Nov. 7, 2026

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Associated Collegiate Press presented Best of Show awards at the conclusion of the National College Media Convention, Nov. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Best of Show competition honored current student work in two categories posted below —

Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

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

Best of Show
Charles Ridgway
SLO Wine Mixer
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Second Place
Devan McClure, Jackson Redish
Dell Back To School
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Third Place
Shyanne Burris, Jada Harmon, Kaleah Johnson
Interest Meeting Fall 2026
SU Student Media
Southern University and A&M College (LA)

Fourth Place
Charlotte DeAngelis, Jay Moyer, Ruby Tavano
Got a Taste for More?
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Fifth Place
Omar Sanchez Torres
Different is Our Middle Name
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Sixth Place
Staff
Wake Forest Business
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Seventh Place
Ivy Nguyen
You Express, We Listen
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington\

Eighth Place
Nephrite DeMott
Children’s Book Reading
The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Ninth Place
Ellie Mallett
Find Your Perfect Apartment Home Today
The Standard
Missouri State University

Tenth Place
Natalee Sandstrom
Close the Magazine – Open the Menu
Collegian Media Group
Kansas State University

Best of Show
Travis McGinnis
CSUN Protest Draws Hundreds in Nationwide “No Kings” Demonstrations
The Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Second Place
Sherlyn Rodriguez
World Cup Spotlight Shines on Mexico’s Missing
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Third Place
Emmanuel Palacios
Newport Beach Builds Shield to Combat El Niño
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Fourth Place
Amanda Mohamad
UM Shuttle Bus Driver Charged with DUI
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Fifth Place
Charlotte Pfabe
N.C. Drivers React to High Gas Prices
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Sixth Place
Valentina Carbonell
Miami-Dade County Bus Route Controversy
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
Gracyn Thatcher
Tail of the Dragon
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Eighth Place
Taylor Good
SMU student brings SA awareness group to campus
SMU-TV
Southern Methodist University

Ninth Place
Milan Davis, Jada Harmon
Career Fair 2026
Southern Digest
Southern University and A&M College (LA)

Tenth Place
Milan Davis, Jada Harmon
801 Street Talk: Career Fair
801 Street Talk
Southern University and A&M College (LA)

Best of Show
Cole Brogden
The Man Behind the Golden Dummbells
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Second Place
Andrea Velandia
Firefighters Combat the Aftermath of L.A. Wildfires
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Third Place
Emma Luckman
Elon students Build Modified Toy Cars
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Fourth Place
Steven Solorzano
Festival Latino de Lexington Celebrates Locals
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fifth Place
River Owens, Emmanuel Perkins
A conversation with the 2026 Golden Niner
Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Sixth Place
Wrigley Kordt
Ft. Myers Beach Three Years After Hurricane Ian
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
Travis McGinnis
34th First Amendment Forum: High Profile Defendants and Fair Trial
The Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Eighth Place
Chloe Schauermann
Rancho Burro Celebrates World Donkey Day
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Ninth Place
Diego Hernandez
Still Spinning Roar Studios
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Tenth Place
Tyler Williams
Four-legged Soccer Star Scores Big with Fans
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Best of Show
Luke Attal, Alexie Cowan
42 Days: The Grayson Pope Story
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Second Place
Jacob Lyons
Miami Miracle League
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Third Place
Gavin Bicho
Still Swinging
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Fourth Place
Jacob Binder
Meet the Manglers
Mustang News California
Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Fifth Place
David Martinez
CSUF Softball’s Historic Season Ends at the NCAA Los Angeles Regional
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Sixth Place
Manny Naccarato
Chasing the Dream
UMTV
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
Mila Larrieu
New Coach Bianca Duran Focuses on Team Culture
Griffon Media
Missouri Western State University

Eighth Place
Ethan Cohen, Noah Quezada
Soccer Looks to Win Fans over in Canada
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Ninth Place
Alfonso Vargas
CSUN Aumni Rafael Garcia Returns as Assistant Coach
The Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Tenth Place
Devan McClure
Kentucky Becomes First Volleyball Team to Win at Wrigley Field
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Best of Show
Deklyn DeSpain
Homeless at 16, Crowned at 20
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Charlotte DeAngelis
CAMP
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Third Place
Staff
A Most Dangerous Game
Pwatem
Virginia Commonwealth University

Fourth Place
Jay Moyer
Seeing Red
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Fifth Place
Rachel Kristen, Lee Yokota
The Night Shift
Prime
University of California, Los Angeles

Sixth Place
Staff
Becoming
Ink
Virginia Commonwealth University

Seventh Place
Lily Driver
From Fires to Front Page
Roundabout
North Carolina State University

Eighth Place
Mattie Buckner
Moth – Flytrap Moon
Windhover
North Carolina State University

Ninth Place
Staff
Tried & True
River City Fashion
Virginia Commonwealth University

Tenth Place
Angelica Jade
Gregorio Family & Homecoming Week
The Avion
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Best of Show
Anayah Darrett
Dolly Parton Leaves Legacy
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Second Place
Chloe LaVelle
22 Games
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Third Place
Lindsay Favre
105th: It’s Up to You
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Fourth Place
Jed William Gocatek, Amanda Luella Rivera
More Than 10,000 Freshmen Pass Through Arch
The Varsitarian
University of Santo Tomas (Philippines)

Fifth Place
Makayla Riley, Knykolas Ross
Under the Stars
Southern Digest
Southern University and A&M College (LA)

Sixth Place
Armaan Dhillon
On the Right Track
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Seventh Place
Katherine Citino, Jessica Xu
Beer Bike
The Rice Thresher
Rice University (TX)

Eighth Place
Ava Donaldson
107 Degrees
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Ninth Place
Emma Wilks
DEI
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Tenth Place
Tate Gasch
Big Man on Campus
The Daily Campus
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Best of Show
Delaney Birkett
Humans of the Den The Tower Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Jake Sperling
In the Eye of the Storm
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Third Place
Kennedy Knight
Art2Wear
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Fourth Place
Haylee Haslett, Payton Lee
Victory Frames
Royal Purple
Kansas State University

Fifth Place
Maya Brennan, Keira Faddis
Postmarked From Miami
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Sixth Place
Jake Sperling
Sebastian Reveal
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
Jake Sperling
Facts & Statistics
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Eighth Place
Madison Coulter, Demelia Funk
Play Back
Royal Purple
Kansas State University

Ninth Place
Alora Bucey
Season for Sound & Spirits
Tower
Northwest Missouri State University

Tenth Place
Kate Lile
App-roach-ing a New Tradition
The Eagle
Tennessee Tech University

Best of Show
Hank Leahy
Fallapalooza 2026
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Noah McCord
Bulldog Bash
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Third Place
Evelyn Megery
Senior Alexis Kramb Reveals Her Secret Identity
Northern Review
Ohio Northern University

Fourth Place
Scout Tarquinio
Fans Swarm State Street
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fifth Place
General Mason
Starks “Breaking” Character
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Sixth Place
Diamond Williams
Emerging Designers
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
Brant Fowler, II
Faculty Senate Induction
Southern Digest
Southern University and A&M College (LA)

Eighth Place
Nikki Yunker
Down the Hatch at the Aquarium
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)

Ninth Place
Blake Fagan
The Lewis Family Consoles One Another
The Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Tenth Place
Ethan Cohen
Fire Crews Race to Contain Sandy Fire
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Best of Show
Diego Melchor
Twisting Header
Technician
North Carolina State University

Second Place
Kristopher Fister
Men’s Basketball Lose to UNI, Again
The Murray State News
Murray State University (KY)

Third Place
Tierney Dennison
Making It
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Fourth Place
Noah Bruce
No Call
The Crimson White
University of Alabama

Fifth Place
Ava Anzalone
Mountaineers Football
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Sixth Place
Noah McCord
Bigger than Basketball: Josh Hubbard
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Seventh Place
Xavier Patterson
Kentucky Beats LSU 35-34 in Overtime
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Eighth Place
Dylan Ribott
Eyes on the Bar
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Ninth Place
Ava Stroshane
Party Time
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Tenth Place
Luke Goins
Volleyball Upset The Daily Beacon University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Best of Show
Grace Gillio
Eyes that Never Blink
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Second Place
Kami Steinle
Vague Definitions, Communication Lead Faculty to Worry About Higher Education
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Third Place
Olivia Lee
Over Half of UT Students Make the Fall 2025 Dean’s List
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Fourth Place
Staff
Bloomington Meadows Hospital Jeopardized Safety and Health, Patients Allege
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Fifth Place
Sylvia Freire
UK Investigation Found Former UK Track Coach Made Inappropriate Remarks
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Sixth Place
Nevaeh Sturdivant
Former Pride Center Assistant Director Jae Edwards Discusses Firing
The Nubian Message
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
Natalia Mochernak
UCPD Received Notice of Suspected Child Sex Abuse Years Before Arrest
Daily Bruin University of California, Los Angeles

Eighth Place
Elissa Leka
Fire Code Violations Strain University, Town Relations
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Ninth Place
Cameron Young
Former TUPD Officers Sue University
The Tulane Hullabaloo
Tulane University (LA)

Tenth Place
Gavin Quinlan
SIUE Faces Unfair Labor Practice Charges
The Alestle
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Best of Show
Catherine Smith
Clipping the South’s Wisteria Problem
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Second Place
Nikki Yunker
Bird Is the Word
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)

Third Place
Karen Smith
Behind the American Dream
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fourth Place
Davis Cuffe
More Time for Jerry Lecomte
Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Fifth Place
Lauren Jones, Max McCullough, Jonathan Sze, Lauren Yoon
Exploring Wildfires and Their Prevention
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Sixth Place
Natalia Nelson
The Phone Call
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Seventh Place
Grace Thompson
Boots & Boogie
Pulse
Central Washington University

Eighth Place
Olivia Lee, Margaret White
Monkey Business
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Ninth Place
Taylor Good
A Place of Light
Venture by The Daily Campus
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Tenth Place
Kate Myers
Space Cowboys Win Big
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Best of Show
Dylan Allen, Rocco Brichler, Ryan Giacomini, Charlie Wiltsee
The $500,000 Black Box
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Second Place
Charlene Clark, Taylor Kaspar, Julia Wildman
Scars of the Game
The Criterion
Colorado Mesa University

Third Place
Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer
The Last Rade
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Fourth Place
Payton Liggins
Junior Forward Balances Nursing, Basketball
Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Fifth Place
Greta Klein
Life After Basketball
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Sixth Place
Willa Campion
Finally Champions
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Seventh Place
W. Paul Bohlen
Lady Bears Exceeded Expectations in CUSA Debut
The Standard
Missouri State University

Eighth Place
Paige Mueller
Purple Looks A lot Like Home
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Ninth Place
Trevor McGee
Tennessee Basketball’s Been There Before
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tenth Place
Logan West
Sports Betting May Banned On Tennessee Campuses
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Best of Show
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Second Place
Collegian Media Group
Kansas State University

Third Place
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Fourth Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Fifth Place
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Sixth Place
Student Media
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
The Daily Collegian
California State University, Fresno

Eighth Place
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Ninth Place
The Avion
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Tenth Place
Mustang Media Group
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Best of Show
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Second Place
Top 5 Stories from The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Best of Show
NewsVision
University of Miami (FL)

Second Place
DITV
University of Iowa

Third Place
BTVN
California State University, Long Beach

Fourth Place
Kernel Chronicles
University of Kentucky

Fifth Place
ENN Tonight
Elon University (NC)

Sixth Place
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Seventh Place
On the Steps
University of California, Los Angeles

Eighth Place
Star News Network
Texas State University

Ninth Place
CBU TV
California Baptist University

Tenth Place
From the Newsroom
Southeast Missouri State University

Best of Show
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Second Place
StoryBytes Media
Miami Dade College – Kendall Campus (FL)

Third Place
The Clarion e-newsletter
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Fourth Place
The Union
El Camino College (CA)

Best of Show
Student Life
Washington University in St. Louis (MO)

Second Place
The Shorthorn Headlines
University of Texas at Arlington

Third Place
DIBS Digest
DePaul University (IL)

Fourth Place
The Tail End
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Fifth Place
Loyolan Wrapped
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Sixth Place
The Commonwealth Times Newsletter
Virginia Commonwealth University

Seventh Place
The Plainsman Daily
Auburn University (IL)

Eighth Place
Valor Media Newsletter
Evangel University (MO)

Ninth Place
The Alestle
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Tenth Place
Daily Bruin Newsletter
University of California, Los Angeles

Best of Show
El Sol
Southwestern College (CA)

Second Place
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)

Third Place
Impact
Palomar College (CA)

Best of Show
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Druid
University of Alabama

Third Place
Venture
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Fourth Place
Year in Review
Ithaca College (NY)

Fifth Place
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Sixth Place
Midas Magazine
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Seventh Place
Ink
Virginia Commonwealth University

Eighth Place
Manhappenin’
Kansas State University

Ninth Place
River City Fashion
Virginia Commonwealth University

Tenth Place
Focus Zine
Palomar College (CA)

Best of Show
Miambiance
Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus (FL)

Second Place
Yahara Journal
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Third Place
The Siren
Del Mar College (TX)

Fourth Place
The Windmill
Dallas College Brookhaven (TX)

Best of Show
The Peel
Appalachian State University (NC)

Second Place
Pwatem
Virginia Commonwealth University

Third Place
Annum Arcanum
Virginia Commonwealth University

Fourth Place
Windhover
North Carolina State University

Fifth Place
Aquarian
Jacksonville University (FL)

Sixth Place
Amendment
Virginia Commonwealth University

Seventh Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Best of Show
The Sun
Southwestern College (CA)

Second Place
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Third Place
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Fourth Place
MATC Times
Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)

Fifth Place
News-Register
Dallas College Northlake (TX)

Sixth Place
The Montage
St. Louis Community College – Meramec (MO)

Seventh Place
The Brookhaven Courier
Dallas College Brookhaven (TX)

Eighth Place
NWACC Eagle View
Northwest Arkansas Community College

Ninth Place
Richland Chronicle
Dallas College Richland (TX)

Tenth Place
The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Best of Show
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Second Place
The Rice Thresher
Rice University (TX)

Third Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Fourth Place
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

Fifth Place
The Augustana Mirror
Augustana University (SD)

Sixth Place
The Antelope
University of Nebraska at Kearney

Seventh Place
Arrow
Southeast Missouri State University

Eighth Place
Muleskinner
University of Central Missouri

Ninth Place
The Murray State News
Murray State University (KY)

Tenth Place
The Banner
California Baptist University

Best of Show
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Second Place
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Third Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Fourth Place
Xpress
San Francisco State University (CA)

Fifth Place
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Sixth Place
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Seventh Place
The Post
Ohio University

Eighth Place
The Daily Collegan
California State University, Fresno

Ninth Place
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Tenth Place
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Best of Show
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Second Place
Angelos
California Baptist University

Third Place
Tower
Northwest Missouri State University

Fourth Place
Royal Purple
Kansas State University

Fifth Place
Arbutus
Indiana University

Sixth Place
Edda
Augustana University (SD)

Seventh Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Best of Show
MATC Times
Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI

Second Place
The Chronicle
College of Lake County (IL)

Third Place
The Sun Online
Southwestern College (CA)

Fourth Place
The Cuestonian
Cuesta College (CA)

Fifth Place
The Telescope
Palomar College (CA)

Sixth Place
The Union
El Camino College (CA)

Seventh Place
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Eighth Place
NWACC Eagle View
Northwest Arkansas Community College

Ninth Place
Richland Student Media
Dallas College Richland (TX)

Best of Show
Elon News Network
Elon University (NC)

Second Place
The Daily Campus
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Third Place
The Miami Hurricane
University of Miami (FL)

Fourth Place
The Advance-Titan
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Fifth Place
The Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Sixth Place
Arrow
Southeast Missouri State University

Seventh Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Eighth Place
The Equinox
Keene State College (NH)

Ninth Place
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Best of Show
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Second Place
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Third Place
The Daily Collegian
California State University, Fresno

Fourth Place
The Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Fifth Place
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Sixth Place
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Seventh Place
The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan

Eighth Place
Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Ninth Place
The State Hornet
California State University, Sacramento

Tenth Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky