ACP names top student newspapers

Pacemaker competition names 18
as the ‘best of the best’

Oct. 14, 2021

MINNEAPOLIS — Student newspapers from 18 colleges and universities have earned the prestigious Pacemaker award from the Associated Collegiate Press.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” executive director Laura Widmer said. “ACP is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

In September, 36 newspapers were named Pacemaker finalists. The finalists represented 16 states and a Canadian province. California set the pace with seven finalists followed by Texas with five.

The 18 Pacemaker winners represent the top 22 of the entries. Three of the Pacemaker-winning newspapers were published by two-year schools.

Five print issues produced during the 2020-21 school year were submitted for consideration. Two teams of three judges studied every entry, analysing its strengths and weaknesses. At least two of the three judges agreed on whether a newspaper was eliminated or would be named a finalist or winner.

For the first time in recent history, the newspapers did not compete by frequency of publication. Newspapers from four-year schools competed with those of similar enrollment. Newspapers from two-year schools competed against each other. 

“This was a very challenging year for collegiate print newspapers. The quality of the publications was stronger than ever, but because of the pandemic and the changing media landscape, the number of entries dropped this year,” said Gary Lundgren, associate director and coordinator of Pacemaker competition.

In all, 81 newspapers entered the Pacemaker competition compared to 114 the previous year.

In addition to demonstrating excellence in key areas including coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, the winning newspapers took risks and served as a strong voice for the student audience.

In this competition, only the print product was judged. Online sites compete in a separate Pacemaker competition. 

The Sun

Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Editor: Julia Woock

Adviser: Max Branscomb

The Corsair

Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, California

Editor: Jack Hughes

Advisers: Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, Gerard Burkhart

The Reporter

Miami Dade College
Miami, Florida

Editor: Adriana Dos Santos

Adviser: Manolo Barco

Daily Bruin

University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California

Editor: Melissa Morris

Adviser: Abigail Goldman

The Red & Black

University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Editors: Sherry Liang,
Augusta Stone

Adviser: Rebecca Burns

F Newsmagazine

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Editors: Leo Smith, Jade Sheng

Advisers: Paul Elitzik, Michael Miner

Indiana Daily Student

Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana

Editors: Caroline Anders,
Emily Isaacman, Jacob deCastro,
Tristan Jackson

Advisers: Jim Rodenbush,
Ruth Witmer

The Ball State Daily News

Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Editor: Zach Piatt

Adviser: Lisa Renze-Rhodes

The Sunflower

Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Editor: Lindsay Smith

Adviser: Amy DeVault

College Heights Herald

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky

Editor: Laurel Deppen

Adviser: Chuck Clark, Carrie Pratt

The Maroon

Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

Editor: Rose Wagner

Adviser: Michael Giusti

The State News

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Editor: Evan Jones

Advisers: Omar Sofradzija,
Daena Faustino, Wesley Herold

Central Michigan Life

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Editor: Issac Ritchey

Advisers: David Clark, Kathy Simon

The Daily Orange

Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Editor: Casey Darnell

The Pendulum

Elon University
Elon, North Carolina

Editor: Grace Terry

Adviser: Kelly Furnas

The Daily Pennsylvanian

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Editor: Hadriana Lowenkron

Adviser: Deborah Howlett

The Commonwealth Times

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia

Editors: Iman Mekonen,
Andrew Ringle

Adviser: Mark Jeffries

Calgary Journal

Mount Royal University
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Editors: Chole Chapdelanie, Mackenzie Hermann, Angela Lackey, Tristan Oram, Bailey Gingras-Hamilton, Solaya Huang, Madasyn Kost, Christian Kindrachuk

Advisers: Archie Mclean,
Sean Holman