2026 Story of the Year finalists
August 21, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2026 Story of the Year competition.
The winners will be announced at the ACP Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Mo.
After the winners are announced on Nov. 7, 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 —
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
Please join us at the National College Media Convention Nov. 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo.
Breaking News Story
Carly Heltzel
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Ishan Pandhare Pleads Not Guilty to Hit-and-Run Felonies
Abbie Carroll
Drake Mag, Drake University (IA)
Petition Appears to Include False Information
Rosemarie Turay
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
Suspect Arrested on Charge of Setting Two Fires
Meredith McCalmon
The Kansas State Collegian, Kansas State University
NAACP Urges K-State to Act After Student Displayed Racial Slur
Matthew Burkhart
Technician, North Carolina State University
LGBTQ Pride Center Assistant Director Fired
Summer Hu, Ruixin Zhang
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
NU-Q Under Shelter-in-Place Order Following Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes
Kayjel Mairena
The Corsair, Santa Monica College (CA)
Hellbomb Was a Riot
Maggie Konecky, Zimo Li
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Car Crashes Into 99 Ranch Market
Katie Karlson
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
RSMAS Shuttle Driver Arrested for DUI
Keira Faddis
The Miami Hurricane, University of Miami (FL)
Student Influencer Starts Antisemitic Argument
In-Depth News Story
Chris Hutton, Sean Shanks
The Orion, California State University, Chico
Former Ag Dean Sues for Alleged Discrimination and Retaliation
Dylan Arreola, Maria Cruz, Arianna Pastrana
The Hornet, Fullerton College (CA)
Your Ticket to Heaven Is a Transaction
Ruth Abramovitz, Aamir Jamil, Nora Toscano
The Hoya, Georgetown University (DC)
GU Professor on Leave Since 2023 for Sexual Harassment
Ajani Stella
The Hoya, Georgetown University (DC)
Planned GU Policy Threatens GUTS Bus Drivers’ University Benefits
Julia Roeder, Somer Sodeman
The State News, Michigan State University
‘Fear-Based’ Leadership Looms Over Fundraising Department
Roxy Ekberg, Isabelle Foland
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Former ICE Detainee Recounts Experience in Muscatine County Jail
Reaghan Chen
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
The Rise of GLP-1s and the Fall of Body Positivity
Justin Diep
The Daily Nebraskan, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UNL Used Bad Data to Make $27.5 Million Cuts
Keya Mahajan
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Internal Takeover and Exploitation of Rainbow Soccer
Aedan Seaver
Flux, University of Oregon
Counting Sheep
Feature Story
Kimber Draughon
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
How Biomedical Engineering Students Push the Needle
Seyun Park
The Chronicle, Duke University (NC)
Stephen Miller, Through the Memories of His Duke Classmates
Alli Hausman
Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
Local Congregation Finds Its Voice Through Music
Nikki Yunker
Warrior Life, El Camino College (CA)
El Camino Alum Becomes Toy Maker for Barbie
Ajani Stella, Nora Toscano
The Hoya, Georgetown University (DC)
Badar Khan Suri Still Believes in the American Promise
Zoey Giltner
Beaver’s Digest, Oregon State University
You’re Taking What Class?
Lily Newman
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Understanding Food Insecurity at SU
Maya McLeroy
Ascend, University of Oregon
The Last Great Race
Dang Le, Taylor Sansom
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Community Members Reflect on 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina
Sports Game Story
Jackson Posey
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Houston Ends Baylor’s Season
Harris Pemberton
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Syracuse Obliterated by No. 1 UConn in NCAA Tournament
Mathias Cubillan
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Aggies’ Season Ends With Whimper
Willa Campion
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Women’s Basketball Dominates in NCAA Title Win
Lance Roth
Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Eli Stephenson’s Jaw Dropping Shot Goes Viral
Brian D’Aguanno
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UNC Men’s Basketball’s Half Court Offense Nonexistent
Joe Krasnowski
The Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Oregon Football Downs USC in Top-15 Shootout
Valeri Guevarra, Javier St. Remy
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Men’s Basketball Upsets Reigning Champion Yale
Dylan Johnson
The Villanovan, Villanova University (PA)
Men’s Basketball’s Big East Tournament Loss
Owen Prothro
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
How Wichita State’s Smallest Guards Delivered One-Two Punch
Sports Feature Story
Jackson Posey
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Inside ‘Hot Shot’s’ Journey to Basketball Stardom
Dylan Allen, Ty Soria
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
The Engineering Behind Cal Poly’s Global Roster
Dylan Allen
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
How Victor Glover’s Dual-Sport Career Shaped His Path to Space
Payton Liggins
Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
Scrubs by Day; Hoops by Night
Dov Weinstein Elul
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
How Pat Spencer’s Competitive Drive Took Him to the NBA
Amanda Vogt
Penn State Student Media, Pennsylvania State University
Little League Town USA
Alfonso Julián Camacho
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
College Loses Beloved, Eccentric Baseball Coach
Cooper Andrews
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Oren Lyons’ Endless Quest to Preserve Indigenous Values
Connor Dullinger
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA, USC Men’s Volleyball Unite in Tribute to Braun Levi
Miles Dwyer
Ascend, University of Oregon
Free Rein
Editorial
Editorial Board
The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University (AL)
AU Alert Cries Wolf
Editorial Board
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
We Don’t Agree With TPUSA Tour Coming to Campus
Alli Hausman
Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
Alert System Failed Campus Community
Editorial Board
The State News, Michigan State University
Trustee Candidates Lack Concrete Ideas
Editorial Board
The Alestle, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Minor Goes Public With Alestle Criticism
Editorial Board
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Haynie’s Early Presence Isn’t Tenure-Defining
Editorial Board
The University Star, Texas State University
Alter’s Termination Sets a Dangerous Precedent
Editorial Board
The Crimson White, University of Alabama
Grow a Spine. Reinstate Our Magazines.
Editorial Board
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Agostini’s Departure Punishes Transparency
Editorial Board
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Has an AI Problem
Column
Montana Burack
Beaver’s Digest, Oregon State University
Why I’m Not Planning My Future on a Partner
Alfonso Julián Camacho
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
How Mass Media Portray Disabled Can Elevate or Damage
Cara Coco
The Collegian, Tarrant County College (TX)
Conversion Therapy
Nick Levie
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA Must Address Tramo-Epstein Connection With Accountability
Muskan Mehta
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Returning to Normal Isn’t Recovery
Chris Meglio
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
No Better Story to Tell Than My Own
Isabella Lindsey
Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Gold Medals Are Nice, but Respecting Women Is Cooler
Madelyn Rowley
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Where the Hell Is Lee Roberts?
Diya Choksey
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Deflating Grades Will Not Inflate Curiosity
Audrey Miller
Garnet & Black, University of South Carolina
Political Journalism for Dummies
Diversity- Equity & Inclusion Reporting
Bridget Galibois, Opal Kendall, Saroja Ramchandren
The Hoya, Georgetown University (DC)
GU Students Confront Barriers to Reproductive Advocacy
Essence Quigley, Clare Seymour
SCAD Connector, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta (GA)
The Untold Tale of Queer Willpower
Alfonso Julián Camacho
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
LGBTQ Refugees Find Safety in Tijuana Sanctuary
Christian Arce, Raul Ramirez
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
An Outbreak of Peace
Karla Cardenas-Felipe
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Gloria Molina Grand Park Celebrates Día de los Muertos
Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon, Chenrui Zhang
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Black Extravaganza Honors Black Culture
Nicholas Merl
KVCU Radio 1190, University of Colorado Boulder
Campus Controversy Follows Students for Justice
Riley Dunn, Muskan Mehta
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Studio 13 Celebrates 25th Anniversary
Isobel Perez
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Remembering Iowa City’s First Barrio
Taylor Motley
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Love and Legacy of Orange County’s First Interracial Marriage
Local Climate Change Reporting
Colin Wishneski
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
Analyzing Helene’s Impacts on Boone
Amanda Machamer
The Auburn Plainsman, Auburn University (AL)
The Rain’s Got to Come
Lauren Jones, Max McCullough, Jonathan Sze, Lauren Yoon
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
How Cal Poly Is Exploring Wildfires and Their Prevention
Myra Saeed
The Johns Hopkins News-Letter, John Hopkins University (MD)
Residents Call for Attention Toward Detrimental Environmental Effects
Kyra Case, Jenna Fiscus
The Kansas State Collegian, Kansas State University
Upcycling Drought: From Waste to Water
Erin Wunderlich
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Global Warming Accelerates Multi-System Change
Arabella DiChristina
The University Star, Texas State University
River Otters’ Presence Indicates Healthy Ecosystem
Jennifer Michel
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
The Expansion, Evolution of Zero-Emission Vehicle Policies
Gigi Roddick
Ascend, University of Oregon
In Search of Hope
Liam Hamilton
Flux, University of Oregon
Miles of Trail, Years of Care
Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile
Nathan Feller
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
True Americanism
Austin Graft
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
The Knifemakers
Jacqueline Lekachman
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
Honor Moore on Living for Herself, Writing and Other Women
Angelina An
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Maahee Joshi Reclaims Stage
Alfonso Julián Camacho
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
Survivor Says Death Penalty Is Lynching
Lauren Jones
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Bulgarian Coach Was ‘En Garde’ for a New Beginning
Caitlin Brockenbrow
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Liberation Left Untold
Erin Morrison
Ascend, University of Oregon
Queen of Sea and Air
Ellie Clark, Kaia Feichtinger-Erhart
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
The Story of Men’s Hockey at Penn
John Davis
The Daily Gamecock, University of South Carolina
Gabriel’s Dream Weekend With Gamecock Athletics