CT SPJ Excellence in Journalism College Contest winners (2025-2026)
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 29 minutes ago
Each year, we recognize the best in Connecticut student journalism from the previous academic year.
The entries and winners reflect the compelling and impressive work student journalists at CT colleges and universities produced this year, shining a light on the issues and stories playing out on their campuses and in their communities.
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 and mentors 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.
We'll be celebrating the winners of both the college and professional Excellence in Journalism contests at a joint dinner with CCFOI on June 10, 2026.
More information about that event is here.
Certificates and plaques will be available at the awards dinner; If not picked up then, they will be mailed to the winners’ newsrooms.
Thank you for your support. If you’d like to become more involved in the board and our activities, reach out to any of the board members listed below or email spjconnecticut@gmail.com.
CTSPJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026
Board Officers:
President - Martha Shanahan
Past President - Chandra Bozelko
Vice president of programming - Viktoria Sundqvist
Vice president of communications - Lindsay Boyle
Treasurer - Sam Smink
Secretary - Mercy Quaye
Board of Directors:
Jordan Fenster
Sarah Gordon
Jeniece Roman
Darren Sweeney
Digital categories
Innovative Digital Storytelling
First Place
Federal research cuts hit UConn
UConn Journalism Magazine; Sara Bedigian
Second Place
Caught after midnight: Data shows when DPS tickets the most
Fairfield Mirror; Julian Nazario
Third Place
History shows how presidents expand power
UConn Journalism Magazine; Dan Stark, Mikayla Bunnell and Lily Goldblatt
Podcasting
First Place
Crowned & Proud
UConn Journalism Magazine; Kitan Arole
Second Place
Analogue Dialogue — The Revival of Physical Media
UConn Journalism Magazine; Katie Servas
News/features categories
Breaking News
First Place
Freight train derailed in Mansfield: Route 32 closed, shelter-in-place ordered
UCONN Daily Campus; Patrick Boots
Second Place
Quinnipiac relegates women's rugby team
Q30 Television; Andrew Allison
Third Place
Reported 'incident' near beach housing raises safety concerns
Fairfield Mirror; Olivia Marceda
Feature story
First Place
A Connecticut school becomes an early test of civil rights
Fairfield County News - SHU; Alexandra Maxwell
Second Place
Original queer fantasy ‘The Gilded Throne’ to premiere this weekend
UCONN Daily Campus; Samantha Brody
Third Place
The third place you didn’t know you needed
University of New Haven Charger Bulletin; Donovan Rodriguez
General reporting
First Place
Historic dispute over ‘unitary executive’ advances in Trump era
UConn Journalism Magazine; Charlotte Harvey
Second Place
Sacred Heart poll shows sports betting scandals hurt trust in pro sports
Fairfield County News - SHU; Chumani Heard
Third Place
Several detained by ICE after raid in Hamden
Q30 Television; Christina Tsimenis
Sports reporting categories
Sports feature
First Place
'It took everything, every day': Janelle Brown's battle back to the court
Fairfield Mirror; Danny McElroy
Second Place
Women’s Basketball: Azzi Fudd’s resilience is a testament to the ‘UConn Standard’
UCONN Daily Campus; Jake McCreven
Third Place
Siblings make a splash; Crescent magazine
Jay'Mi Vazquez and Julien Laforest
Sports news
Sports News Story
First Place
QU rugby gets demoted to club status, athletes feel support from community but not the university
Quinnipiac Chronicle; Claire Frankland and Ava Highland
Second Place
Quinnipiac Rugby moving from Division I to club
Q30 Television; Eli Ehlers
Third Place
Owls win NE10
Southern News; Julian Markese
Photo and video categories
Feature Photo
First Place
UConn Journalism Magazine; Allison Gollenberg
Second Place
Restoring Legacies
Crescent magazine; Wade Barillaro
Third Place
Lash Refill
UConn Journalism Magazine; Daniella Ortiz-Marcano
News Photo
First Place
QTHON 2026
Quinnipiac Chronicle; Tyler Mignault
Second Place
Quinnipiac University's 10th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony
Quinnipiac Chronicle; Tyler Mignault
Third Place
Convocation ceremony welcomes 2029 class
Southern News; William Gagné
Sports photo
First Place
From the NFL back to New Haven: Tyler Booker inspires next generation of football stars; UConn Journalism Magazine; Kaleb Jennings
Second Place
What it feels like to beat Duke; UConn Journalism Magazine; Emma Meidinger
Third Place
Sports photo by Parker Meyers; UCONN Daily Campus; Parker Meyers
Video Storytelling
First Place
An overview on presidential power
UConn Journalism Magazine; Lily Goldblatt
Second Place
Restoring legacies
Crescent magazine; Dom Sollima
Third Place
At Sacred Heart, a new team blazes a trail in women’s flag football
Fairfield County News - SHU; Jenna Reynolds
Layout categories
Newspaper layout
First Place
Their Last Dance
Fairfield Mirror; Crystal Arbelo and Danny McElroy
Second Place
Front page layout issue March
Fairfield Mirror; Olivia Marceda and Brenna Belasco
Third Place
Feb. 24, 2026 sports page
UCONN Daily Campus; Connor Lafferty
Magazine Layout
First Place
Auditioning for American Idol
Crescent magazine
Second Place
Making a splash
Crescent magazine
Third Place
Vaulting onto the podium
Crescent magazine
Opinion categories
Editorial/op-ed
First Place
UConn, cut ties with Avelo
UCONN Daily Campus; Gianna Cassino
Second Place
Americans Abroad
Fairfield Mirror; Conor Doonan
Third Place
Later, I will read this article
UCONN Daily Campus; Sophie Shugrue
General column/commentary
First Place
Bill Gates, let’s keep the 'climate' in climate solutions
UCONN Daily Campus; Tamara Segal
Second Place
The Daily Tar Heel serves as a cautionary tale for student journalists
Quinnipiac Chronicle; Emily Marquis
Third Place
University Fires DEIAB Staff to Recover Revenue
Horseshoe Magazine; University of New Haven; Patch Bowen
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