ACP Pacemaker honors innovation

Student media operations recognized for forward thinking; five earn Pacemakers

WASHINGTON — Honoring the nation’s best, the Associated College Press named five student media operations winners of its prestigious Pacemaker during an awards ceremony at the Fall National College Media Convention in 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 prestigious Pacemaker recognizes overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a particular school year. The award started shortly after the association was founded in 1921 and is often regarded as the most-competitive, most-honored award in collegiate journalism.

In September, seven Pacemaker finalists were named. 

The Innovation Pacemaker is designed to encourage out-of-the-box thinking and reward student media for the courage to take chances to improve service to their customers, readers and communities.

“Collegiate student media is rapidly changing and those programs that don’t generate new revenue streams and innovative ways to deliver content to their readers will struggle to survive,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. “Print is now just one component — there is far more to a successful student media program than publishing the campus newspaper.”

Leadership, coverage, content delivery, marketing, business, community, press freedom and partnerships are among the areas where innovation is encouraged.

MediaFest25 awards

Fall 2025 Pacemakers

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2025 Individual Awards

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

Best of Show

Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach
Student leaders: Tanisha Bucad, James Grech, Carlos Raya, Jerry Reynoso, Linsey Towles
Adviser: Jesus Ayala

The Collegian
San Joaquin Delta College (CA)
Student leaders: Jelissa King, Andrea Rivera
Advisers: Adriana Brogger, Tara Cuslidge-Staiano, Leo Marquez, Matthew Wilson

Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles
Student leaders: Zimo Li, Shiv Patel, Dylan Winward
Advisers: Doria Deen, Abigail Goldman, Jose Hernandez

The Red Line Project
University of Illinois Chicago
Student leaders: Taeya Borek, Rebekah Cheung, Kyra Theodore
Adviser: Mike Reilley

The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)
Student leaders: Kiona Brown, Allison Campbell, Mia Hennen, Ainsley Smyth, Garima Thapa
Adviser: Amy DeVault