2026 Photo of the Year winners

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

Nov. 7, 2026

Associated Collegiate Press salutes the winners of its 2026 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 the National College Media Convention Nov. 7 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fall 2026 awards

Fall 2026 Pacemakers

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine
Multiplatform
Newspaper/Newsmagazine

2026 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
Charlie Kirk Vigil
Nathan Noda
Northwest Missourian
Northwest Missouri State University

Second Place
UCLA AFSCME Local 3299 Members Strike
Andrew Ramiro Diaz
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Third Place
Kentucky Kernel
Christian Kantosky
Kentucky Kernel
University of Kentucky

Fourth Place
Springfield Rally Brings EIU’s Funding Issues to State Capitol
TJ Seputis
Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Fifth Place
Protestors March
Finn Gomez
The State News
Michigan State University

Honorable Mention
Election Day 2025
Avery Magee
The Daily Orange
Syracuse University (NY)

Drive Time
Adeline Taylor
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

Venezuela Protest Reflection
Jayden Jefferson
Technician
North Carolina State University

Tugging at the Clash
Zachary Ruth
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Protestor Climbs
Ian Kapsalis
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

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

Second Place
Rashaun Post-Game
Steve Carrasco IV
The Battalion
Texas A&M University

Third Place
UT Hit by Winter Weather
Samantha Melvin
The Daily Texan
University of Texas at Austin

Fourth Place
Dowers Machete
Max Unkrich
Ascend
University of Oregon

Fifth Place
Deluxe Bakery
Emma Calabro
The Daily Iowan
University of Iowa

Honorable Mention
Get Those Hands Up
Ava Stroshane
Ibis
University of Miami (FL)

Fight Against Suicide
Alex Manuel
Technician
North Carolina State University

Daytona 500 Flight
Andrew Comparetta
The Avion
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

Sororities, Fraternities Compete in Tugs
Jacksen Adkins
Daily Eastern News
Eastern Illinois University

Zara Larsson Movin’ On
Zach Gleiter
The Daily Collegian
Pennsylvania State University

First Place
Hawkins Battles in the End Zone
Alyssa Meyers
The Baylor Lariat
Baylor University (TX)

Second Place
Borgogno Slides Into Controversial Out Call
Ethan Cohen
Beach TV News
California State University, Long Beach

Third Place
Eyes on the Bar
Dylan Ribott
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Fourth Place
Happy Hop
Caleb Craig
Penn State Student Media
Pennsylvania State University

Fifth Place
Boxers Brawl
Samarie Goffney
The Shorthorn
University of Texas at Arlington

Honorable Mention
Flying Christian Johnson
Chris Norez
The Hutchinson Collegian
Hutchinson Community College (KS)

James Pantemis
Max Unkrich
Ascend
University of Oregon

Zoey Zimmerman Floor Exercise
Claire Vachon
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Tennis Return Hair Smack
Silke Eichholz
The Corsair
Santa Monica College (CA)

After the Dunk
Alivia Cranick
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

First Place
Bar Routine Success
Claire Vachon
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Second Place
Bareback Bronco Competition
Mark Hoover
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

Third Place
Twisting Away the Tension
Noah McCord
Take 30 News
Mississippi State University

Fourth Place
Saddleback Comes Out to Celebrate
Angel Campoos
The Hornet
Fullerton College (CA)

Fifth Place
Tournament Celebration
Zachary Ruth
The Sunflower
Wichita State University (KS)

Honorable Mention
Goal Celebration Line
Abby Schwebke
Technician
North Carolina State University

Basketball Team Celebrates
Brendan Mullin
The State News
Michigan State University

Softball Makes History With 3 Seniors Receiving AUSL Golden Tickets
Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon
Daily Bruin
University of California, Los Angeles

Gymnast’s Tunnel
Dylan Ribott
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Bucked Up
Arthur Maiorella
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

First Place
Sprint Car Driver
Alexandra Antoniono
Penn State Student Media
Pennsylvania State University

Second Place
Mom’s in the Band
Violet Beesley
Agromeck
North Carolina State University

Third Place
Michaela Pilkenton
Max Unkrich
Ascend
University of Oregon

Fourth Place
Jelte Wilde at the Biochar Kiln
Liam Britt
The Planet
Western Washington University

Fifth Place
By Design
Collin Snyder
The NewsHouse
Syracuse University (NY)

Honorable Mention
Trump Attacked Their Universities
Margot Murphy
The Huntington News
Northeastern University (MA)

Splash
Ian Kapsalis
The Express
Las Positas College (CA)

Will Mamdani Save the Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry?
Keyian Vafai
NYCity News Service
City University of New York

Cost of Farming
Claire Vachon
Central Michigan Life
Central Michigan University

The Physics of Acting
Chelsea Alvarez
The Union
El Camino College (CA)