ACP names top student collegiate magazines

Pacemaker competition recognizes 38 finalists

Aug. 26, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS — The Associated College Press recognized 31 top collegiate student magazines as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition. 

Pacemaker winners will be announced at the Fall National College Media Convention at the ACP Awards Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

The 38 magazines named as finalists represent 15 states. California, North Carolina and Oregon set the pace with five finalists each followed by Florida and Virginia with four.

From the 38 finalists, 11 will earn Pacemakers. Magazines competed in feature/general audience and literary arts divisions. Magazines produced at four-year and two year institutions competed in separate categories.

In the feature/general audience magazine category, there are 21 finalists — three from two-year and 18 from four-year institutions. Of these 21 finalists, five will earn Pacemakers.

In the literary arts magazine category, there are 18 finalists — five from two-year and 13 from four-year institutions. Of these 18 finalists, six will earn Pacemakers.

Three judges, with extensive magazine-editing and advising experience, studied each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.

Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals.

“The verbal and visual storytelling in the winning magazines is incredible and robust long-form stories combined with shorter quick-reads to pace the reader through the pages of the feature magazines,” Lundgren said.

“And the creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible — the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art,” he said.

Please join us at the National College Media Convention in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 4-7.

This convention provides a unique opportunity to network with industry professionals, learn from seasoned journalists, and gain valuable insights into the ever-evolving world of media and journalism.

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Fall Pacemaker finalists

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

Nineteen Fifty-Six
University of Alabama
Editor-in-chief: Kendal Wright
Adviser: Monique Fields

Dig
California State University, Long Beach
Editor-in-chief: Nikoletta Anagnostou
Adviser: Robin Jones

Inside Fullerton
Fullerton College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Mia Zacatenco, Katherine Martinez
Adviser: Jessica Langlois

Xpress
San Francisco State University (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Bailey Zitko
Adviser: Josh Davis

El Sol
Southwestern College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Valeryah Lara-Urrea, Yanelli Zavina Robles
Advisers: Max Branscomb, Kenneth Pagano

Distraction
University of Miami (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Jay Moyer
Adviser: Randy Stano

Ball Bearings
Ball State University (IN)
Editor-in-chief: Jessica Bergfors
Adviser: Corey Ohlenkamp

Drake Mag
Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Amanda Favazza
Adviser: Jeff Inman

Drake Political Review
Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Norah Judson
Advisers: Jennifer Konfrst, Jeff Inman

KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
University of Kentucky
Editor-in-chief: Reaghan Chen
Advisers: Ryan Craig, Bryce McNeil, David Stephenson

Talisman
Western Kentucky University
Editor-in-chief: Clarissa Dean
Adviser: Clinton Lewis

Best of Boone
Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Meg Frantz
Adviser: Leigh Tauss

Roundabout
North Carolina State University
Editor-in-chief: Layney Keesee
Adviser: Ray Black III

The Bleed
Lane Community College (OR)
Editor-in-chief: Lillie Stepp
Adviser: Tom Madison

DAMchic
Oregon State University
Editors-in-chief: Jadzia Jula, Izzy Sproba
Adviser: Jennifer Moody

Ascend
University of Oregon
Editors-in-chief: Jay Bramhall, Grace Mangali
Adviser: Ivan Miller

Flux
University of Oregon
Editors-in-chief: Annie Bostwick, James Lejeune
Advisers: Steven Asbury, Charlie Deitz

Ponder
Black Hills State University (SD)
Editors-in-chief: Alec Butterfield, Nathan Feller, Noah Westergaard
Advisers: Justin Bergh, Skott Chandler, Allen Morris

SMU Look
Southern Methodist University (TX)
Editors-in-chief: Chloe Gjuraj, Cristiana Montalvan
Advisers: Andrea Arterbery, Jenny B. Davis

River City Fashion
Virginia Commonwealth University
Editor-in-chief: Julia Karns
Advisers: Jessica Clary, Mark Jeffries

The Planet
Western Washington University
Editor-in-chief: Tori Lehman
Adviser: Jeff Shaw

The Auburn Circle
Auburn University (AL)
Editor-in-chief: Denisen Justice
Adviser: Brit Bowen

Aura Literary Arts Review
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Editor-in-chief: Savannah McCartney
Adviser: Jackie Alexander

WALL Literary Journal
Saddleback College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Aidan Hunt
Adviser: Gina Shaffer

Metrosphere
Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Editors-in-chief: Austin Williams, Lili Castanon
Adviser: Deanna Hirsch

Miambiance
Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (FL)
Editors-in-chief: Sophia Massie, Alexander Polo
Advisers: Tony Chirinos, Rita Fernandez-Sterling

AXIS Creative Arts Magazine
Miami Dade College North Campus (FL)
Editors-in-chief: Gray Prado, Karen Zamora
Advisers: Carmen Bucher, Eric Cornish, Kathleen Noonan

Phoenix
Valencia College (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Advisers: Meg Curtiss, Jackie Zuromski

Catch
Knox College (IL)
Editor-in-chief: Jes Shannon
Adviser: Cyn Kitchen

The Bridge
Bridgewater State University (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Katherine Knapp
Advisers: Alain Blunt, Jessica Melendy

Parnassus
Northern Essex Community College (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Patrick Lochelt

Scribendi
University of New Mexico
Editors-in-chief: Catarina Embry, Nic Hinson, Rae Wilson
Adviser: Amaris Ketcham

The Peel Review
Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Ember Jones
Adviser: Leigh Tauss

Windhover
North Carolina State University
Editor-in-chief: Josie Headley
Adviser: Ray Black III

Three to Four Ounces
Wake Forest University (NC)
Editors-in-chief: Aderinola Adepoju, Isabella Santos
Adviser: Eric Ekstrand

PRISM
Oregon State University
Editors-in-chief: Tate Kraetzer, Sam Szekely
Adviser: Jennifer Moody

Hispanic Culture Review
George Mason University (VA)
Editor-in-chief: Valeria Veliz-Vargas
Advisers: Carla Burns, Jason Hartsel

Annum Arcanum
Virginia Commonwealth University
Editor-in-chief: Tessa Coleman
Advisers: Jessica Clary, Mark Jeffries

Volition
George Mason University (VA)
Editor-in-chief: Natalia Romero
Adviser: Jason Hartsel