{"id":29117,"date":"2026-08-27T00:12:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T05:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/?p=29117"},"modified":"2026-08-28T10:23:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:23:36","slug":"2026-magazine-pacemaker-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/2026\/08\/27\/2026-magazine-pacemaker-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Magazine Pacemaker finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ACP names top student collegiate magazines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pacemaker competition recognizes 38 finalists<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aug. 26, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 The Associated College Press recognized 31 top collegiate student magazines as finalists in its prestigious Pacemaker competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cThe Pacemaker is the association\u2019s preeminent award,\u201d executive director Laura Widmer said. \u201cACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

In the feature\/general audience magazine category, there are 21 finalists \u2014 three from two-year and 18 from four-year institutions. Of these 21 finalists, five will earn Pacemakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the literary arts magazine category, there are 18 finalists \u2014 five from two-year and 13 from four-year institutions. Of these 18 finalists, six will earn Pacemakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three judges, with extensive magazine-editing and advising experience, studied each entry discussing and analyzing its strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Lundgren said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible \u2014 the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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

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

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Fall Pacemaker finalists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast
Innovation
Magazine<\/a>
Multiplatform
Newspaper\/Newsmagazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2026 Feature\/General Audience Magazine Pacemaker finalists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nineteen Fifty-Six
<\/strong>University of Alabama
Editor-in-chief: Kendal Wright
Adviser: Monique Fields<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dig
<\/strong>California State University, Long Beach
Editor-in-chief: Nikoletta Anagnostou
Adviser: Robin Jones<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Inside Fullerton
<\/strong>Fullerton College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Mia Zacatenco, Katherine Martinez
Adviser: Jessica Langlois<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Xpress
<\/strong>San Francisco State University (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Bailey Zitko
Adviser: Josh Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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El Sol
<\/strong>Southwestern College (CA)
Editors-in-chief: Valeryah Lara-Urrea, Yanelli Zavina Robles
Advisers: Max Branscomb, Kenneth Pagano<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Distraction<\/strong>
University of Miami (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Jay Moyer
Adviser: Randy Stano<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ball Bearings
<\/strong>Ball State University (IN)
Editor-in-chief: Jessica Bergfors
Adviser: Corey Ohlenkamp<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drake Mag
<\/strong>Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Amanda Favazza
Adviser: Jeff Inman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Drake Political Review
<\/strong>Drake University (IA)
Editor-in-chief: Norah Judson
Advisers: Jennifer Konfrst, Jeff Inman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion
<\/strong>University of Kentucky
Editor-in-chief: Reaghan Chen
Advisers: Ryan Craig, Bryce McNeil, David Stephenson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Talisman
<\/strong>Western Kentucky University
Editor-in-chief: Clarissa Dean
Adviser: Clinton Lewis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Best of Boone
<\/strong>Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Meg Frantz
Adviser: Leigh Tauss<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Roundabout
<\/strong>North Carolina State University
Editor-in-chief: Layney Keesee
Adviser: Ray Black III<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Bleed <\/strong>
Lane Community College (OR)
Editor-in-chief: Lillie Stepp
Adviser: Tom Madison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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DAMchic
<\/strong>Oregon State University
Editors-in-chief: Jadzia Jula, Izzy Sproba
Adviser: Jennifer Moody<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ascend
<\/strong>University of Oregon
Editors-in-chief: Jay Bramhall, Grace Mangali
Adviser: Ivan Miller<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flux
<\/strong>University of Oregon
Editors-in-chief: Annie Bostwick, James Lejeune
Advisers: Steven Asbury, Charlie Deitz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ponder
<\/strong>Black Hills State University (SD)
Editors-in-chief: Alec Butterfield, Nathan Feller, Noah Westergaard
Advisers: Justin Bergh, Skott Chandler, Allen Morris<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SMU Look
<\/strong>Southern Methodist University (TX)
Editors-in-chief: Chloe Gjuraj, Cristiana Montalvan
Advisers: Andrea Arterbery, Jenny B. Davis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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River City Fashion
<\/strong>Virginia Commonwealth University
Editor-in-chief: Julia Karns
Advisers: Jessica Clary, Mark Jeffries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Planet
<\/strong>Western Washington University
Editor-in-chief: Tori Lehman
Adviser: Jeff Shaw<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2026 Literary Arts Magazine Pacemaker finalists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

listed by state<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Auburn Circle
<\/strong>Auburn University (AL)
Editor-in-chief: Denisen Justice
Adviser: Brit Bowen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aura Literary Arts Review
<\/strong>University of Alabama at Birmingham
Editor-in-chief: Savannah McCartney
Adviser: Jackie Alexander<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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WALL Literary Journal
<\/strong>Saddleback College (CA)
Editor-in-chief: Aidan Hunt
Adviser: Gina Shaffer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Metrosphere
<\/strong>Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
Editors-in-chief: Austin Williams, Lili Castanon
Adviser: Deanna Hirsch<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Miambiance<\/strong>
Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (FL)
Editors-in-chief: Sophia Massie, Alexander Polo
Advisers: Tony Chirinos, Rita Fernandez-Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Phoenix
<\/strong>Valencia College (FL)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Advisers: Meg Curtiss, Jackie Zuromski<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Catch
<\/strong>Knox College (IL)
Editor-in-chief: Jes Shannon
Adviser: Cyn Kitchen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Bridge
<\/strong>Bridgewater State University (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Katherine Knapp
Advisers: Alain Blunt, Jessica Melendy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Parnassus
<\/strong>Northern Essex Community College (MA)
Editor-in-chief: Staff
Adviser: Patrick Lochelt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Scribendi
<\/strong>University of New Mexico
Editors-in-chief: Catarina Embry, Nic Hinson, Rae Wilson
Adviser: Amaris Ketcham<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Peel Review
<\/strong>Appalachian State University (NC)
Editor-in-chief: Ember Jones
Adviser: Leigh Tauss<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Windhover
<\/strong>North Carolina State University
Editor-in-chief: Josie Headley
Adviser: Ray Black III<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Three to Four Ounces
<\/strong>Wake Forest University (NC)
Editors-in-chief: Aderinola Adepoju, Isabella Santos
Adviser: Eric Ekstrand<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PRISM
<\/strong>Oregon State University
Editors-in-chief: Tate Kraetzer, Sam Szekely
Adviser: Jennifer Moody<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hispanic Culture Review
<\/strong>George Mason University (VA)
Editor-in-chief: Valeria Veliz-Vargas
Advisers: Carla Burns, Jason Hartsel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Annum Arcanum
<\/strong>Virginia Commonwealth University
Editor-in-chief: Tessa Coleman
Advisers: Jessica Clary, Mark Jeffries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volition
<\/strong>George Mason University (VA)
Editor-in-chief: Natalia Romero
Adviser: Jason Hartsel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ACP names top student collegiate magazines Pacemaker competition recognizes 38 finalists Aug. 26, 2026 MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 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. […]<\/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\/29117"}],"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=29117"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29225,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29117\/revisions\/29225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentpress.org\/acp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}