2025 St. Juan Diego Collegiate Awards

The St. Juan Diego Collegiate Awards honor a wide range of journalistic skills and specialties, encouraging excellence and fostering a vibrant Catholic journalism community.

For Alumni Magazines, this program adds recognition to your work and enhances the visibility of your university and alumni.

For Students, the program provides aspiring journalists and media professionals a critique of your work, and introduces you to hundreds of journalism and communications professionals from throughout North America.

Questions?

Questions about the awards, or need a correction or duplicate awards certificates? The CMA Office will provide these free of charge through Aug. 31. Please e-mail the Awards team: awards@catholicmediaassociation.org


AM201: Best Feature Article

First Place

Raffaella, Aloft

Notre Dame Magazine

John Nagy

Second Place

Spotlight On The Sun

The Catholic University of America

Mariana Barillas

AM202: Best Article — Current Issue

First Place

Organizing Principles

Notre Dame Magazine

Sean Callahan

Second Place

A Part, Not Apart

Notre Dame Magazine

Nancy Michael

AM203: Best Article — Social Justice

First Place

On With The Show: Alum Creates Magic Onstage At Sullivan High School

Loyola University Chicago

Vivian Ewing

Second Place

Fashion And Compassion: Nonprofit, Thrift Store Benefit Underserved Communities

Loyola University Chicago

Alexandra West

Third Place

Serving Time

Notre Dame Magazine

Abigail Pesta

Honorable Mention

A Golden Opportunity

St. Bonaventure University

Tom Missel

Honorable Mention

Alumni Bridge Gap In Refugee Services

The Catholic University of America

Anna Capizzi

AM204: Best Profile

First Place

Healing Water

St. Bonaventure University

Tom Missel

Second Place

Immeasurable Benefits

Notre Dame Magazine

Jason Kelly

AM406: Best Story and Photo Package — By Two or More Individuals

First Place

In Rural Italy, Students Learn How Farming And Food Connect Us All

Loyola University Chicago

Vivian Ewing and Lukas Keapproth

Nursing Students Provide Spiritual Care At The Sanctuary Of Our Lady Of Lourdes

Loyola University Chicago

Ashley Rowland and Lukas Keapproth

Third Place

Centenary Of A Visual Poet

The Catholic University of America

Matthew Palmer

AM601: Best Alumni Magazine 

First Place

Loyola Magazine

Loyola University Chicago

Vivian Ewing, Ali West, Ashley Rowland, and Lukas Keapproth

Second Place

Portraits Magazine

Saint Anselm College

Kate Grip Denon, Paul J. Pronovost and Annee Newton Giard

Third Place

Notre Dame Magazine

Notre Dame University

Jason Kelly, John Nagy, Margaret Fosmoe, Michelle Cuneo, Kerry Prugh and Julia Ettl

Honorable Mention

CatholicU Magazine And The Cardinal

The Catholic University of America

Magazine Team

S101: Best Video Presentation of Faith on Campus

First Place

Trinity Food Pantry Addresses Local Hunger

Trinity Washington University

Brittany McAlister

Second Place

Priest Serves As Social Justice Champion

Trinity Washington University

Nneka Browner

S102: Best Video — News

First Place

Election Night 2024

Lewis University

Olivia Brzek, Quinn Haywood, Brandon Najera and Abigail Varkalis

Second Place

Weighing Jan. 6 As Election Issue

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne

Third Place

Possible Ban On Tiktok Concerns Gen Z

Trinity Washington University

Jasmine Marshall

Honorable Mention

The Resurgence Of Marian Knights Marching Band

Marian University

Cassie Mitchell and Blessing Malunga

S103: Best Video — Feature

First Place

The Chicago Minute: Mr. Beef Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bear

DePaul University

Isabel Perkinson, Kiernan Sullivan, Linnea Cheng and Meredith Bach

Second Place

‘Senioritis’ Sufferers Need Support

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne, Nneka Browner, Kiera Thomas, Kia Ross, Jasmine Marshall and Brittany McAlister

Third Place

The Balance Of College Academics And Sports

Trinity Washington University

Kiera Thomas

Honorable Mention

Trinity Family Library Holds Culture Fest

Trinity Washington University

Kia Ross

S122: Best Collegiate Podcast/Radio Show

First Place

Enlightened Exchanges

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier, Nina Payne and Brittany McAlister

Honorable Mention

The Sports Media Playbook

Neumann University

NeuPress staff

S131: Best Podcast/Radio Segment

First Place

Self-Care And Why It’s Important

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier and LaPorsha Jackson

Second Place

Mystery And Controversy Around Critical Race Theory

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne and Saron Gebereegziabhier

Third Place

Father, Son And Holy Spokesman - Sister Marguerite

Neumann University

Bryan Avanzato

Honorable Mention

The Challenges Of Being A Commuter College Student

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Kia Ross

Honorable Mention

The Possibilities Of Peace In A World With Endless War

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Brittany McAlister

S141: Best Multimedia Package

First Place

Jan. 6 Weighs On Student Voters Disheartened By 2024 Election Choices

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne

Second Place

Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion

Trinity Washington University

Aiesha Wilson and Nneka Browner

Third Place

‘Senioritis’ Is A Thing And Some Students At Trinity Washington University Have It

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne, Nneka Browner, Kiera Thomas, Kia Ross, Jasmine Marshall and Brittany McAlister

Honorable Mention

How The Heck Do You Play The Harmonica?

Neumann University

Cole Betham

S151: Best Use of Multimedia for Storytelling

First Place

Trinity’s New Africana Reading Room Envisioned As Defiant Symbol Against Anti-Dei Crusade

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Nina Payne

Second Place

Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion

Trinity Washington University

Aiesha Wilson and Nneka Browner

Third Place

Democracy On The Ballot’ Symposium Inspires Students To Shape The Nation’s Future

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier

S201: Best Article about Faith on Campus

First Place

Cardinal Timothy Dolan And Martha Hennessy Visit The Grand OpeningOf The Dorothy Day Center

The Quadrangle

Mary Haley

Second Place

Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion

Trinity Washington University

Aiesha Wilson

Third Place

The Challenges Of Catholic Mass Participation For Stonehill Students

The Summit

Ethan Fadden

Honorable Mention

Meet Manhattan University’s New Campus Chaplains!

The Quadrangle

Mary Haley

Honorable Mention

Finding Spirituality In Sports

Neumann University

Cole Betham

S202: Best Article on Social Justice

First Place

Trinity’s New Africana Reading Room Envisioned As Defiant Symbol Against Anti-DEI Crusade

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier

Second Place

Faculty Members Show Solidarity For DePaul Students

DePaul University

Alexandra Murphy and Gia Clarke

Third Place

From Screens To Scales

Barry University

Brendalis Puig

S203: Best Literary Writing

First Place

Paper Trails: Chinese Immigration Through the Eyes of a Paper Son

Emily Diaz

Second Place

The Mood Swing

Kaylah Mcguffie

Third Place

Green

Teni Jehanian

Honorable Mention

I Really Hope You Heal

Adore Patterson

Honorable Mention

Lucy & the Tiger

Abigail Steigerwalt

S204: Best Investigative Reporting

First Place

How Moms For Liberty Has Changed School Boards And Book Bans

DePaul University

Sam Freeman

Second Place

Alleged Gunman In Lee Hall Prompts A Campus-Wide Lockdown

The Quadrangle

Brooke Dellarocco

Third Place

Budget Reductions Blindside Student Clubs

The Quadrangle

Barbara Vasquez

Honorable Mention

Draddy Locked Down And Game Suspended After Reports Of Firearm On Campus

The Quadrangle

Isaiah Rosario

Honorable Mention

How DePaul’s Mental-Health Services Are Not Meeting Students’ Needs

DePaul University

Alexandra Murphy

S206: Best News Reporting

First Place

Milo Riverso, Ph.D., Steps Down From Presidency One Year After Appointment

The Quadrangle

Grace Cardinal and Jill Tuthill

Second Place

Assassination Attempt Is ‘Shocking’ But Not ‘Surprising,’ Say Trinity Scholars And Students

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier

Third Place

Manhattan College Merges Departments Across Its Three Schools

The Quadrangle

Angelina Persaud and Brooke Dellarocco

S207: Best Coverage of Culture or Diversity

First Place

Trinity Officials Forge Ahead With Dialogue On Racism In Higher Education

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne

Second Place

Gentrification Continues To Displace D.C. Natives

Trinity Washington University

Sydney Ware

Third Place

Anti-Haitian Rhetoric Affects Barry Community

Barry University

Diana Morose

S213: In–Depth Profile Feature

First Place

Defying Odds: NASA Scientist Brings The Universe To Trinity Students

Trinity Washington University

Saron Gebereegziabhier

Second Place

What Democrats Got Wrong

The Tower

The Catholic University of America

Griffin Cappiello

Third Place

Activist Kymone Freeman Makes Green Party Run For D.C. Nonvoting Congressional Delegate Seat

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne

S301: Best Front Page

First Place

The Barry Buccaneer

Barry University

Tiffani J Knowles

Second Place

The Marian Phoenix

Marian University

Maria Gropp

S303: Best Layout and Design for Print Publication

First Place

The Barry Buccaneer

Barry University

Nicole Dashtaki, Alyssa Leal and Gabrielle Sherman

Second Place

The Phoenix

Marian University

Maria Gropp

S403: Best Single Photo — Feature

First Place

Indy 500

DePaul University

Varun Khushalani

Second Place

Untitled

Sarah Boyle

The Canticle

Third Place

Untitled

Patrick Rudy

The Canticle

Honorable Mention

Untitled

Jewlea Israel

The Canticle

S550: Journalist of the Year

First Place

Brittany McAlister

Trinity Washington University

Second Place

Caleb Tobin

The Summit

Third Place

Sam Freeman

DePaul University

Honorable Mention

Trinity Washington University

Nina Payne

S601: Best Student News Organization

First Place

Trinity Times

Trinity Washington University

Trinity Times Staff

Second Place

14 East

DePaul University

Staff

Third Place

The Barry Buccaneer

Barry University

Isabel Pulgarin, Nicole Dashtaki, Alyssa Leal and Diana Morose

Honorable Mention

The Summit News

The Summit Staff

S602: Best New Student Publication

First Place

Trinity Times

Trinity Washington University

Trinity Times Staff

Second Place

Neumann Cares For Creation Website

Neumann University

Aisha Allab, Mikylah Jackson, Isaiah Kennedy, Yajaira Lopez-Guzman, Sean Maloney, Isivakhome Omo-Osagie, Makenna O’Neill, Adore Patterson, Krayee Pour, Allyson Shorey, Josh Crawford, Fatimata Gakou,T-Nzee Elizabeth Fortune and Jim Kain