{"id":28983,"date":"2026-08-20T13:47:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T18:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/?p=28983"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:49:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:49:39","slug":"2026-design-of-the-year-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/2026\/08\/20\/2026-design-of-the-year-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Design of the Year finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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August 21, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2026 Design of the Year competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winners will be announced at the ACP Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the National College Media Convention<\/a> in Kansas City, Mo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to the finalists in the following Design of the Year contests \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Newspaper\/Newsmagazine Front Page
<\/a>Newspaper\/Newsmagazine Page\/Spread
<\/a>Magazine Cover
<\/a>Magazine Page\/Spread
<\/a>Yearbook Cover
<\/a>Yearbook Page\/Spread
<\/a>Informational Graphic
<\/a>Illustration<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Individual Award finalists<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Story of the Year<\/a>
Reporter of the Year
<\/a>Multimedia Story of the Year
<\/a>Design of the Year
<\/a>Photo of the Year
<\/a>Cartoon of the Year
<\/a>Broadcast Story of the Year<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Please join us at the National College Media Convention<\/a> Nov. 4-7 in Kansas City, Mo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Newspaper\/Newsmagazine Front Page<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kennedy Ray<\/strong>
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Rodeo Roots: Legacy Lives on at Cal Poly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Hoover, Zoey Lawrence, Zoey Morse, Ben Westerhof<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Over Worked. Under Served.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicole Bharrat<\/strong>
Technician, North Carolina State University
Focused: Poe Hall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molly Hoglund, Rida Kauser, Jack Schuler<\/strong>
The Daily Barometer, Oregon State University
Thin Ice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
el Don, Santa Ana College (CA)
Cruel Summer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Aladin, Arianna Antillon, Josh Whitehead, Yanelli Zavina Robles<\/strong>
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
ICE Leaves South Bay in the Cold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilana Zahavy<\/strong>
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Admissions to 18 Majors Paused<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace Davidson<\/strong>
The Daily Tar Heel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The Shot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adaleah Carman<\/strong>
Daily Emerald, University of Oregon
Two Down, Two to Go<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mikah Herzberg<\/strong>
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Stronger Together<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Newspaper\/Newsmagazine Page\/Spread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
The Appalachian, Appalachian State University (NC)
Ellie Garrison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ben Westerhof<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Ellie Garrison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Camille LeDuc<\/strong>
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Imposter Syndrome<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owen McCarthy, Alex Walters<\/strong>
The State News, Michigan State University
Whitmer\u2019s MSU Board Decision<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
The Southwestern College Sun, Southwestern College (CA)
An Outbreak of Peace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ilana Zahavy<\/strong>
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Chancellor Guide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Kristen Lee Yokota<\/strong>
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Two Schools, One City<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audrey Arnold<\/strong>
Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Keeneland: Day at the Races<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley Walton<\/strong>
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
The Heartbeat of UTA\u2019s Running Programs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zachary Ruth, Taliyah Winn<\/strong>
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
130 Years Timeline<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Magazine Cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
The Auburn Circle, Auburn University (AL)
Fall 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan Wyer<\/strong>
Drake Mag, Drake University (IA)
Junior Hockey Slams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sydney Sakamoto<\/strong>
Warrior Life, El Camino College (CA)
Padded for Protection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Comparetta , Grace Hamilton<\/strong>
The Avion, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)
Fall 25 Issue 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rehannah Bartley<\/strong>
Eagle Eye, Tennessee Tech University
Spring 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Calabro<\/strong>
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Year in Focus<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elizabeth Hunter, Ashleigh Jones<\/strong>
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Spring 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julia Campbell, Elizabeth Kristal, Sal Puma<\/strong>
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
LGBGTQ+MIA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brooklyn Brown, Sofia Milliner, Tara O’Toole<\/strong>
Garnet & Black, University of South Carolina
The World is on Fire<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
Pwatem, Virginia Commonwealth University
Pwatem<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Magazine Page\/Spread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Aviv Kesar, Linnaea Marks<\/strong>
Mustang News, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Isabel Hermann<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monica Gill<\/strong>
The Brookhaven Courier, Dallas College – Brookhaven (TX)
To Touch the Stars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nemo Reveron<\/strong>
Foghorn News, Del Mar College (TX)
We Are Still Here<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marlowe Henderson<\/strong>
Roundabout, North Carolina State University
The Stones, the Bones, the Thrones and the Tones<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chloe Schmitz<\/strong>
Roundabout, North Carolina State University
Moth \u2013 Flytrap Moon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattie Buckner<\/strong>
Windhover, North Carolina State University
Mountain Sightings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mason Fischer, Phoebe Jerome, Matt Polk, Kasey Schuler<\/strong>
Beaver’s Digest, Oregon State University
International Student<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ella Monte<\/strong>
Currents, Pepperdine University (CA)
A Home Reduced to Rubble<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landyn DeSpain<\/strong>
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Homeless at 16, Crowned at 20<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/strong>
Flux, University of Oregon
Against the Current<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Yearbook Cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kendra Kemp<\/strong>
Royal Purple, Kansas State University
Homage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ravi Lal<\/strong>
The Tower, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
The Tower<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kennedy Knight, Therese Purugganan<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Crossroads<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alora Bucey<\/strong>
Tower, Northwest Missouri State University
Flourish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Sperling<\/strong>
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
Crossroads<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Yearbook Page\/Spread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Allison Schnelle<\/strong>
Baylor Roundup, Baylor University (TX)
Forged for Greatness<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ella Sparks<\/strong>
Baylor Roundup, Baylor University (TX)
What Would You Tell Your Freshman Year You?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Madison Coulter, Zara Thomas<\/strong>
Royal Purple, Kansas State University
By the Horns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haylee Haslett<\/strong>
Royal Purple, Kansas State University
Victory Frames<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney Birkett<\/strong>
The Tower, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Humans of the Den<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martina Kiss Meyerfreund<\/strong>
The Tower, Loyola Marymount University (CA)
Setting the Standard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samaria Dowling<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Probates<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kennedy Knight<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Art2Wear<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allison Verhulst<\/strong>
Tower, Northwest Missouri State University
Ambassadors Take the Stage<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jake Sperling<\/strong>
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
The Eye of the Storm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Informational Graphic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jackson Posey<\/strong>
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Baylor\u2019s Basketball Player Map<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derek Ellis<\/strong>
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Artemis Orion Capsule Explainer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malak Elkady<\/strong>
Richland Chronicle, Dallas College – Richland (TX)
Propositions and What They Mean<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaliyah Gholamipour<\/strong>
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
6 Screenless Ways to Kill an Hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate Mann<\/strong>
SCAN, Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta (GA)
A Guide to Going Out Safely<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hannah Kichline<\/strong>
The Clarion, Sinclair Community College (OH)
History of Disc Golf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blake Leschber<\/strong>
The University Star, Texas State University
PAC 12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaghan Chen, Deklyn DeSpain, Lily Foster, Ashleigh Jones<\/strong>
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
These Jewelry Trends Might Be Here to Stay<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leah Bahamonde<\/strong>
Distraction, University of Miami (FL)
What\u2019s on Your Plate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haley Walton<\/strong>
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Remarkable Rookie Season<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Illustration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rae Hanzlik<\/strong>
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
Feed the Soul<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rae Hanzlik<\/strong>
Ponder, Black Hills State University (SD)
Section Pages<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celeste Munoz<\/strong>
Warrior Life, El Camino College (CA)
Embracing the Culture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nikki Yunker<\/strong>
Warrior Life, El Camino College (CA)
Enchantment<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaliyah Gholamipour<\/strong>
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Before You Go<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ella Wyman<\/strong>
The Nubian Message, North Carolina State University
Hookup University<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lily Ogburn<\/strong>
Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University (IL)
Greenwood Care\u2019s Executive Director Resigned<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashleigh Jones<\/strong>
KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Papa\u2019s Treasure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caitlin Hanson<\/strong>
Niner Times, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dannye Powell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amy Luo<\/strong>
The Daily Pennsylvanian, University of Pennsylvania
Penn Electric Racing<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

August 21, 2026 MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 The Associated Collegiate Press announces finalists in its 2026 Design 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28983"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28983"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28983\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29112,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28983\/revisions\/29112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}