Awarded during SEJC 2026, hosted by Georgia Highlands College in Cartersville, Ga. on Feb. 21, 2026.

“HM” indicates “Honorable Mention.”

Educator of the Year
Richard Robinson, University of Tennessee at Martin

Journalist of the Year
HM. Caden Dyer, University of Tennessee
HM. Kennedi Drake, University of Southern Mississippi
5th. Anna Kate Freeland, Jacksonville State University
4th. Margee Stanfield, Union University
3rd. Kate Myers, Mississippi State University
2nd. Laurel Swanz, University of Kentucky
1st. Gracyn Thatcher, University of Tennessee

Best News Writer
5th. Ty Davidson, Troy University
4th. Maven Navarro, University of Alabama
3rd. Olivia Summers, Middle Tennessee State University
2nd. Noah Walters, University of Mississippi
1st. Laurel Swanz, University of Kentucky

Best Feature Writer
5th. Quezia Arruda Cunha, University of Kentucky
4th. Jordyn Davis, Samford University
3rd. Natalie Staggers, Mississippi State University
2nd. Julianna Parker, Nicholls State University
1st. Shauna Reynolds, Middle Tennessee State University

Best Arts & Entertainment Reporter
HM. Sydney Stepp, University of Mississippi
5th. Jaythan Comegys, University of Southern Mississippi
4th (tie). Rowan Feasel, Mississippi State University
4th (tie). Bryant Steele, University of Tennessee at Martin
3rd. Jess Jordan, University of South Alabama
2nd. Andi Jones, University of Tennessee
1st. Chase Myers, University of Kentucky

Best Op-Ed Writer
5th. Bethany Collins, University of Tennessee at Martin
4th. Margee Stanfield, Union University
3rd. Emma Sullivan, University of Southern Mississippi
2nd. Elena Harmon, Mississippi State University
1st. Claire Thatcher, University of Tennessee

Best Sports Writer
5th. Tyler Payne, Tennessee Tech University
4th. Liana Handler, University of Florida
3rd. Noah McCord, Mississippi State University
2nd. Noah White, University of Florida
1st. Chyler Lee, University of Tennessee at Martin

Best Special Events Reporter
5th. Jacqueline Diaz, Nicholls State University
4th. BV Senior Staff, Belmont University
3rd. Kate Myers, Mississippi State University
2nd. (Tie) Raegan Settle, University of Mississippi
2nd. (Tie) Olivia Lee, University of Tennessee
1st. Noah McLane, Middle Tennessee State University

Best Photographer
5th. Cody Hegler, Austin Peay University
4th. Ivy Rose Ball, Mississippi State University
3rd. Matthew Lewis, University of Florida
2nd. (Tie) Cole Moore, University of Tennessee
2nd. (Tie) Kristopher Fister, Murray State University
1st. Christian Kantosky, University of Kentucky

Best Artist/Illustrator
HM. Grace Brown, Harding University
3rd. Yumi Domangue, Southeastern Louisiana Univ.
2nd. Abby Thomas, Union University
1st. Aubrey Abbott, University of Tennessee at Martin

Best Graphic Designer/Data Journalist
HM. Zach Watkins, Belmont University
3rd. Liza Coffin, Samford University
2nd. Chloe Kent, University of Tennessee at Martin
1st. Pawan Khati, University of Louisiana Monroe

Best Newspaper Designer
5th. Cadence Renfro, University of Southern Mississippi
4th. Josie DiCapua, University of South Alabama
3rd. Madelynn Liberto, University of Mississippi
2nd. Kate Myers, Mississippi State University
1st. Keith Webb, University of Louisiana Monroe

Best Magazine Designer
3rd. Leah Wisener, Mississippi State University
2nd. Kyra Richardson, University of Alabama
1st. Ashleigh Jones, University of Kentucky

Best Magazine Writer
3rd. Kaitlyn Church, Mississippi State University
2nd. Hanna Allen, Samford University
1st. Alexandria Landgraf, University of Kentucky

Best TV News Reporter
5th. Matt Sinofsky, Belmont University
4th. Hannah Baker, University of Mississippi
3rd. Gracyn Thatcher, University of Tennessee
2nd. Edward Smith, University of Kentucky
1st. Juan Carlos Chaoui, University of Florida

Best Radio News Reporter
3rd. (Tie) Will Blackmon, Lipscomb University
3rd. (Tie) Pierce Gentry, University of Tennessee
3rd. (Tie) Kennedi Drake, University of Southern Mississippi

Best Radio News Reporter
2nd. Hayley Morman, Mississippi State University
1st. James Speace, Troy University

Best TV Feature Reporter
5th. (Tie) Grace Harvey, Mississippi State University
5th. (Tie) Kristian Steilberg, Southeastern Louisiana University
5th. (Tie) Kendrick Allen, Southeastern Louisiana University
4th. Olivia White, University of Kentucky
3rd. Juan Carlos Chaoui, University of Florida
2nd. Emily Garver, Belmont University
1st. Aubree Curran, University of Tennessee

Best Radio Feature Reporter
5th. Gavin Breunig & Sylvia Freire, University of Kentucky
4th. Haylee Morman, Mississippi State University
3rd. Pierce Gentry, University of Tennessee
2nd. Marissa Armstrong, University of Kentucky
1st. Reace England, Troy University

Best Radio Journalist
3rd. (Tie) Reace England, Troy University
3rd. (Tie) Haylee Morman, Mississippi State University
2nd. Ava Burns, Belmont University
1st. Reanna Wallace, Troy University

Best TV Journalist
5th. Chloe Bradley, University of Kentucky
4th. (Tie) Jimmy Nichols, Troy University
4th. (Tie) Tafada Wright, Mississippi State University
3rd. Alexa Durban, University of Tennessee
2nd. Alex Land, University of Florida
1st. Kirsten Maselka, University of Florida

Best Advertising Staffer
3rd. Lola Casey, Samford University
2nd. Edward Boudreaux, Southeastern Louisiana University
1st. Jackson Redish, University of Kentucky

Best Multimedia Journalist
5th. Christian Kantosky, University of Kentucky
4th. Brett Walker, Middle Tennessee State University
3rd. Stephani Perez-Munoz, University of Southern Mississippi
2nd. Nicole Borman, University of Florida
1st. Simon Brown, Troy University

Best Public Service Journalism
3rd. The Daily Beacon, University of Tennessee
2nd. Kate Myers & Ivy Rose Ball, Mississippi State University
1st. KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky

Best Audio Program
5th. Mississippi College
4th. University of Tennessee at Martin
3rd. Mississippi State University
2nd. Belmont University
1st. Troy University

Best Video Newscast
5th. Troy University
4th. University of Kentucky
3rd. University of Southern Mississippi
2nd. University of Florida
1st. University of Tennessee

Best Magazine
5th. University of South Alabama
4th. Murray State University
3rd. Samford University
2nd. Union University
1st. University of Kentucky

Best Newspaper
5th. Murray State University
4th. University of Alabama
3rd. Mississippi State University
2nd. University of Kentucky
1st. University of Tennessee

Best Website
5th. Mississippi State University
4th. University of Kentucky
3rd. Jacksonville State University
2nd. University of Southern Mississippi
1st. Nicholls State University

Best Radio Station
3rd. Mississippi State University
2nd. University of Kentucky
1st. Lipscomb University

Best TV Station
5th. University of Southern Mississippi
4th. University of Kentucky
3rd. University of Tennessee
2nd. Mississippi State University
1st. Troy University

Best Research
3rd. Samantha Sims, Southeastern Louisiana University
2nd. Eli Mabry, Brielle Dennis-Grant & Sophie Hoard, Mississippi State University
1st. Evelyn Filleman, Harding University