{"id":28985,"date":"2026-08-20T13:50:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T18:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/?p=28985"},"modified":"2026-08-21T13:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T18:49:54","slug":"2026-photo-of-the-year-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/2026\/08\/20\/2026-photo-of-the-year-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Photo 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 Photo 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 Photo of the Year contests \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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News\/Breaking News Photo
<\/a>Feature Photo
<\/a>Sports Game\/Action Photo
<\/a>Sports Feature Photo
<\/a>Environmental Portrait<\/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

\n\n\n\n
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News\/Breaking News Photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TJ Seputis<\/strong>
Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
Springfield Rally Brings EIU\u2019s Funding Issues to State Capitol<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Kapsalis<\/strong>
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Protestor Climbs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finn Gomez<\/strong>
The State News, Michigan State University
Protestors March<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jayden Jefferson<\/strong>
Technician, North Carolina State University
Venezuela Protest Reflection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan Noda<\/strong>
Northwest Missourian, Northwest Missouri State University
Charlie Kirk Vigil<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avery Magee<\/strong>
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University (NY)
Election Day 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adeline Taylor<\/strong>
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Drive Time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Ramiro Diaz<\/strong>
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
UCLA AFSCME Local 3299 Members Strike<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian Kantosky<\/strong>
Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky
Kentucky Kernel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zachary Ruth<\/strong>
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Tugging at the Clash<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Feature Photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jacksen Adkins<\/strong>
Daily Eastern News, Eastern Illinois University
Sororities, Fraternities Compete in Tugs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Comparetta<\/strong>
The Avion, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)
Daytona 500 Flight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alex Manuel<\/strong>
Technician, North Carolina State University
Fight Against Suicide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zach Gleiter<\/strong>
The Daily Collegian, Pennsylvania State University
Zara Larsson Movin\u2019 On Machete<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Carrasco IV<\/strong>
The Battalion, Texas A&M University
Rashaun Post-Game<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Calabro<\/strong>
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
Deluxe Bakery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ava Stroshane<\/strong>
Ibis, University of Miami (FL)
Get Those Hands Up<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Unkrich<\/strong>
Ascend, University of Oregon
Dowers Machete<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elvis Martinez-Cartagena<\/strong>
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Muddy Miss<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samantha Melvin<\/strong>
The Daily Texan, University of Texas at Austin
UT Hit by Winter Weather<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
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Sports Game\/Action Photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alyssa Meyers<\/strong>
The Baylor Lariat, Baylor University (TX)
Hawkins Battles in the End Zone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethan Cohen<\/strong>
Beach TV News, California State University, Long Beach
Borgogno Slides Into Controversial Out Call<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claire Vachon<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Zoey Zimmerman Floor Exercise<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alivia Cranick<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
After the Dunk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris Norez<\/strong>
The Hutchinson Collegian, Hutchinson Community College (KS)
Flying Christian Johnson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan Ribott<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Eyes on the Bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caleb Craig<\/strong>
Penn State Student Media, Pennsylvania State University
Happy Hop<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silke Eichholz<\/strong>
The Corsair, Santa Monica College (CA)
Tennis Return Hair Smack<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Unkrich<\/strong>
Ascend, University of Oregon
James Pantemis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samarie Goffney<\/strong>
The Shorthorn, University of Texas at Arlington
Boxers Brawl<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
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Sports Feature Photo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Claire Vachon<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Bar Routine Success<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Hoover<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Bareback Bronc Competition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angel Campoos<\/strong>
The Hornet, Fullerton College (CA)
Saddleback Comes Out to Celebrate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brendan Mullin<\/strong>
The State News, Michigan State University
Saddleback Comes Out to Celebrate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noah McCord<\/strong>
Take 30 News, Mississippi State University
Twisting Away the Tension<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan Ribott<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Goal Celebration Line<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abby Schwebke<\/strong>
Technician, North Carolina State University
Gymnast\u2019s Tunnel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthur Maiorella<\/strong>
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
Bucked Up<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon<\/strong>
Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles
Softball Makes History With 3 Seniors Receiving AUSL Golden Tickets<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zachary Ruth<\/strong>
The Sunflower, Wichita State University (KS)
Tournament Celebration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

Environmental Portrait<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Claire Vachon<\/strong>
Central Michigan Life, Central Michigan University
Cost of Farming<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keyian Vafai<\/strong>
NYCity News Service, City University of New York
Will Mamdani Save the Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea Alvarez<\/strong>
The Union, El Camino College (CA)
The Physics of Acting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ian Kapsalis<\/strong>
The Express, Las Positas College (CA)
Splash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Violet Beesley<\/strong>
Agromeck, North Carolina State University
Mom\u2019s in the Band<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margot Murphy<\/strong>
The Huntington News, Northeastern University (MA)
Trump Attacked Their Universities<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alexandra Antoniono<\/strong>
Penn State Student Media, Pennsylvania State University
Sprint Car Driver<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collin Snyder<\/strong>
The NewsHouse, Syracuse University (NY)
By Design<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Unkrich<\/strong>
Ascend, University of Oregon
Michaela Pilkenton<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam Britt<\/strong>
The Planet, Western Washington University
Jelte Wilde at the Biochar Kiln<\/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 Photo 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\/28985"}],"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=28985"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29114,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28985\/revisions\/29114"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}