August 26, 2025

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2025 Story of the Year competition.

The winners will be announced at the ACP Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 18, at MediaFest25, the Fall National College Media Convention, in Washington, D.C.

After the winners are announced on Oct. 18, 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 Story of the Year contests —

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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

Breaking News Story

Sam Freeman, Lauren Sheperd
14 East, DePaul University (IL)
Trump Administration Terminates Depaul Student’s Legal Status

Dom Fenoglio, Ranjan Jindal, Sophie Levenson, Abby Spiller
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
Crystal Mangum Admits to Fabricating 2006 Duke Lacrosse Scandal Accusations

Kate Myers
The Reflector, Mississippi State University
S.P.A.R.K.’s Future Remains Uncertain with MSU’s New DEI Policies

Ethan Bakogiannis, Kate Denning
Technician, North Carolina State University
Popular NC State Professor Marshall Brain Dies, Alleges Retaliation for Ethics Complaints

Jacob Whitney
The Occidental, Occidental College (CA)
Oxy SJP Protest and Confrontation with Security at Stritikus’s Inauguration

Dylan Hembrough
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville Admin Proposes Eliminating Physics Department as Threat of Layoffs Looms

Fousia Abdullahi, Lauren Harper, Alex Hoben
The Collegian, Tarrant County College (TX)
Children’s Center Shut Down After 50 Years

Blake Leschber
The University Star, Texas State University-San Marcos
San Marcos High School Cleared After False Threat

Alexandra Crosnoe
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Trump Administration Revokes Visas of Multiple UCLA, UC Students

Clarissa Dean
Talisman, Western Kentucky University
“We Were Not Prepared:” Bowling Green Faces Historic Flooding

In-Depth News Story

Mia Abraham, Luis Caro, Sarah Hendry, LiLi Jarvenpa
The DePaulia, DePaul University (IL)
Chicago’s ‘One System Initiative’: Bold Reform or a Band-Aid Solution for Unhoused Communities?

Lauren Theisen
Urban Plains, Drake University (IA)
Empty Plates and Empty Promises

Nikki Yunker
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
Basic Needs Centers See Record Increase in Demand

Ryan Kupperman
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
Detaining Futures

Theo Scheer, Alex Walters
The State News, Michigan State University
After Shooting, MSU Promised Safety. It Delivered Surveillance

Cole Reynolds, Jerry Wu
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
Students and Staff Report Some Dining Workers for Harassment.

Jacob Ritondo
The Crimson White, University of Alabama
Alabama Student’s Death by Suicide Reflects Problems with Veterans Mental Health Treatment

Ruby Duncan
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
The School of Music and Dance’s Half Million Dollar Question

Cameron Shaw
College Heights Herald, Western Kentucky University
What Happened to Hilltopper Hall?

Josh Maritz
The Planet, Western Washington University
Oh, Deer: Chronic Wasting Disease

Feature Story

Kennedy Sessions
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
Here’s How New Yorkers Are Fighting to Keep Community Gardens in Eastern Brooklyn

Grace Logan
The DePaulia, DePaul University (IL)
Chicago’s Iraqi Novelist: The Life and Legacy of Mahmoud Saeed

Alex Nettles
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
Hurricane Helene Relief Through the Lens of a Black Hawk Mission

Elli Einset
The Huntington News, Northeastern University (MA)
Less Than Half of Northeastern Bathrooms Were Fully Stocked with Menstrual Products

Dylan Hembrough, Chloe Wolfe
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
One Decade Later: How Ferguson Boosted the Black Lives Matter Movement

Mia Jones
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Su Alums Reminisce On Jabberwocky After Kimmel Demolition

Layth Handoush
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Are Mushrooms Magic?

Emily Nyberg
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Death Doulas Show End-Of-Life Care Through a Different Lens

Carlie Weigel
Flux, University of Oregon
Returning to Nature

Christine Vo
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington’s Only Gay Bar

Sports Game Story

Grace Heim
The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University (AL)
Broome’s Big Night Sends Auburn Dancing to San Antonio

Ranjan Jindal
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
Duke Men’s Basketball Defeats Louisville 73-62 to Win ACC Championship

Kayde Sheaffer
The Daily Iowan, Iowa State University
In-State Rival Stuns No. 8 Iowa State in Road Trip Gone Awry

Eli Kronenberg, Audrey Pachuta
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
Northwestern Embraces Us Vs. Them Mentality in Big Ten Tournament

Ian Curtis, Chris Swann
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Taylor-Made History: A&M Takes Down No. 1 Auburn

Ty Kaplan
The Daily Toreador, Texas Tech University
Tech Softball Hoists Big 12 Trophy Year One

Connor Dullinger
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Men’s Basketball Flatlined in Season-Ending Loss to Tennessee

Valeri Guevarra, Kristel Rambaud
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Rising Senior Matt Fallon Qualifies for Paris Olympics in 200-Meter Breaststroke

Brendan Dougherty
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
South Carolina Women’s Basketball Taken Down by UConn in National Championship

Jacob Unruh
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
How Wichita State Women’s Bowling Pulled Off Improbable Comeback

Sports Feature Story

Jackson Posey
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Tennis Star Cristina Tiglea Brings Experience to Baylor

Dylan Allen, Charlie Wiltsee
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Swim and Dive Athletes Battle for Reinstatement After Team Cut

Sophie Levenson
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
John Feinstein Died a Sportswriting Legend

Abby DiSalvo, Rachael Kaplan
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
Cameron Crazies: The Origin Stories of Basketball’s Favorite Villains

Ameen Raissi
The John Hopkins News-Letter, Johns Hopkins University (MD)
The Trailblazing Journey of Dr. Robin West: Breaking Barriers in Sports Medicine

Julio Rodriguez
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
From Bowler to Bowl Games

Cooper Andrews
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Haudenosaunee Push for IOC Special Approval to Compete in Lacrosse at 2028 Olympics

Ian Curtis
Maroon Life, Texas A&M University
Making Maichon

Ira Gorawara
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Mateen Bhaghani Blends Pride, Purpose to Inspire Young South Asian Athletes

Valeri Guevarra, Sean McKeown
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
How three former Penn swimmers came together to sue the University

Editorial

Editorial Board
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
History Cannot Be Forgotten

Maya DeHoyos
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Cuts for Education, Cash for Administration

Megan Gauer, Chris Hutton, Ellie Marty, Sean Shanks
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Entitled and Demanding

Nikki Yunker
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
Don’t Destroy the Campus

Editorial Board
Washington Square News, New York University
Nyu’s Disciplinary Measures Against Students Are Reckless and Reactive

Alexa Lima
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Clawing Back Hard Earned Speech Rights

Editorial Board
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Drag Is Free Speech Too

Cecile Diroll
The Highlander, University of California, Riverside
UC, It’s Time To Stand Up and Protect Your Students, Faculty and Staff

Editorial Board
The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
Three Questions for Our Future

Editorial Board
The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan
In The Face of DEI Cuts, Campus Must Mobilize

Column

Masha Smahliuk
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Ukrainian Fight for Democracy Continues, and You Have Power in It

Olivia Fitts
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Liv On The Edge: Our COVID Brains

Lila Sepici
Los Angeles Loyolan, Loyola University (CA)
We Need to Save Student Media — And We Need to Do It Now

Mehr Kotval
Washington Square News, New York University
NYU’s New Code of Conduct Redefines Political Opposition as Discrimination

Zeke Watson
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
I Stand to Honor My Military Family

Joshua Abraham
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Portrait of a Tradition on Fire

Ella Seaton
The Crimson White, University of Alabama
Less Is More: The Case for Knowing Less About the People Around Us

JC Vaught
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
Assembly Street Is a Danger to Pedestrians

Ariana Wolf
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
UTA’s Use of AI Imagery Is Not a Good Look

Maria Vazquez
The Daily Texan, University of Texas at Austin
When Silence Becomes Complicity

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting

Hayden Hill
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
Behind the Curtains

Casey Tharrington
The DePaulia, DePaul University (IL)
Israeli and Palestinian Speakers Call for Dialogue Over Division

Avery Sloan
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
“I’m Not Hiding Out”: Transitioning Late in Life

Lilly Molina
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
Samuel Merritt’s Story as a Descendant of a Lynching Victim

Chris Aukes, Jacob Rice
Iowa State Daily, Iowa State University
Humans of Iowa State: Odalys Garcia

Sheelagh Doe, Haley Meberg
The Ithacan, Ithaca College (NY)
Rust Cup Encourages Queer Skaters to Lace Up for Competition

Alexa Lima, Yanelli Zavina Robles
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Return of the People

Annika Holmberg, Meredith Taylor
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Poisoned at Home

Gabrielle Gunter
Alice, University of Alabama
Caring About Carabiners

Rihanna Pointer
Ninteen Fifty-Six, University of Alabama
Misogynoir

Local Climate Change Reporting

Winslette Quiray-Santiago
Ke Alaka’i, Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Restoring Coral Reefs and Lowland Forests

Olivia Pavao
The Collegian, California State University, Fresno
Wildfires Consume Southern California

Pamela Appea
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
Uncertainty Over Presidential Election Worries Climate-Impacted Immigrants

Jana Simovic
14 East, DePaul University (IL)
Belgrade’s Fog, Chicago’s Smog

Olivia Warren
The Tulane Hullabaloo, Tulane University (LA)
Christianity and Climate Change: Dueling Forces in Louisiana

Rosemary Mulvey
The Tulane Hullabaloo, Tulane University (LA)
$37 Million in Grant Funding Will Rehabilitate Louisiana Coastline

Ana Haapala
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
The Power of a Signature

Ceci Cronin
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Wildfire Smoke Threatens Eugene’s Most Vulnerable

Lily Reese
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Sensitivity and Climate Disaster Conversations

Caleb Crain
34th Street Magazine, University of Pennsylvania
Inventing a Sustainable Future

Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile

Ella Howell
The Ball State Daily News, Ball State University (IN)
After Over Three Years on the Transplant List, Ball State Student Shares His Story

Hayden Hill
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
Behind the Curtains

Nathan Feller
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
Till the Wheels Fall Off

Erica Lee
Warrior Life, El Camino College (CA)
Baking Bonds and Community

Avery Sloan
The Pendulum, Elon University (NC)
“I’m Not Hiding Out”: Transitioning Late in Life

Olivia Fitts
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
The Mobley Twins: A Brotherhood in Basketball

Natalie Staggers
The Reflector, Mississippi State University
How a Childhood Dream of Opening a Record Store Was Fulfilled in Retirement

Alfonso Julián Camacho
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Dreaming of an Orange Christmas

Ian Curtis
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
“Our Job Is to Love People”

Sofie Lara
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Thirty Years of a Cuban Man’s Quiet Revolution