ACP names top college websites

Prestigious competition recognizes 19 Pacemakers

March 7, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (CA) — Honoring the nation’s best, the Associated College Press named 19 student websites as winners of its prestigious Pacemaker during an awards ceremony at the ACP Spring National College Media Conference.

“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 February, 44 websites were named Pacemaker finalists. The 44 finalists represent 20 states. California set the pace with 12 finalists, followed by Texas with six. The finalists include 37 four-year and seven two-year schools.

Online sites from two-year and four-year schools competed in separate divisions. 

Within the four-year school category, websites competed against those from colleges and universities with similar enrollments.

Early in 2026, judging teams began reviewing the sites.

For this contest, news and feature websites are accepted. The websites may be produced in conjunction with a print newspaper or magazine or a stand-alone site. In addition to reviewing the overall sites, judges paid particular attention to the URLs of three content presentations suggested by editors on the contest entry form.

“Today’s best online sites are platforms for rich multimedia storytelling,” associate director Gary Lundgren said. “Deep and diverse coverage with strong engagement and interactivity distinguish the best student-produced sites.” 

In this competition, only the online product was judged. Print newspapers/newsmagazines compete in a separate competition. There is also a Multiplatform Pacemaker competition. The Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemakers and Multiplatform Pacemaker will be recognized in the fall.

2026 Spring Convention Awards

Spring 2026 Pacemakers
Online
Student Media Business
Yearbook

San Francisco Best of Show
Individual Recognition
Staff Recognition

Advertising and Business Individual Awards

Pacemaker finalists
Online
Student Media Business
Yearbook

Mustang News
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
Editor-in-chief: Leila Touati
Advisers: Kim Bisheff, Pat Howe

The State Hornet
California State University, Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Editor-in-chief: Delaney Joyce
Adviser: Fernando Gallo

The Express
Las Positas College
Livermore, California
Editor-in-chief: Camille LeDuc
Advisers: Melissa Korber, Marcus Thompson II

The Los Angeles Loyolan
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-chief: Olivia Silvester
Advisers: Tom Nelson, Kevin O’Keeffe

The Corsair
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California
Editors-in-chief: Adriana Brady, Katie Easterson
Advisers: Gerard Burkhart, Samantha Nuñez, Sharyn Obsatz

Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Editor-in-chief: Dylan Winward
Advisers: Doria Deen, Abigail Goldman

The Red & Black
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Editors-in-chief: Katie Guenthner, Allison Mawn
Adviser: Kayla Renie

The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois
Editors-in-chief: Emily Lichty, Lily Ogburn
Adviser: Stacia Campbell

The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Editors-in-chief: Roxy Ekberg, Isabelle Foland
Adviser: Jason Brummond

College Heights Herald
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Editor-in-chief: ​​Jake McMahon
Advisers: Chuck Clark, Carrie Pratt

The Harvard Crimson
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Editors-in-chief: Matteo Diaz, Dhruv Patel

Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Editor-in-chief: Masha Smahliuk
Advisers: Regan Foster, Kathleen Simon

The Michigan Daily
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Editors-in-chief: Mary Corey, Zhane Yamin

The Minnesota Daily
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Editor-in-chief: Alexis Letang
Adviser: Charlie Weaver

The Ithacan
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York
Editor-in-chief: Prakriti Panwar
Adviser: Casey Musarra

The Daily Orange
Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York
Editor-in-chief: Kendall Luther

OU Daily
University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Editors-in-chief: Ana Barboza, Anusha Fathepure
Adviser: Seth Prince

Baylor Lariat
Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Foster Nicholas
Advisers: Doug Pils, Julie Reed

The Collegian
Tarrant County College
Hurst, Texas
Editor-in-chief: Ash Petrie
Advisers: Lori Dann, Stacy Luecker, Chris Whitley