Publications honored at MediaFest25

The Augustana Mirror and Edda staffs returned home from Washington D.C. with a host of national awards after competing at MediaFest25, the Fall National College Media Convention from Oct. 16–18.

The two publications secured nine individual Pinnacle Awards from the College Media Association (CMA) and three top-10 “Best of Show” awards from the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). The Pinnacle Awards were chosen from a field of 3,358 submissions from student media programs across the country. 

The Edda yearbook earned five awards — one first-place, two second-place and two third-place — while the Augustana Mirror newspaper won four awards, including three second-place and one third-place.

Representatives from both staffs traveled to the nation’s capital to accept the awards, receive critiques on their work and learn from professional journalists and other student publications.

“It was cool to see someone I consider a peer in the field,” Parker Carbonneau, news editor for the Mirror, said. “Being able to meet with them, talk to them, get their advice on certain things, connect with them on LinkedIn — it was such a valuable opportunity that I didn’t necessarily expect.”

Edda adviser Janet Blank-Libra accompanied students to the convention.

“The awards that they won affirm for them that they do excellent work,” Blank-Libra said. “I already know that, as does Jeffrey Miller, but it’s nice when they hear it from someone else.”

Elizabeth Toso, a 2025 graduate, was awarded first place in Division III “Portrait” for her piece on a journalism class teaching visual storytelling. Another 2025 graduate and the Edda’s former editor-in-chief Jackson Dircks received second in Division III for his headline “Despite national turmoil, Summit stressed why DE&I.”

Senior Ryleigh Tupper, former Student Life section editor of the Edda, received second place for Division III “Feature Photo Package” highlighting Augustana’s Deaf Awareness club. Tupper also earned third in Division III “Infographic,” a category she has placed first in for the last two years.

The recognition also served as motivation for current publication leaders.

“The staff that I have is learning along with me,” sophomore Julia Stelter, Edda’s current editor-in-chief, said. “Just seeing the kind of growth we all have achieved and being able to create something really beautiful is what I’m most excited about.”

Edda also earned several honorable mentions in Division III “Podcast” and “Sports Photo,” as well as in Division II and III “Yearbook Spread” on the new brewing and fermentation minor.

The 2024–25 staff also received an honorable mention in the “Yearbook of the Year” category which combined three different divisions: two-year colleges and Divisions II and III. 

Tupper, who is the current editor-in-chief and sports editor for the Mirror, earned second place in Division III “Sports Feature” for her piece on Augustana alum Canyon Bauer’s training academy Bauer’s Elite. 

The Mirror’s adviser Jeffrey Miller said the publication’s success was especially impressive considering that it only had one print issue option for submission  compared to multiple options available in previous years.

“The fact that this was the first issue and we did that well was outstanding,” Miller said.

Senior and copy editor for the Mirror Jocelyn Baas received second in Division III “Coverage on Faith” for a story she wrote about a chapel service that took place on the ice of the Midco Arena. Parker Carbonneau finished second in Division III “Profile” with his piece “Freshman competitive cuber’s race against the clock.”

Sophomore Nina Luz took home third in Division III “Feature” with her story about how one Brazilian student has influenced many more to come to Augustana. 

The Mirror was also recognized with several honorable mentions in Division III “Opinion Column” and “Arts and Entertainment,” as well as “Photo Illustration” in Divisions II and III.

The Augustana Mirror earned eighth place in the ACP’s “Best of Show” categories for “Digital Newsletter (Four-year campus)” as well as “Newspaper/Newsmagazine (Four-year campus, 15,000 or fewer).” The Edda also received eighth place in the “Best of Show” category for yearbooks, which considers all divisions.

Blank-Libra said the awards are a positive outcome of the publications’ focus on service.

“I hope that our success at the national level reminds everyone that we’re doing what we’re doing both because we love and believe in the work, and because we want to serve the community,” Blank-Libra said.