2025 Multimedia Story of the Year winners

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Oct 18, 2025

Associated Collegiate Press salutes the winners of its 2025 Multimedia Story of the Year competition.

ACP’s Individual Awards are among the top prizes in collegiate media, and the awards are a showcase of journalistic excellence.

Winners were announced during MediaFest25, Oct. 18 in Washington, D.C.

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

First Place
United by District, Divided by Rights
Natalia Fierro-Gomez, Sara Leon, Jake Rhodes, Pedro Saravia
The Hornet
Fullerton College (CA)

Second Place
UK Swimmers Claim System Meant to Protect Them Failed
Staff
KRNL Lifestyle +
Fashion University of Kentucky

Third Place
Sit-In and Encampment Influenced Last Semester’s Wave of Pro-Palestine Protests
Tasfia Alam, Rhea Patney, Brina Ratangee, Alison Winters
Vanderbilt Hustler
Vanderbilt University (TN)

Fourth Place
The 2024 Election Guide
Mary Corey, Anushka Raheja
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan

Fifth Place
Silence on South Mall
Staff
The Daily Texan
University of Texas at Austin

Honorable mentions

Rite Aid Closure in Ada and Its Impact on Patient Care
Arin Wade
Northern Review
Ohio Northern University

Are You Traveling Over Troubled NYC Bridges?
Ashley Borja, Mia Hollie, Leo Miranda
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

How the Presidential Debate Unfolded Across Penn And Philadelphia
Jackson Ford, Abhiram Juvvadi, Chenyao Liu, Derek Wong
The Daily Pennsylvanian
University of Pennsylvania

Past Student Protests at the University of Michigan
Astrid Code, Evelyn Mousigian, Anushka Raheja
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan

NYU Hit with 10 Class Action Lawsuits Following Data Breach
Krish Dev, Dharma Niles
Washington Square News
New York University

First Place
Dropping Bars: The Creation of the Voyage Movement
Carlee Hogsten, Christian Kantosky
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Exploring Snoqualmie Tunnel
Amy Walker, Keaton Weyers
Pulse Central
Washington University

Third Place
The Autistic Experience at Elon University
Betsy Schlehuber
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Fourth Place
Inside a Night at Cuse Gourmet Deli & Café, Marshall Street’s 24/7 Spot
Ben Butler, Mia Jones
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University (NY)

Fifth Place
Smoke Rises in Arlington
Ronaldo Bolaños, Samarie Goffney, Dang Le, Christine Vo
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Honorable mentions

Let’s Do the Time Warp Again at Aurora Arts
Paul Farias, Chris Messer
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Graduates Redefine Traditional College Experiences
Bella Garcia, Skylar Stock
Long Beach Current
California State University, Long Beach

Graduates Fight the Theatre Major Stigma
Viviana Diaz
The Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)

One Final Spin: Alchemy Records Bids Farewell — For Now
Diego Medel
The University Star
Texas State University-San Marcos

The Pad O’ Guys
Armaan Dhillon, Helen Juwon Park, Natalie Ralston, Hao Tam Tran
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

First Place
As Tough as Ice
Murphy McFarlane The NewsHouse Syracuse University (NY)

Second Place
Heart of a Spartan
Cap Henneman
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Third Place
Rocket League Sparks Connection at Elon
Erin Martin
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Fourth Place
House Settlement Moves Forward After Objection Deadline
Tony Gleason
The Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)

Fifth Place
Where’s the Juice?
Nicole Bharrat, Colby Trotter
Technician
North Carolina State University

Honorable mentions

Golden State Warriors Meet Rainbow State Seasiders
Abigail Adams
Ke Alaka’i
Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Putting a Pin in History
Isabella Tisdale
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Hardwood Meets the Heartland in Iowa Women’s Basketball Coach Jan Jensen
Marandah Mangra-Dutcher, Jami Martin-Trainor, Isabella Tisdale
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Shocker Madness Wraps Up Shocktoberfest with Scrimmage
Allison Campbell, Kristy Mace, Mack Smith
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Vanderbilt Football 2024-25 Transfer Portal Tracker
Henry Oelhafen, Aiden Rutman
Vanderbilt Hustler
Vanderbilt University (TN)

First Place
Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival
Ella Miller
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Second Place
Long Live the Queens
Ella Fling
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

Third Place
One Final Spin: Alchemy Records Bids Farewell — For Now
Diego Medel
The University Star
Texas State University-San Marcos

Fourth Place
Election Day 2024 in Ann Arbor
Staff
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan

Fifth Place
Welcome to Our House
Lauren Howe, Kayden Mulrooney
Talisman
Western Kentucky University

Honorable mentions

Democratic National Convention – Chicago
Quentin Blais, Lina Gebhardt
The DePaulia
DePaul University (IL)

New Automotive Bachelors Degree Coming Fall 2026
Christopher Treble
el Don
Santa Ana College (CA)

Sherman Is Squirming, Constituents Close to Fisticuffs
Jake Crandall
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Gabe’s 50th
Jordan Barry, Cody Blissett, Emma Calabro
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Portland Timbers and La Galaxy Clash to a 1-1 Draw at Providence Park
Max Unkrich
Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

First Place
Class of 2024: The Senior Survey
Coco Louie, Subha Mostafiz, Katherine Oung, Rhea Patney, Jacob Stoebner
Vanderbilt Hustler
Vanderbilt University (TN)

Second Place
New Yorkers Look to the Future: Election ‘24
Staff
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Third Place
Baylor Homecoming Map
Julien Hajenius
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Fourth Place
National Butterfly Decline Poses Threats for San Marcos
Lucia Gonzalez
The University Star
Texas State University-San Marcos

Fifth Place
Cincinnati Festival of Lights
Tavish Sweeney
The News Record
University of Cincinnati (OH)

Honorable mentions

Laniakea and Our Remedies to Cosmic Loneliness
Ice Cesario, Gene Cymmer Ramirez, Samantha Satorre
Ke Alaka’i
Brigham Young University-Hawaii

The Immense Heaven, Laniakea
Ice Cesario, Gene Cymmer Ramirez, Samantha Satorre
Ke Alaka’i
Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Uk Swimmers Claim System Meant to Protect Them Failed
Carlee Hogsten, Akhila Nadimpalli
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

54 Cups Of Tea: Inside Athena Cheris’ Caffeinated Journey
Athena Cheris, Kylie Clifton
Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola University (CA)

Dishing It Out – A Closer Look at UCLA Dining’s Meal Plan Offerings
Ayushi Kadakia, Joey Ling, Hannah Um, L Yang
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

First Place
The Midwest: The Region of CAFOS
Cassie Schoene
Urban Plains
Drake University (IA)

Second Place
Election Special Edition
Staff
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo

Third Place
UO Student Workers Union Strike
Tristin Hoffman, Sasha Love, Ana Narayan, Ysabella Sosa, Saj Sundaram
Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Fourth Place
Election 2024 Social Media Explainers
Staff
The Hornet
Fullerton College (CA)

Fifth Place
Hopkins Dining Workers Raise Concern About Management and Temp Workers
Samhi Boppana
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter
Johns Hopkins University (MD)

Honorable mentions

St. Fratty’s Day Social Reporting
Staff
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo

Draggieland at Texas A&M Instagram Coverage
Staff
The Battalion
Texas A&M University

Ice Detains UA Student
Staff
The Crimson White
University of Alabama

DePaul Sex-ed Group to Return with New Name
Jake Cox, Nadine DeCero, Lina Gebhardt
The DePaulia
DePaul University (IL)

Flight 5342 from Wichita to D.C.
Staff
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

First Place
We Might be Related
Emily Davis
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Second Place
What’s It Like to Plan for When You Lose It?
Caroline Handel, Rebecca Rand
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Third Place
Birding, Nature and Moods
Jenna Tibby
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Fourth Place
Haunted Houses: The Littlefield House and Dormitory
Hannah Berns, Jake Gripp, Emma Rikalo
The Daily Texan
University of Texas at Austin

Fifth Place
After Helene: Morganton
Trenton Rose, Sully Styles
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Honorable mentions

Swim at Your Own Risk
Alexis Baker, Carlee Hogsten, Laurel Swanz
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Campus Falls Quiet as Students React to the 2024 Presidential Election
Sab Cruz, Grace DiMattia, Emma Russell, Ava Zuerlein
Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola University (CA)

The Blue Pill: All Hail Taylor Swift
Olivia Fitts
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Pop Off! — Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours”
Georgie Gassaro, Ethan Kaufman
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

We the Students: LGBTQ+ in America
Tommy DaSilva, Sophia Moore, Alejandro Rosales
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

First Place
Day Three of the 2025 Penn Relays
Staff
The Daily Pennsylvanian
University of Pennsylvania

Second Place
Day Two of the 2025 Penn Relays
Staff
The Daily Pennsylvanian
University of Pennsylvania

Third Place
Election Day 2024
Staff
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Fourth Place
President Armstrong Testifies in Front of Congress
Staff
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo

Fifth Place
The Psych Ward Saved Me
Katherine Martinez
The Hornet
Fullerton College (CA)

Honorable mentions

One Student’s Journey Towards Embracing Personal Style While Plus-Size
Mia Zacatenco
Inside Fullerton
Fullerton College (CA)

How MTV’s 1999 Show “Downtown” Is Finding a New Life Online
Ro Salas
Inside Fullerton
Fullerton College (CA)

St. Patrick’s Weekend Celebrations
Staff
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Louis Obispo

Highlights from Election Night
Staff
The Collegian
California State University, Fresno

Gertrude’s Owner Nurtures the Community Through Chesapeake Cooking
Kaitlin Tan
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter
Johns Hopkins University (MD)