ACP Pacemaker honors innovation

Student media operations recognized for forward thinking; two earn Pacemakers

Nov. 7, 2026

KANSAS CITY, MO. — Honoring the nation’s best, the Associated College Press named two student media operations winners of its prestigious Pacemaker during an awards ceremony at the Fall National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

“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, four 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.

Fall 2026 awards

Fall 2026 Pacemakers

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2026 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

The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Student leaders: Olivia Silvester, Sabatino Stacchi
Advisers: Kevin O’Keeffe, Tom Nelson

StoryBytes Media
Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (FL)
Student leaders: Maria Almarza, Victoria Cuellar, Priscilla Pachecho, Halee Provost, Valerie Williams
Adviser: Emily Andrea Sendin