FORT WORTH, Texas — The Collegian, Tarrant County College’s weekly student news publication, won 41 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association TIPA) convention held March 21 in Denton. The publication also earned the National Online Pacemaker Award — the highest recognition for student journalists — on March 14 at the Associated Collegiate Press Spring Convention in San Francisco.
Editor-in-chief Ash Petrie, who was named TIPA Two-Year Reporter of the Year, said the recognition reflects the strength of the entire staff. “While I am very proud of receiving the award, it wouldn’t have been possible without the staff’s support and hard work. It was even more rewarding to celebrate and cheer for each other as our names were called.”
Director of Student Publications Chris Whitley praised the student staff, noting the scale of this year’s success. “I don’t remember us ever winning more awards at the state convention than we did this year.”
Whitley said the National Online Pacemaker Award is especially meaningful. “It’s based on the work our students are doing in multimedia,” he said. “It shows our students are reaching readers where they are and preparing themselves for today’s media landscape.”
He added that Petrie is among the best student reporters he has advised, and that Managing Editor Ryleigh Roper made The Collegian’s social media and website “miles better.”
Six students from The Collegian staff will be leaving after this semester, including Petrie, who plans to transfer to Brooklyn College. “I will miss these people so much — our staff and the advisers — because without them The Collegian wouldn’t have been as successful as it was,” she said.
Whitley added that he is proud of the team for “being one of the best two-year college media staffs in the country.”
Awards:
Associated Collegiate Press
National Online Pacemaker Award, Winner
Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Awards
1st place, Overall Excellence, Newspaper
1st place, Reporter of the Year, Ash Petrie
1st place, Photojournalist of the Year, Diego Santos
1st place, Strategic Communicator of the Year, Ryleigh Roper
1st place, Best in Show, Website
1st place, Static Information Graphic, Kiarah Smith
1st place, Overall Design, Newspaper
1st place, Overall Design, Website
1st place, Sports News Story, Matt Penrod
1st place, Critical Review, Fred Ngyuen
1st place, Social Media – Breaking News, Ryleigh Roper and Ash Petrie
1st place, Feature Photo, Diego Santos
1st place, General News, Ash Petrie
1st place, Feature Story, Fred Nguyen
1st place, In-Depth Reporting, Fousia Abdullahi and Ash Petrie
1st place, General News – Multimedia Story, Fousia Abdullahi, Lauren Harper and Alex Hoben
1st place, Multimedia Feature, Nicholas Boltz and Airianna Roman
1st place, Feature Page/Spread Design, Rena Aquino
2nd place, Best in Show, Newspaper
2nd place, Cartoon Strip/Panel, Izzie Webb
2nd place, Social Media – General Coverage, Ryleigh Roper
2nd place, Static Information Graphic, Rena Aquino
2nd place, Headline Writing, Collegian staff
2nd place, General News, Ash Petrie
2nd place, Editorial, Nanda Acharya
2nd place, Feature Story, Ash Petrie
2nd place, Breaking News, Ash Petrie
2nd place, Multimedia Feature, Ash Petrie, Lauren Harper, Alex Hoben and Kailey Raley
2nd place, Op/Ed Design, Collegian staff
3rd place, Overall Excellence, Website
3rd place, Cover Design, Rena Aquino
3rd place, Environmental Portrait, Diego Santos
3rd place, Sports Column, Diego Collazo
3rd place, Feature Reporting – Video, Ash Petrie and Lauren Harper
3rd place, General News – Multimedia Story, Nanda Acharya, Nicholas Boltz and Ash Petrie
3rd place, General News Photo, Diego Santos
3rd place, Photo Illustration, Diego Santos
Honorable Mention, General Column, Ash Petrie
Honorable Mention, Breaking News, Fousia Abdullahi
Honorable Mention, Podcast, Alex Hoben, Ash Petrie, Cheyenne Shawn and T.J. Favela
Honorable Mention, Illustration, Rena Aquino
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year, offering accessible, affordable pathways to in-demand careers and university transfer. Across multiple campuses and TCC Connect — a fully online learning option — the College partners with more than 1,200 employers to help build the workforce that drives North Texas forward. Bold Steps. Better Futures.