2025 Photo of the Year winners

News/Breaking News Photo • Feature Photo • Sports Game/Action Photo • Sports Feature Photo • Environmental Portrait

Oct 18, 2025

Associated Collegiate Press salutes the winners of its 2025 Photo 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
L.A. Wildfires
Ethan Cohen
Long Beach Current
California State University, Long Beach

Second Place
Lone Firefighter in Palisades Fire
Jake Crandall
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Third Place
Hands Off’ Protest
Zoey Duchene
The DePaulia
DePaul University (IL)

Fourth Place
Pro-Palestinian Protest Erupts in Violence
Luca Flores
The Auburn Plainsman
Auburn University (AL)

Fifth Place
New York Rally Honors Ukrainians Amid Ongoing Tension
Edward Grattan
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Honorable mentions

Donald Trump Holds Rally In Savannah
Cole Mihalich
District
Savannah College of Art and Design (GA)

Memorial Update
Jack Bradshaw
The Daily Gamecock
University of South Carolina

Lubbock’s Hands Off Protest
Robert Looper
The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech University

Franklin Fire Ignites in Malibu Canyon
Gabrielle Salgado
The Graphic
Pepperdine University (CA)

Presidential Debate
Alejandro Clavier
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

First Place
It’s a 10!
Joel Solis
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Second Place
Bicycle Bridge
Jordan Barry
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Third Place
Campus Open Despite Extreme Cold Tuesday, Offers Free Parking in Garage
Payton Lee
The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State University

Fourth Place
Gig’ Em Cadets
Abdurahman Azeez
Aggieland
Texas A&M University

Fifth Place
Tricks Are for Kids
Molly McCabe, Theo Zinn
D&M Magazine
Drexel University (PA)

Honorable mentions

Powers Praise Dances to Miss Black EIU 2025 Crown
Sia DeyKoontz
Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Magic Green Room
AJ Barber
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Trump Supporters – Inauguration 2025
Jeremy Battle
The DePaulia
DePaul University (IL)

Ludacris Headlines Bulldog Bash
Ivy Rose Ball
The Reflector
Mississippi State University

Faith in Fashion
Eddy Cermeno
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)

First Place
Brooks Attempts to Catch a Pass
Makayla Perez
The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech University

Second Place
Reaching New Heights with Kentucky Climbers
Matthew Mueller
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Third Place
Diving
Arthur Wawrzyniak
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Fourth Place
Soccer
Brodie Curtsinger
Talisman
Western Kentucky University

Fifth Place
Bearcats Defeat the Baylor Bears 69-67
Isabella Zinchini
The News Record
University of Cincinnati (OH)

Honorable mentions

Rounding the Bend
Daniel Gaither
MVJ
Syracuse University (NY)

No Room for Hesitation
Caleb Minor
Ponder
Black Hills State University (SD)

Bars
Clara Kee
The Crimson White
University of Alabama

Women’s Basketball Bests USC to Claim Big Ten Championship
Darlene Sanzon
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Carolina Cowboys
Katherine Martin
The Pendulum
Elon University (NC)

First Place
Storybook Ending
Ronaldo Bolaños
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Second Place
EIU Wins Second OVC Championship in Three Years
Patrick Schmitz
Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Third Place
Gymnastics Uneven Bars
Griffin Bryant
Technician
North Carolina State University

Fourth Place
Eagle Takes Flight
Luca Flores
The Auburn Plainsman
Auburn University (AL)

Fifth Place
Tradition on a Roll Mark
Hoover Central
Michigan Life Central
Michigan University

Honorable mentions

Softball UO Vs. WSU
Tyler Graham
Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Soccer
Cody Blissett
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Miami Women’s Tennis Grabs Their First Win Against Kennesaw State
Lorelei DiSanto
The Miami Hurricane
University of Miami (FL)

In the Line of Fire
Christine Vo
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Fans React
Skyler Sharp
The Daily Texan
University of Texas at Austin

First Place
We’re Not Robots
Alec Butterfield
Ponder
Black Hills State University (SD)

Second Place
The Future of Fashion: What SCAD ATL Students Are Wearing
Beita Tang
SCAN
Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta (GA)

Third Place
Beekeeper Bob Holden
Yvonna Guyette
MVJ
Syracuse University (NY)

Fourth Place
The Spirits at Erie Canal Museum Keep Its Staff Company
Cassandra Roshu
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University (NY)

Fifth Place
Dig Daisy Velasco Portrait
Gopi Vadsak
Long Beach Current
California State University, Long Beach

Honorable mentions

Business Owners See City Leaders’ Responsiveness as Paramount in Election
Shun Graves
Daily Northwestern Northwestern University (IL)

Olivia’s Mexican Restaurant
Josselyn Guillen
Pursuit
California Baptist University

Amadour: An Interdisciplinary Artist Shaped by SMC And Exploring Queer Identity
Mary Funsten
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

Underground Wrestler
Jordan Barry
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Creating a Beautiful Life
Eddy Cermeno
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)