CT SPJ college journalism contest winners: 2024-2025

Each year, the Connecticut chapter of SPJ recognizes the best in Connecticut student journalism with its college journalism contest.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, student journalists at colleges and universities did excellent work that shines a light on the issues and stories playing out on their campuses and in their communities. This year’s contest entries and winners reflect that.

They are an indication of the talent and training that these journalists are going to bring into the workforce in the coming years. The judges, mostly members of the CT SPJ board, commend the students and their faculty advisers for their dedication to student journalism and the future of the industry.

Together, the college contest and the CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism professional contest make up our biggest fundraiser. We give out thousands of dollars in scholarships to journalism students in or from CT each year, and support other efforts, such as the Legal Defense Fund, CCFOI and CFOG.

Congratulations to the winners, and thank you for your support.

If you're a college journalist or advisor and you'd like more information about the contest, email spjconnecticut@gmail.com.

Certificates will be available at the CT SPJ awards dinner on May 21, 2025. If not picked up then, they will be mailed to the school or publication address provided with the entries.

Find out more about the dinner, and buy a ticket, here.

CTSPJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2024

Board Officers:

President - Chandra Bozelko 

Vice President, programming - Jeniece Roman 

Vice President, communications - Lindsay Boyle 

Treasurer - Martha Shanahan

Secretary - Mercy Quaye 

Past President - Viktoria Sundqvist

Board of Directors:

Jordan Fenster 

Sarah Gordon

Sam Smink

Darren Sweeney

General reporting

First Place

Families find novel ways to grapple with rising food costs

Susan Hackett; CT Community News; UConn Journalism

Second Place


Quinnipiac facilities union protests contract

Julia Barcello; Q30 Television; Quinnipiac University

Third Place


UConn’s main campus gets early voting location;

Bridget Bronsdon; CT Community News; UConn Journalism

Breaking news

First Place


UConn Day of Action for higher education recap

Rhiannon Kowalski; WHUS UConn Radio

Second Place

Interim president speaks out

Solé Scott; Southern News; SCSU

Column/commentary

First Place

Cardinal

Gabriella Pinto; Horseshoe Magazine; University of New Haven

Second Place

The cost of college and the weight of dreams;

Kwasi Osei-Amankwah; Connecticut Mirror - Student Voice; UConn Journalism

Third Place

Hollywood? More like 'Hollyweird';

Solé Scott; Southern News; SCSU

Feature story

First Place


Student left in fear after ICE was found around CCSU

Maria-Constanza Sevilla Sola; Central Connecticut State University

Second Place


Meet the people behind the curtain on Election Day;

Bridget Bronsdon; CT Community News; UConn Journalism

Third Place


Off the Top Rope

Jay'Mi Vazquez; Crescent magazine; SCSU

Sports feature story

First Place


Caiola praised on and off the track

Avery Martin; Southern News; SCSU

Second Place


Uliana Pokutnia settles into college life

Avery Martin; Southern News; SCSU

Third Place


Lacrosse Boarders;

Jay'Mi Vazquez, Julien Laforest; Crescent magazine; SCSU

Sports news story

First Place


Baseball heads into NE10 tournament

Dillon Flanigan and Matt Cain; Southern News; SCSU

Second Place

Quinnipiac powers past Iona to reach NCATA semifinals

Brianna Trachtenberg; Q30 Television; Quinnipiac University

Third Place


Women’s basketball marches to win

Dillon Flanigan; Southern News; SCSU

Innovative digital storytelling

First Place


Quinnipiac men's basketball media day

Nick Boyd; Q30 Television; Quinnipiac University

Feature photo

First Place

UConn women's basketball team wins 12th national championship

Kali Reed; WHUS UConn Radio

Second Place


'Fadezzz' to perfection

Tyrese Abdul-Shakoor, Crescent magazine; SCSU

Third Place


Sunset Saunter

Hayden Bernard; UConn Journalism Magazine

and


Tree Tradition

Kaleb Jennings; UConn Journalism Magazine

Sports photo

First Place


Soccer Journey Hungary to SCSU

Carly Russell; Crescent magazine; SCSU

Second Place


Stretching for the TD

Kaleb Jennings; UConn Journalism Magazine

Third Place


Men’s soccer fall short to the defending champs;

Carly Russell; Southern News; SCSU

Magazine layout

First Place


Over the Edge

Carly Russell; Crescent magazine; SCSU

Video storytelling

First Place


Project Brazil: Reporting climate change

Savanna Yelling, Ryan Hayes, Eary Banushi, Aniya Pouncey, Maria-Constanza Sevilla Sola, Jayden Klaus, Madison Musco

Central Connecticut State University

Second Place


Lacrosse Boarders

Dom Sollima and Adoria Davidson; Crescent magazine; SCSU

Third Place


Off The Top Rope

Domenick Sollima; Crescent magazine; SCSU