Best of Show Fall 2025 conference

Oct. 18, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Associated Collegiate Press presented Best of Show awards at the conclusion of MediaFest25, Oct. 18, 2025, in Washington D.C.

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

Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition


Individual Recognition

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Best of Show
Miguel De Asis, Ricky Syrre
Anti-Smoking PSA
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Second Place
Ethan Sysavath
Cheba Hut Subs
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Third Place
Staff
Proud Supporter of App State Athletics
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Fourth Place
Ashlyn Yee
Stay connected, Titans!
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Fifth Place
Neph DeMott
Scary Story and Artwork Contest
The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

BROADCAST: News Story

Best of Show
Sabatino Stacchi, Coleman Standifer
There Is a ‘Demographic Cliff’ Threatening Enrollment Numbers
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Vache Sipanian
Students Take In the Community at Discover Fest
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Third Place
Zak McHale, Colin Mills, Emma Russell
Inside the Tense First Community Conversations Event
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Fourth Place
Samantha Kline
First Week Traffic Makes Students Late to Classes
Daily Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Fifth Place
Piper Renaud
Lexington Fire Department Hosts Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Sixth Place
Jax Crall
A Shooting Hoax Causes Reassessment and Evaluation
UATV
University of Arkansas

Seventh Place
Marissa Muniz
Students Join In Prayer for Charlie Kirk
Baylor Lariat TV News
Baylor University (TX)

Eighth Place
Gracyn Thatcher
Campus Shooting Hoax Calls Raise Safety Concerns on Campuses
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee

Ninth Place
Kyle Boucher, Sofia DiStefano, Ivory Galloway, Emmanuel Perkins
Ukrainian Refugee Killed on Lightrail Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Tenth Place
Carolina Barsakov, Nora Gallagher, Hannah Morgan
UCLA Researchers Discuss Funding Freeze
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

BROADCAST: Feature Story

Best of Show
Gavin Breunig
How Steve Baron Influenced Generations of Music Lovers
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Aubree Curran
Painting With a Purpose
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee

Third Place
Aiden Richmond
Pet Circle Animal Center Marks One Year With a Bash
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Fourth Place
Molly Tannehill
MSU Smart Bus Night Route
WMSV Radio-Take 30 News
Mississippi State University

Fifth Place
Isaac Perlich
Bloomington Animal Shelter Donor
IUSTV
Indiana University

Sixth Place
Zac Butterworth, Eddie Hernández, Kenzie Houk, Max Krzeminski, Mya Miller
Performative Male/Masc Contest
The Crimson White
University of Alabama

Seventh Place
Dani Sapoznic
Art Jam Is Putting the ‘Art’ in Matadors’ HeARTs!
Daily Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Eighth Place
Vache Sipanian
Cal State Fullerton Hosts Its Biannual WellFest
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Ninth Place
Claire Harrell, Eli Keller
Welcome Back to the Hive! Students Return for the Fall Semester
The State Hornet
California State University, Sacramento

Tenth Place
Aiden Richmond
Baylor Soccer Remains Undefeated Heading Into Conference Play
Baylor Lariat TV News
Baylor University (TX)

BROADCAST: Sports Story

Best of Show
Cole Leighton
Skate at Your Own Risk
ROAR Studios
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Gabriella Mercedes
No. 6 Kentucky Volleyball Sweeps Washington 3-0
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Third Place
Luke Lamoree
Tennessee Tradition: Vol Navy
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee

Fourth Place
Jax Crall
Nolan Richardson Receives the 2025 Arkansan of the Year Award
UATV
University of Arkansas

Fifth Place
Tafada Wright
MSU Track and Field Preseason
WMSV Radio-Take 30 News
Mississippi State University

DESIGN: Magazine

Best of Show
Julia Campbell, Jay Moyer
Modern Folktales
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Second Place
Claire Geriak, Jaya Roberts, Frenchy Sandoval
What’s in My Bag?
The Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Third Place
Amaris Bowers, Summer DeCiucis, Zach Montgomery, Elizabeth Murphy
Life, Is, a Fashion Show
Ink
Virginia Commonwealth University

Fourth Place
Marlowe Henderson
Howl for Howell
Roundabout
North Carolina State University

Fifth Place
Ashleigh Jones
Trixie Mattel’s College Survival Guide
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky

Sixth Place
Gillian Grunenfelder, Elina Perera
Shrinking Feeling
Ink
Virginia Commonwealth University

Seventh Place
Eva Andrews, Adaleah Carman, Maya Gooneratne
Gameday Oregon vs. Oklahoma State Edition Gameday
The Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Eighth Place
Valentina Gomez, Jay Moyer
A to Zzzzz’s
Distraction
University of Miami (FL)

Ninth Place
Eva Lozeau De Guzman
Treatment or Mistreatment
WORD
University of California, Santa Barbara

DESIGN: Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Best of Show
Shelbi Bale, River Byrn, Jack Cheasty, Jake McMahon
What Went Wrong?
College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University

Second Place
Haley Walton
Bueckers’ Remarkable Rookie Season
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Third Place
Katelyn Coffman
5 Albums that Feel Like Fall
The Collegian
California State University, Fresno

Fourth Place
Jeffrey Cohen, Jackson Posey, Reuben Samuels
Bears Back on the Brazos
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Fifth Place
Lindsay Favre
Political Violence Special Edition Cover
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee

Sixth Place
Rory Moon
Nurturing Your Wellbeing Technician
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
Jessica Xu
Rice Thresher A1 Design
The Rice Thresher
Rice University (TX)

Eighth Place
Lauryn Henderson, Gray Nelson
Latinx Heritage Month
The Nubian Message
North Carolina State University

Ninth Place
Alaina Dackermann
Ohio Pulls Off Upset Against West Virginia
The Post
Ohio University

Tenth Place
Sunnya Hadavi
Hispanic and Latin American History at UNC Charlotte
Niner Times
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

DESIGN: Yearbook

Best of Show
Raoul-Mihai Simu
LA: Smoke, Ash and Recovery
The Los Angeles
Loyolan Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Second Place
Allison Schnelle
Football Highlights
Baylor Roundup
Baylor University (TX)

Third Place
Jake Sperling Cam Ward – a Generational Talent
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Fourth Place
Kennedy Knight
Red or Blue? NC Elections
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Fifth Place
Jake Sperling
Olympic ‘Canes
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Sixth Place
Jermaine Hudson
Meet the Divine Nine
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
Jake Sperling
Widespread Influence
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Eighth Place
Jake Sperling
Student Government – Making a Difference
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Ninth Place
Lizzie Edwards
Still Life in Bloom
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Tenth Place
Ashleigh Jones
The Kentuckian Basketball Highlights Kentucky Kernel University of Kentucky

PHOTOJOURNALISM: News/Feature Photo

Best of Show
Christian Kantosky
Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Charlie Kirk
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Geraldine Cruz
Counterprotester at State College ICE Protest
The Daily Collegian
Pennsylvania State University

Third Place
Griffin O’Rourke
Barricade Broken, Two Arrested at Labor Day Protest
Daily Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Fourth Place
Jed Baso
Candlelight Vigil
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee

Fifth Place
Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Muddy Miss
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Sixth Place
Ava Stroshane
Colorful Chaos
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
Zach Ruth
Tug ‘o War at Clash of the Colleges
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Eighth Place
Briana Pace
Charlie Kirk IU vigil
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Ninth Place
Brandon Badraoui
Navy’s 250 Birthday at Embry-Riddle
The Avion
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Tenth Place
Reese Putnam, Jake Sperling
The Face
Behind the Beak
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

PHOTOJOURNALISM: Sports Photo

Best of Show
Christian Kantosky
Wide Receiver Kendrick Law Runs Past an Eastern Michigan Player
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Second Place
Ari Saperstein
MSU Fan Stands at the Top of Spartan Stadium
The State News
Michigan State University

Third Place
Benjamin Hanson
CSUN Men’s Soccer Remain Undefeated
Daily Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Fourth Place
Saj Sundaram
The No. 4 Oregon Ducks Destroy the Oklahoma State Cowboys
The Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Fifth Place
Alex Manuel
Red Terrors
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Sixth Place
Lauren McKinney
IU Football Players Celebrate
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Seventh Place
Ava Stroshane
Going for It
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Eighth Place
Carter Robinson
Francom Block
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Ninth Place
Sam Gassaway
Sliding Save
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Tenth Place
Nathan Noda
NW Soccer 9/17 Margaret Madden Goal #1
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

REPORTING: News Story

Best of Show
Anthony Clauson
What Happened to WKU’s 3 Newest Dorms?
College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University

Second Place
Grace McNeill, Sabatino Stacchi
LMU Invests Big in Athletics
The Los Angeles
Loyolan Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Third Place
Tarek Anthony, Sasha Love UO to Layoff 117 Faculty, No Tenured Positions to be Cut
The Daily Emerald
University of Oregon

Fourth Place
Mia Hilkowitz
IU Refuses To Release Review of Whitten Plagiarism Allegations
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Fifth Place
Miceala Morano
911 Call to UAPD Reveals Details About Campus ‘Swatting’ Incident
The Arkansas Traveler
University of Arkansas

Sixth Place
Julian Eamon Corbo, Julian DeLucia
Students Harassed at LGBTQ+ Orientation Event
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Seventh Place
Sabatino Stacchi
Faculty Call for Further Deliberation as University Mulls Relocating Department
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Eighth Place
Anish Topiwala
‘Political Theater’ a Flashpoint for Campus Speech
The State News
Michigan State University

Ninth Place
MacKenzie Grizzard, Foster Nicholas
Students Join In Prayer for Charlie Kirk
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Tenth Place
Emilio Perez-Ibarguen
Professor Watchlists’ Are a Thorn and Threat for Some Faculty
The State News
Michigan State University

REPORTING: Feature Story

Best of Show
Jonathan Frey
A Drunk Driver Killed Nate 3 Years Ago
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Second Place
MacKenzie Grizzard
Camp Mystic Counselors Return to Baylor, Reflect on Flooding Tragedy
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Third Place
Isabella Sepahban
A Daughter Remembers Her Father’s Sacrifice on 9/11
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fourth Place
Jolie Shultz
A Former Collegian Writer’s Journey to Her First Novel
The Kansas State
Collegian Kansas State University

Fifth Place
Yezen Saadah
NYU Langone Fired a Nurse Battling Cancer
Washington Square News
New York University

Sixth Place
Dang Le
Lifelong Friendship
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Seventh Place
Leah Cox
Tennis Players Talk Struggles, Team Camaraderie
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Eighth Place
Trevor McGee
How Tennessee Football’s Motor Keeps Running Through SEC Season
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee

Ninth Place
Pedro Malkomes
The Climb
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Tenth Place
Simone Edwards
“Saving Calories to Drink”
WORD
University of California, Santa Barbara

Staff recognition

Advertising Media Kit

Best of Show
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

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

Third Place
State News Media Group
Michigan State University

Fourth Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Fifth Place
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Sixth Place
Main Hill Media
University of Arkansas

Seventh Place
Collegian Media Group
Kansas State University

Eighth Place
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Ninth Place
The Appalachian
Appalachian State University (NC)

Tenth Place
Student Media
North Carolina State University

Broadcast News Program (two-year campus)

Best of Show
Top 5 Stories from The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Second Place
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Broadcast News Program (four-year campus)

Best of Show
Mustang News TV (MNTV)
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Second Place
IUSTV
Indiana University

Third Place
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Fourth Place
DITV
University of Iowa

Fifth Place
Star News Network
Texas State University

Sixth Place
UMTV’s NewsVision
University of Miami (FL)

Seventh Place
CBU TV
California Baptist University

Eighth Place
The Volunteer Channel
University of Tennessee

Ninth Place
Eagle Eye News
Auburn University (AL)

Tenth Place
Lariat TV News Today
Baylor University (TX)

Digital Newsletter (two-year campus)

Best of Show
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Second Place
The Union
El Camino College (CA)

Third Place
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Fourth Place
The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Digital Newsletter (four-year campus)

Best of Show
The Shorthorn Headlines
University of Texas at Arlington

Second Place
IDS Daily Rundown
Indiana University

Third Place
The Plainsman
Daily Auburn University (AL)

Fourth Place
Daily Titan
California State University, Fullerton

Fifth Place
DePaulia Newsletter
DePaul University (IL)

Sixth Place
Technician Weekly Newsletter
North Carolina State University

Seventh Place
Muleskinner Newsletter
University of Central Missouri

Eighth Place
The Mirror Compact
Augustana University (SD)

Ninth Place
The State Hornet ‘In Summary’
California State University, Sacramento

Tenth Place
The Morning Buzz
Baylor University (TX)

Feature Magazine (two-year campus)

Best of Show
El Sol
Southwestern College (CA)

Second Place
Collegian Times
Los Angeles City College (CA)

Third Place
Warrior Life
El Camino College (CA)

Fourth Place
Naked
Los Positas College (CA)

Feature Magazine (four-year campus)

Best of Show
Talisman
Western Kentucky University

Second Place
SMU Look
Southern Methodist University (TX)

Third Place
EYNE
California State University, Long Beach

Fourth Place
Pulse Central
Washington University

Fifth Place
Midas
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Sixth Place
Ink
Virginia Commonwealth University

Seventh Place
Roundabout
North Carolina State University

Eighth Place
Pursuit
California Baptist University

Ninth Place
Alice
University of Alabama

Tenth Place
Nineteen Fifty-Six
University of Alabama

Literary Arts Magazine (two-year campus)

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

Second Place
Havik
Las Positas College (CA)

Third Place
The Yahara Journal
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Fourth Place
The Windmill
Dallas College, Brookhaven (TX)

Literary Arts Magazine (four-year campus)

Best of Show
Windhover
North Carolina State University

Second Place
Polaris
Ohio Northern University

Third Place
The Peel
Appalachian State University (NC)

Fourth Place
Aquarian
Jacksonville University (FL)

Fifth Place
Pwatem
Virginia Commonwealth University

Sixth Place
Nova
University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Seventh Place
Underground Art and Literary Journal
Georgia State University

Eighth Place
Amendment
Virginia Commonwealth University

Ninth Place
Annvm Archanvm
Virginia Commonwealth University

Newspaper/Newsmagazine (two-year campus)

Best of Show
el Don
Santa Ana College (CA)

Second Place
The Union
El Camino College (CA)

Third Place
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Fourth Place
Foghorn News
Del Mar College (TX)

Fifth Place
The Southwestern College Sun
Southwestern College (CA)

Sixth Place
Et Cetera
Dallas College, Eastfield Campus (TX)

Seventh Place
The Express
Los Positas College (CA)

Eighth Place
Richland Chronicle
Dallas College, Richland (TX)

Ninth Place
MATC Times
Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)

Tenth Place
News-Register
Dallas College, Northlake Campus (TX)

Newspaper/Newsmagazine (four-year campus, 15,000 or fewer)

Best of Show
The Rice Thrasher
Rice University (TX)

Second Place
The Antelope
University of Nebraska at Kearney

Third Place
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Fourth Place
The Banner
California Baptist University

Fifth Place
The Northern Iowan
University of Northern Iowan

Sixth Place
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Seventh Place
The Alestle
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

Eighth Place
The Mirror
Augustana University (SD)

Ninth Place
The Reflector
Mount Royal University (Alberta)

Tenth Place
Muleskinner
University of Central Missouri

Newspaper/Newsmagazine (four-year campus, more than 15,000)

Best of Show
College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University

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

Third Place
The Daily Beacon
University of Tennessee

Fourth Place
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Fifth Place
Paw Print
California State University, Fresno

Sixth Place
The New Political
Ohio University

Seventh Place
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Eighth Place
The Commonwealth Times
Virginia Commonwealth University

Ninth Place
The Post
Ohio University

Tenth Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Yearbook

Best of Show
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Second Place
Tower
Northwestern Missouri State University

Third Place
Baylor Roundup
Baylor University (TX)

Fourth Place
Razorback
University of Arkansas

Fifth Place
Petit Jean
Harding University (AR)

Sixth Place
The Tower
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Seventh Place
Angelos
California Baptist University

Eighth Place
Edda
Augustana University (SD)

Website (two-year campus)

Best of Show
el Don Santa
Ana College (CA)

Second Place
The Collegian
Tarrant County College (TX)

Third Place
Southwestern College Sun
Southwestern College (CA)

Fourth Place
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Fifth Place
The Union
El Camino College (CA)

Sixth Place
The Clarion
Madison Area Technical College (WI)

Seventh Place
Richland Student Media
Dallas College-Richland Campus (TX)

Eighth Place
MATC Times
Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI)

Ninth Place
News-Register
Dallas College-North Lake Campus (TX)

Tenth Place
Waubonsee Weekly Student Edition
Waubonsee Community College (IL)

Website (four-year campus, 15,000 or fewer)

Best of Show
The Ithacan
Ithaca College (NY)

Second Place
The Banner
California Baptist University

Third Place
The Equinox
Keene State College (NH)

Fourth Place
The Rice Thresher
Rice University (TX)

Fifth Place
The Observer
Central Washington University

Sixth Place
The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University (CA)

Seventh Place
The Antelope
University of Nebraska at Kearney

Eighth Place
The Pine Needle
University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Ninth Place
The Alstle
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Tenth Place
Muleskinner
University of Central Missouri

Website (four-year campus, more than 15,000)

Best of Show
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Second Place
Daily Sundial
California State University, Northridge

Third Place
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Fourth Place
The State News
Michigan State University

Fifth Place
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Sixth Place
Indiana Daily Student
Indiana University

Seventh Place
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Eighth Place
The Auburn Plainsman
Auburn University (AL)

Ninth Place
College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University

Tenth Place
The Daily Toreador
Texas Tech University