FORT WORTH, Texas — Tarrant County College’s student-run newspaper just keeps racking up the wins.
The Collegian received 24 awards, including a national Pacemaker in the two-year college newspaper category, from the Associated Collegiate Press at the National College Media Convention, Nov. 2 in New Orleans. This is the fifth Pacemaker (1996, 1999, 2017, 2020, 2024) in The Collegian’s 36-year history.
Known as the Pulitzer Prize of college media, the Pacemaker Award went to 21 four-year schools and three two-year schools. The Collegian joined The Shorthorn at UT Arlington as the only Texas papers to receive the award.
Judging was based on content, writing, editing, design and photography. Winners were selected based on work published in the 2023-24 school year.
Student Publications Director Chris Whitley said winning a Pacemaker is extremely hard.
“These students work tirelessly. They give so much of themselves to do this job and do it right. Seeing them named as one of the best college newspapers in America is beyond gratifying. I love that I get to work with this staff each day, and I’m so proud of all of them.”
He added: “When they announced our names, I think you could have heard us cheering all the way from New Orleans.”
Six Collegian staff members attended the convention, North America’s largest gathering of college media, and participated in workshops led by media professionals from around the country.
Hope Smith, former editor-in-chief, was named National Two-Year Reporter of the Year for her work during the 2023-24 academic year. The Collegian won Best of Show among two-year schools for its digital newsletter. It also won best newspaper in its division in the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Awards.
The Collegian brought home six ACP awards from the New Orleans convention and 18 from the College Media Association convention, held concurrently:
Associated Collegiate Press National Awards
- National Newspaper Pacemaker Award, winner
- National Multiplatform Pacemaker Award, finalist
- Hope Smith, Two-Year Reporter of the Year, first place
- Best of Show, Digital Newsletter, Two-Year, first place
- Best of Show, Newspaper, Two-Year, second place
- Best of Show, Website, Two-Year, seventh place
College Media Association National Pinnacle Awards
- Best Weekly Newspaper of the Year, Two-Year and Division III, first place
- Best College Media Outlet of the Year, Two-Year, third place
- Best Infographic, first place, Jerry Swinney
- Best Coverage of Faith, second place, Fousia Abdullahi
- Best General News Story, second place, Hope Smith
- Best Short Video, second place, Alex Hoben, Fousia Abdullahi, Ryan Cutrer
- Best Editorial Cartoon, third place, TJ Favela
- Best Headline, third place, Alex Hoben
- Best General News Photo, third place, Alex Hoben
- Best Newspaper News Page/Spread, third place, Jerry Swinney
- Best Opinion Page/Spread, third place, Alex Hoben
- Best Podcast, Two-Year, honorable mention, Nina Banks
- Best Arts and Entertainment Story, honorable mention, Nina Banks
- Best Feature Story, honorable mention, Hope Smith
- Best Investigative Story, honorable mention, Hope Smith
- Best Profile, honorable mention, Fousia Abdullahi
- Best Breaking News Story, honorable mention, Hope Smith, Olla Mokhtar, Fousia Abdullahi, Gilbert Little
- Best Photo Illustration, honorable mention, Alex Hoben
Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.