August 21, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2026 Cartoon of the Year competition.

The winners will be announced at the ACP Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Mo.

After the winners are announced on Nov. 7, a gallery of the winners and honorable mentions will be shared on this website allowing student journalists and advisers to see all of the entries recognized in the competition.

Congratulations to the finalists in the following Cartoon of the Year contests —

Individual Award finalists

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

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Please join us at the National College Media Convention Nov. 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo.

Editorial Cartoon

Melissa Grobleski
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
Just Say You’re Racist

Brandon Mendoza
The Brookhaven Courier, Dallas College – Brookhaven (TX)
Alex Petti

Brianne DuBose
Foghorn News, Del Mar College (TX)
Vroom Vroom

Shea Tepstein
The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
What Trump’s Venezuela Strategy Reveals About US Power

Michaela Gabriel
The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Political Volence Doesn’t Just Harm One Voice, It Harms All

Owen McGuire
SCAD District, Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)
Anatomy of a SCAD Student

Izzie Webb
The Collegian, Tarrant County College (TX)
Woke Curriculum

Izzie Webb
The Collegian, Tarrant County College (TX)
Let Them Eat Cake

Jeanelle Ocampo
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Distorted Devotion

Ryleigh Hood
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Job Market

Comic Strip/Panel

James Ellis
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Stress Is Not a Crisis

Gabrielle Lashley
Long Beach Current, California State University, Long Beach
That Was Fast

Aliya Ibrahim
The Brookhaven Courier, Dallas College – Brookhaven (TX)
Chaz Vacation

Robert Verdiguel
The Et Cetera, Dallas College – Eastfield (TX)
Point Green

Hailey Romero
News-Register, Dallas College – North Lake (TX)
Pepper & Crumbs

Amelie Stein
The Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Alternative Things to Do With the Dead Horse

Alexa Frederick
StoryBytes Media, Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus (FL)
Emergency Defense

Henoc Dossou
The Nubian Message, North Carolina State University
The Next Generation

Sree Kandula
The Huntington News, Northeastern University (MA)
Overheard at Northeastern

Owen McGuire
SCAD District, Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)
Slacking Off in San Fran