Southern journalism students received three awards in the professional CTSPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards contest (2025), and eight awards in the CTSPJ student contest for 2025-26 reporting.
The Excellence in Journalism Awards is hosted by the Connecticut Society of Professional Journalists chapter each year, and celebrates the best reporting in the state. CTSPJ hosted an awards dinner June 10 to honor the recipients and give other awards, including inducting a new member into the Connecticut Journalism Hall of Fame.
CTSPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards
Students competed against professional journalists from Connecticut news outlets in the Excellence in Journalism Awards, which covered items published or broadcast in 2025. See the full awards announcement here.
Three student projects took home awards in the contest. The projects were published through CT Community News, a publication of the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative. The collaborative works with journalism schools in the state to help connect students to professional publishing opportunities. Southern was a founding member of the collaborative, and journalism faculty serve on the board of directors.
First place; Data reporting; Division C
Students in Professor Cindy Simoneau’s JRN 300 spring 2025 class reported “Survey: Social media dominates students’ news consumption,” which was published by CT Community News and the Hartford Courant.
The students working on the project were: Brandon Cortés, Miah Green, Roselyn Ilo, Avery Martin, Benjamin Martin, Solé Scott, Kahiona Senior, Melanie Vargas, Jay’Mi Vazquez, Brianna Wallen, Lexi White, Jasmine Williams.
Second place; Diversity coverage; Division C
RoselynMartin Somtochukwu Ilo reported “Elena’s Light honors refugee advocates, raises concern for the future” as part of her coursework in JRN 300 in spring 2025.
The story was published by CT Community News, CT News Junkie and Connecticut Public.
Third place; Health reporting; Division C
Students in Professor Jodie Gil’s JRN 220 fall 2025 class reported “How Connecticut is training college students to help prevent suicide,” which was republished by CT Community News, CT News Junkie, Hartford Courant and WSHU.
The class project was supported by a grant awarded to the Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative through the Solutions Journalism Network to report on responses to problems.
Student reporters on the project included Mackenzie Byerlee, Draven Dabrowski, Aminata Diakite, Rachel Rose, Valentina Toro and Catherine Vu. Students from Connecticut Community College Manchester contributed reporting and photos from their campus.
CTSPJ Student Journalism Contest
Students from Crescent magazine won six awards, while students from Southern News took home two awards in the student contest. They competed against other campus media outlets around the state. To see the full announcement of winners in the 2025-26 contest, click here.
Crescent magazine
- First place; Magazine layout; Auditioning for American Idol; Crescent magazine; staff
- Second place; Magazine layout; Making a splash; Crescent magazine; staff
- Third place; Magazine layout; Vaulting onto the podium; Crescent magazine; staff
- Second place; Feature photo; Restoring legacies; Crescent magazine; Wade Barillaro
- Second place; Video storytelling; Restoring legacies; Crescent magazine; Dom Sollima
- Third place; Sports feature; Siblings make a splash; Crescent magazine; Jay’Mi Vazquez and Julien Laforest
Southern News
- Third place; Sports news story; Owls win NE10; Southern News; Julian Markese
- Third place; News photo; Convocation ceremony welcomes 2029 class; Southern News; William Gagne