NOTE: Twenty-nine universities registered for the 2026 SEJC conference. There were 196 total entries in the 2026 onsite competition.
CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
Ranked #1: University of Kentucky
Ranked #2: Belmont University
Ranked #3: University of Tennessee
Ranked #4: Troy University
Ranked #5: Mississippi State University
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT – MULTIMEDIA
HM. Zach Watkins – Belmont University
3rd. Blade Gowen – University of Louisiana Monroe
2nd. Erin Erter – Mississippi State University
1st. Kennedy Parker & Jackson Redish – University of Kentucky
CURRENT EVENTS QUIZ
HM. Noah Milard – Mississippi State University
HM. Bryant Steel – University of Tennessee at Martin
3rd. Olivia Abernathy – Belmont University
2nd. Sylvia Freire – University of Kentucky
1st. Nathaniel Bliss – Troy University
DESIGN – INFOGRAPHIC
HM. Darby Self – University of Tennessee at Martin
3rd. Nikki Victory – Arkansas Tech University
2nd. Makenzie Rogers – Murray State University
1st. Carter Scags – Mississippi State University
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAITURE)
HM. Kelsey Morris – Arkansas Tech University
3rd. Madelyn Paul – Lipscomb University
2nd. Brooke Johns – University of Kentucky
1st. Apil Kc – University of Louisiana Monroe
FEATURE WRITING
HM. Kennedy Parker – University of Kentucky
3rd. Trevor Mcgee – University of Tennessee
2nd. Olivia Lee – University of Tennessee
1st. Giselle Gibbs – University of Alabama
MEDIA LAW CHALLENGE
HM. Autumn King – University of Kentucky
3rd. Georgina America – Belmont University
2nd. Kathryn Clark – Troy University
1st. Patrick Busch – University of Tennessee
NEWS WRITING – DATA JOURNALISM
HM. Adah Hufana – University of Kentucky
3rd. Etta Man – University of Alabama
2nd. Kate Myers – Mississippi State University
1st. Jerry Don – Arkansas State University
OPINION WRITING
HM. Annie Anderson – Auburn University at Montgomery
3rd. Michelle Amerson – Alabama State University
2nd. Seth Thorpe – Belmont University
1st. Jenene Grover – Tennessee State University
PODCASTING
HM. Isabella Lindsey & Marissa Armstrong – University of Kentucky
3rd. Savion Essiet – Alabama State University
2nd. Maya Burney – Belmont University
1st. Gabrielle Cox – University of Southern Mississippi
PUBLIC RELATIONS CHALLENGE
HM. Laney Harris – University of Kentucky
3rd. Kylie Kissler, Madelyn Paul and Sophia Skelton – Lipscomb University
2nd. Caden Walker – Troy University
1st. Caden Dyer – University of Tennessee
RADIO NEWS
HM. Jameson Speece – Troy University
3rd. Stephani Peres-Munoz – University of Southern Mississippi
2nd. Samuel Aaron Espinoza – Lipscomb University
1st. Maya Burney – Belmont University
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
HM. Micah Barkley – Lipscomb University
3rd. Ephraim Rodembach – Middle Tennessee State University
2nd. Will Luckett – University of Kentucky
1st. Apil Kc – University of Louisiana Monroe
SPORTS WRITING
HM. Willie Phaler – Middle Tennessee State University
3rd. Abby Miller – Mississippi State University
2nd. Brett Ramsey – University of Kentucky
1st. Harold Lopez – Lipscomb University
TV NEWS PACKAGE
HM. Simon Brown – Troy University
3rd. Chloe Bradley – University of Kentucky
2nd. Kendrick Allen – Southeastern Louisiana University
1st. Alex Zock – Belmont University
TV NEWS ANCHORING
HM. Ra’Maya Brown – Mississippi State University
3rd. Caden Walker – Troy University
2nd. Kennedi Drake – University of Southern Mississippi
1st. Alexa Durben – University of Tennessee
TV SPORTS PACKAGE
HM. Zach Poat & Devan McClure – University of Kentucky
3rd. James Nichols & Nathan Bliss – Troy University
2nd. Quinn Wells & Reece Leddy – Belmont University
1st. Jules Dormain & Lucas Hill – Southeastern Louisiana University