set the pace with nine finalists followed by Texas with seven.

Three print issues produced during the 2024-25 school year were submitted for consideration. Two teams of three judges studied every entry, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. At least two of the three judges agreed on whether a newspaper/newspaper was eliminated or would be named a finalist or winner.

Of the 49 finalists, 17 will earn the Pacemaker award.

Newspapers from four-year schools competed against schools with similar enrollment. Newspapers from two-year schools, of all enrollments, competed in a separate category.

Nine newspapers/newsmagazines published by two-year schools are among the 49 finalists. Of those nine, four will earn Pacemaker honors.

It is exciting to see how these colleges and universities are refining their print products in today’s college media ecosystem,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. “It is definitely a transitional time for the college student newspaper.”

In all, 90 newspapers/newsmagazines entered the Pacemaker competition in 2025 compared to 88 in 2024.

In addition to demonstrating excellence in key areas including coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, the winning newspapers took risks and served as a strong voice for the student audience.

In this competition, only the print product was judged. Online sites compete in a separate Pacemaker competition.

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

The Northern Light
University of Alaska Anchorage
Editor-in-chief: Hannah Dillon
Advisers: Poala Banchero, Cheryl Devenny

Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Editor-in-chief: Amelia Wu
Advisers: Kim Bisheff, Pat Howe, Jon Schlitt

Long Beach Current
California State University, Long Beach
Editor-in-chief: Acsah Lemma
Advisers: Barbara Kingsley-Wilson, Gary Metzker

The Union
El Camino College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Stefanie Frith

The Express
Las Positas College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Camille LeDuc
Advisers: Melissa Korber, Marcus Thompson II

The Pepperdine Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Gabrielle Salgado
Advisers: Elizabeth Smith, Courtenay Stallings

The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Adriana Brady, Jeremy Wolf
Advisers: Gerard Burkhart, Samantha Nunez, Sharyn Obsatz

The Southwestern College Sun
Southwestern College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Alexa Lima, Xiomara Santospieve
Advisers: Max Branscomb, Kenneth Pagano

Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles
Editor-in-chief: Lex Wang
Advisers: Doria Deen, Abigail Goldman, Jose Hernandez

Daily Trojan
University of Southern California
Editors-in-chief: Kimberly Aguirre, Stefano Fendrich
Adviser: Les Dunseith

The Hoya
Georgetown University (DC)
Editor-in-chief: Evie Steele
Adviser: Chris Megerian

The Miami Hurricane
University of Miami
Editor-in-chief: Jenny Jacoby
Adviser: Antonio Mora

The Reporter
Miami Dade College (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Isabella Arce
Adviser: Manolo Barco

The Emory Wheel
Emory University (GA)
Editors-in-chief: Ellie Fivas, Spencer Friedland
Adviser: Hank Klibanoff

The Red & Black
University of Georgia
Editors-in-chief: Libby Hobbs, Allison Mawn
Adviser: Kayla Renie

The DePaulia
DePaul University (IL)
Editor-in-chief: Lucia Preziosi
Adviser: Martha Irvine

F Newsmagazine
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (IL)
Editor-in-chief: Sidne K. Gard
Advisers: Sophie Goalson, Rochell Sleets

Ball State Daily News
Ball State University (IN)
Editor-in-chief: Kate Farr
Adviser: Corey Ohlenkamp

Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University
Editors-in-chief: Marissa Meador, Jacob Spudich
Advisers: Jim Rodenbush, Ruth Witmer

Scholastic
University of Notre Dame (IN)
Editor-in-chief: Claire Early
Adviser: Dylan Wallace

The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa
Editor-in-chief: Jami Martin-Trainor
Adviser: Jason Brummond

The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)
Editor-in-chief: Allison Campbell
Adviser: Amy DeVault

College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University
Editor-in-chief: Price Wilborn
Advisers: Chuck Clark, Carrie Pratt

The Tulane Hullabaloo
Tulane University (LA)
Editor-in-chief: Ian Faul
Adviser: Tel François Bailliet

Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University
Editor-in-chief: Lauren Rice
Advisers: Regan Foster, Kathy Simon

The State News
Michigan State University
Editor-in-chief: Elizabeth Nass
Advisers: Madison Echlin, Wesley Herold, Kimberly Margolis

The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Editors-in-chief: Mary Corey, Dana Elobaid, Samantha Rich, Zhane Yamin

Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University
Editor-in-chief: Savannah Athy-Sedbrook
Adviser: Steven Chappell

The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)
Editor-in-chief: Lorien Tyne
Adviser: Casey Musarra

The Daily Orange
Syracuse University (NY)
Editor-in-chief: Stephanie Wright

The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Jenna Guzman
Adviser: Leigh Tauss

The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Avery Sloan
Adviser: Kelly Furnas

Technician
North Carolina State University
Editor-in-chief: Kate Denning
Adviser: Ben McNeely

The Daily Tar Heel
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Editor-in-chief: Laney Crawley
Adviser: Will Lingo

Washington Square News
New York University
Editor-in-chief: Yezen Saadah
Adviser: Russell Berman

OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Editor-in-chief: Peggy Dodd
Adviser: Seth Prince

The Daily Barometer
Oregon State University
Editor-in-chief: Audrey Saiz
Adviser: Jennifer Moody

The Daily Emerald
University of Oregon
Editor-in-chief: Tristin Hoffman
Adviser: Eric Henry

The Daily Gamecock
University of South Carolina
Editors-in-chief: Kate Robins, Jenna Swenson
Adviser: Brandon Shulleeta

Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)
Editor-in-chief: Lola Ponce
Adviser: Robert Muilenburg

The Rice Thresher
Rice University (TX)
Editor-in-chief: Riya Misra
Adviser: Chris Evans

The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)
Editor-in-chief: Fousia Abdullahi
Advisers: Lori Dann, Stacy Luecker, Chris Whitley

The Battalion
Texas A&M University
Editors-in-chief: Ian Curtis, Kynlee Bright, Nicholas Gutteridge
Adviser: Spencer O’Daniel

The University Star
Texas State University
Editors-in-chief: Blake Leschber, Marisa Nunez
Adviser: Laura Krantz

The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington
Editor-in-chief: Christine Vo
Advisers: Kevin Cummings, Laurie Fox

The Daily Texan
University of Texas at Austin
Editors-in-chief: Ireland Blouin, Katie Chang, McKenzie Henningsen, Amelia Kimball
Adviser: Peter Chen

The Commonwealth Times
Virginia Commonwealth University
Editors-in-chief: Katharine DeRosa, Peggy Stansbery
Advisers: Jessica Clary, Mark Jeffries

The Communicator
Spokane Falls Community College (WA)
Editor-in-chief: Alycia Love
Adviser: Jason Nix

The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)
Editor-in-chief: Kelly Feng
Adviser: Doug Kirchberg