The Shorthorn took home more than 40 awards this fall at two national student media conventions in Washington, D.C., and California.
The Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association recognized work from student journalists nationwide through multiple individual and publication-based awards.
Associated Collegiate Press awarded The Shorthorn more than 15 individual and staff recognitions, including recognition as finalist in Multiplatform and Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemakers. The Pacemaker recognizes overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a particular school year, according to the organization’s website.
The Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker consisted of two teams of three judges considering three print issues and analyzing coverage, writing, editing, design and photography, as well as determining how effectively each serves its audience. The Multiplatform Pacemaker considers all forms of publishing, including print, website, email newsletters, videos and social media.
Laurie Fox, newsroom adviser and assistant director of Student Publications, said there’s a lot of pride in working for the publication. As a graduate from UTA and The Shorthorn, she said there’s a tradition of knowing that the work produced is at a high level.
“It’s nice to see our students challenge themselves and do this work,” Fox said. “Then seeing that pay off for them with some of these accolades is nice. It’s kind of like, ‘OK, they’re on the right track.’”
Pedro Malkomes, the publication’s editor-in-chief, echoed the same sentiment, saying the awards are representative of the hard work done by the publication’s staff.
The Shorthorn also received more than 20 College Media Association Pinnacle Awards, which honor the best college media organizations and individual work, according to the organization’s website. The publication received three first-place wins.
Among other recognitions, two Shorthorn advertising designers won first place College Media Association Pinnacle Awards for their Housing Guide advertising campaign.
Ethan Sysavath, the publication’s advertising graphic designer and one of the award recipients, said winning the award was a confidence boost.
“I’ve never won an award like this before,” Sysavath said. “I didn’t really hold myself to the highest degree. I thought I was good, but I didn’t know it was award-winning good.”
The Shorthorn advertising and marketing team took home multiple wins from the College Media Business and Advertising Managers, who recognize the success of members and individuals that innovate and impact the business operations of college media programs, according to its website. The Shorthorn won first place for Best Digital Self Promotion Ad.
Some of the awards won during the conventions were for work published during the previous school year.
Christine Vo, former Shorthorn editor-in-chief, said there’s no limit to what can be done at the publication, reflecting on the multiple positions she held and skills she honed.
“Doing all that here and being so tired and so exhausted but being so passionate in the work that I was producing, that just translates into what I’m doing now,” Vo said.
Malkomes said the convention, beyond anything else, showed how important student media is and how much it means to people.
“Seeing that so many other universities are going through the exact same things we’re going through, covering the same types of stories we’re covering, facing the same struggles we face, it’s kind of empowering,” he said. “Being a part of something bigger that’s probably beyond anything else is the most important part of the convention to me.”
Awards won:
Associated Collegiate Press Awards 2025
Organization Recognition
2025 Multiplatform Pacemaker finalist
2025 Newspaper/Newsmagazine Pacemaker finalist
Individual Awards
First Place
Best Feature Photo: Joel Solis
Best Sports Feature Photo: Ronaldo Bolaños
Second Place
Best Feature Story: Christine Vo
Column: Ariana Wolf
Fifth Place
Multimedia Feature Story: Ronaldo Bolaños, Samarie Goffney, Dang Le and Christine Vo
Honorable Mention
Sports Feature Photo: Christine Vo
Broadcast Feature Story: Axel Hoge and Christine Vo
Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show 2025
First Place
Best Website: The Shorthorn staff
Best Newsletter: The Shorthorn staff
Second Place
Best Advertisement: Ethan Sysavath
Best Newspaper/Newmagazine Design: Haley Walton
Fifth Place
News/Feature Photo: Elvis Martinez-Cartagena
Advertising Media Kit: Ethan Sysavath and Daniel Phillips
Sixth Place
Feature Story: Dang Le
Seventh Place
Newspaper/Newsmagazine: The Shorthorn staff
Ninth Place
Feature Story: Pedro Malkomes
College Media Association Pinnacle Awards 2025
First Place
Newspaper Spread: Christine Vo
Editorial: Christine Vo
Ad Campaign: Daniel Phillips and Ethan Sysavath
Second Place
Campus Media Engagement: The Shorthorn staff
Vertical Short Video: Axel Hoge
Third Place
Breaking News Photo: Christine Vo
News Photo Package: Christine Vo
Editorial Cartoon: Ryleigh Hood
Rate Card/Media Kit: Daniel Phillips and Ethan Sysavath
Interactive/Motion Infographic: Dang Le
Feature Package (Audio/Video): Axel Hoge
Honorable Mention
Breaking News Multimedia Coverage: The Shorthorn staff
News Multimedia Package: Ronaldo Bolaños, Axel Hoge, Pedro Malkomes and Christine Vo
General Newsletter: The Shorthorn staff
Portrait: Christine Vo
Profile Story: Dang Le
Newspaper Front Page: Christine Vo
Game Story (Print/Web): Orlando Torres
A&E Story (Print/Web): Christine Vo
Feature Story (Print/Web): Dang Le
Feature Multimedia Package: Ronaldo Bolaños, Samarie Goffney, Dang Le and Christine Vo
Special Awards
Distinguished Adviser Award: Laurie Fox
College Media Business and Advertising Managers
First Place
Best Digital Self Promotion Ad
Best Sales Strategy for a Special Section
Second Place
Best Staff Recruitment Strategy/Campaign
Best Newspaper Ad
Third Place
Best Self Marketing or Promotional Plan
Best Digital Self Promotion Ad
Honorable Mention
Best Digital Display Ad: Animated
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