{"id":18269,"date":"2022-09-16T14:08:38","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T19:08:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/?page_id=18269"},"modified":"2026-01-06T18:21:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T00:21:45","slug":"acp-pioneer-award","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/acp-pioneer-award\/","title":{"rendered":"ACP Pioneer Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The ACP Pioneer Awards recognizes collegiate journalism educators and advocates who have made long-term, significant contributions to student media and to ACP. The Pioneer award is the organization’s highest adviser honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pioneers represent decades of dedication, innovation and mentorship. Their commitment has shaped student journalists and advisers nationwide, strengthened collegiate press freedom and ensured the future of strong, student-driven media. They have also contributed time and expertise to ACP\u2019s programs, services and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pioneer Award is presented annually to individuals who have provided outstanding service to collegiate media through their leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to press freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, ACP recognized an inaugural class of 101 educators and advocates in honor of the organization’s 100th anniversary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPioneers embody the heart of collegiate journalism,\u201d ACP executive director Laura Widmer said. \u201cThrough their teaching, leadership and steadfast advocacy, they have inspired thousands of students and educators, ensuring that student media continues to thrive as a vital part of education and democracy. Their contributions to ACP have strengthened our entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Pioneer nominations now open<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Associated Collegiate Press proudly announces that it is now accepting applications for the 2025 ACP Pioneer Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025 Pioneer Awards will be presented on March 7 at the ACP Awards Ceremony in San Francisco at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who should be nominated<\/strong>?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Pioneer Award honors those who have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Has spent 20 years as a college media adviser, teacher or mentor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Demonstrated sustained dedication to collegiate journalism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Had a significant, positive impact on student media programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Contributed exceptional service, leadership or innovation to ACP and the student press community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Helped elevate the standards of student journalism nationwide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • ACP member.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Nominations are welcomed from colleagues, advisers, educators, journalists and student media leaders who have witnessed this impact firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Advisers may also self-nominate, but they must include letters of support demonstrating their contributions in our field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Nominate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Submit a nomination that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • A detailed letter describing the candidate\u2019s contributions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Supporting materials outlining their service, leadership, and influence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Any documentation that shows how they have advanced collegiate journalism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Candidate\u2019s vita<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Candidate\u2019s own philosophy on Why Journalism Matters on our College Campuses and the importance of a free press in our newsrooms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Deadline: Feb. 2, 2026
      Submit to Laura Widmer: laura@studentpress.org<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      ACP Pioneer Award winners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Inaugural inductees denoted with an asterisk (*). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \n

      David Adams<\/strong>*
      Fort Hays State University
      Kansas State University
      Indiana University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Robert Adams<\/strong>*
      Western Kentucky University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ann Akers<\/strong>*
      Associated Collegiate Press <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Chuck Baldwin<\/strong>*
      University of South Dakota <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bob Bergland<\/strong>*
      Missouri Western State University 
      Northwest Missouri State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Paul Bittick<\/strong>*
      California Polytechnic State University,
      San Luis Obispo <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Robert Bohler<\/strong>*
      Texas Christian University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Karen Bosley<\/strong>*
      Ocean County College (New Jersey) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      John Boyd<\/strong>*
      Indiana State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Max Branscomb<\/strong>*
      Southwestern College (California) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bob Bullard<\/strong>*
      Michigan State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Stacia Campbell<\/strong>*
      Northwestern University (Illinois) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Steven Chappell<\/strong>*
      Northwest Missouri State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jan Childress<\/strong>*
      Texas Tech University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      William Click<\/strong>*
      Winthrop University (South Carolina) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jolene Combs<\/strong>*
      El Camino College (California) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mona Cravens<\/strong>*
      University of Southern California <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jenny Tenpenny Crouch<\/strong>*
      Middle Tennessee State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Albert “Flip” DeLuca<\/strong>*
      James Madison University (Virginia) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      William D. Downs Jr.<\/strong>*
      Ouachita Baptist University (Arkansas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bill Elsen<\/strong>*
      The Washington Post <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Stacy Sparks England<\/strong>*
      Dodge City Community College (Kansas) 
      St. Mary of the Plains College (Kansas) 
      Southwestern College (Kansas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Dorothy Estes<\/strong>*
      University of Texas at Arlington <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Vince Filak<\/strong>*
      University of Wisconsin Oshkosh <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Annette Forbes<\/strong>*
      Iowa State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Beth Francesco<\/strong>*
      University of Texas at Arlington
      National Press Club<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Joe Gisondi<\/strong>*
      Eastern Illinois University
      Valencia College (Florida)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mark Goodman<\/strong>*
      Student Press Law Center <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Lloyd Goodman<\/strong>*
      University of Texas at Arlington <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nancy Green<\/strong>*
      University of Kentucky
      University of Texas <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Rick Green<\/strong>
      Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Laura York Guy<\/strong>*
      Garden City Community College (Kansas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Gerry Hamilton<\/strong>*
      Pennsylvania State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jay Hartwell<\/strong>*
      University of Hawai\u2019i at M\u0101noa <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      Mike Hiestand<\/strong>*
      Student Press Law Center <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Chet Hunt<\/strong>*
      San Antonio College (Texas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Louis Ingelhart<\/strong>*
      Ball State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Eric Jacobs<\/strong>*
      University of Pennsylvania <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ron Johnson<\/strong>*
      Fort Hays State University
      Kansas State University
      Indiana University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Michael Jordan<\/strong>*
      Pepperdine University (California) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Rachele Kanigel<\/strong>*
      San Francisco State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Fred Kildow<\/strong>*
      Associated Collegiate Press <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Doug Kirchberg<\/strong>*
      Madison Area Technical College (Wisconsin) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      David Knott<\/strong>*
      Ball State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver<\/strong>*
      Florida International University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Kelley Lash<\/strong>*
      Rice University (Texas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ira David Levy<\/strong>*
      Wilbur Wright College (Illinois)
      Kansas State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      C.W. Little<\/strong>*
      Santa Ana College (California) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Frank LoMonte<\/strong>*
      Student Press Law Center <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Gary Lundgren<\/strong>*
      University of Arkansas <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Richard “Dick” Lytle<\/strong>*
      Southern Methodist University (Texas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Wayne Maikranz<\/strong>*
      University of North Carolina at Charlotte <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Kate McCarty<\/strong>*
      University of Alabama
      University of Texas <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      C.J. Medlin<\/strong>*
      Kansas State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Gary Metzker<\/strong>*
      California State University Long Beach <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Harry Montevideo<\/strong>*
      University of Georgia <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Reid Montgomery<\/strong>*
      Florida State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bill Neville<\/strong>*
      University of Alabama at Birmingham <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Linda Owens<\/strong>*
      University of South Carolina Aiken <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Pat Parish<\/strong>*
      Louisiana State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Erica Perel<\/strong>*
      University of North Carolina <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Marilyn Peterson<\/strong>*
      Midland College (Nebraska) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tom Pierce<\/strong>*
      Valencia College (Florida) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mark Plenke<\/strong>*
      California State University, Chico <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Dario Politello<\/strong>*
      University of Massachusetts <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Linda Puntney<\/strong>*
      Kansas State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Jose Quevedo<\/strong>*
      Miami Dade College (Florida) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Sara Quinn<\/strong>*
      Poynter Institute of Media Studies
      Kansas State University
      University of Minnesota<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mark Raduziner<\/strong>*
      Johnson County Community College (Kansas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Judy Riedl<\/strong>*
      University of Oregon <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

      \n

      Jim Rodenbush<\/strong>
      Colorado State University
      Penn State University
      Webster University
      Indiana University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tom Rolnicki<\/strong>*
      Associated Collegiate Press <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nils Rosdahl<\/strong>*
      North Idaho College <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ken Rosenauer<\/strong>*
      Missouri Western State University  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Arthur “Sandy” Sanderson<\/strong>*
      University of Iowa <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Charles Savedge<\/strong>*
      yearbook consultant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Laura Schaub<\/strong>*
      University of Oklahoma <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Kevin Schwartz<\/strong>*
      University of North Carolina <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Al Scroggins<\/strong>*
      University of South Carolina <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Emily Sendin<\/strong>
      Miami Dade College (FL)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Michael Serino<\/strong>*
      Ithaca College (New York) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Trum Simmons<\/strong>*
      Harrisburg Area Community College (Pennsylvania) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Susan Smith<\/strong>*
      South Dakota State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ron Spielberger<\/strong>*
      College Media Association
      University of Memphis <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Randy Stano<\/strong>*
      University of Miami <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Richard “Dick” Sublette<\/strong>*
      University of Illinois
      University of California, Los Angeles
      Florida State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Edmund Sullivan<\/strong>*
      Columbia Scholastic Press Association <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Sherri Taylor<\/strong>*
      Syracuse University (New York) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ann Thorne<\/strong>*
      Missouri Western State College <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      James Tidwell<\/strong>*
      Eastern Illinois University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Al Tims<\/strong>*
      University of Minnesota <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Terry Vander Hayden<\/strong>*
      Franklin College (Indiana) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Pete Waack<\/strong>*
      Colorado State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Arvli Ward<\/strong>
      UCLA
      California State University,
      Northridge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bruce Watterson<\/strong>*
      yearbook consultant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      David Wendelken<\/strong>*
      James Madison University (Virginia) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Nancy White<\/strong>*
      Hillsborough Community College (Florida) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ron White<\/strong>*
      Louisiana Tech University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Laura Widmer<\/strong>*
      Northwest Missouri State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ed Williams<\/strong>*
      Auburn University (Alabama) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Bradley Wilson<\/strong>*
      Midwestern State University (Texas) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mark Witherspoon<\/strong>*
      Iowa State University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ruth Witmer<\/strong>*
      Indiana University <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mark Woodhams<\/strong>*
      University of Arizona <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Paul Wright<\/strong>*
      University of Alabama
       <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The ACP Pioneer Awards recognizes collegiate journalism educators and advocates who have made long-term, significant contributions to student media and to ACP. The Pioneer award is the organization’s highest adviser honor. Pioneers represent decades of dedication, innovation and mentorship. Their commitment has shaped student journalists and advisers nationwide, strengthened collegiate press freedom and ensured the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":28341,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"single.php","meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18269"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18269"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18269\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28352,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/18269\/revisions\/28352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}