Hillsdale College Students Win 13 Awards from the Michigan Press Association
The awards recognized work done for The Collegian, Hillsdale’s student newspaper.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College students earned 13 awards from the Michigan Press Association recognizing their work for The Collegian, Hillsdale’s student newspaper. The awards recognized work done in the 2024-2025 school year, and winners were announced at the Michigan Press Association Convention in April.
“The Collegian gives students hands-on newsroom experience with every step of the process,” said John J. Miller, director of Hillsdale’s Dow Journalism Program. “From reporting and writing to editing and design, they produce outstanding content each week, and it is exciting to see their work recognized.”
Hillsdale students competed against other weekly student newspapers in Michigan, entering the awards last fall. Students earned 13 awards in nine categories:
Weekly Newspaper of the Year
- Second Place: The Collegian
News Story
- Second Place: Jillian Parks ’25, Isaac Green ’25, and Moira Gleason ’26, “Trump reclaims the White House”
- Honorable Mention: Isabella Doer ’25, “Community Thrift, Camp Hope could close as debt looms”
Investigative Reporting
- Third Place: Catherine Maxwell ’26, “Overcrowded county jail releases inmates early”
Feature Story
- Second Place: Maggie O’Connor ’26, “Jewish students find ‘mishpacha’ in club”
Sports News/Feature
- Third Place: Francesca Cella ’27, “Coach Ken: Pro ref to women’s soccer coach”
Editorial (opinion of the editorial staff)
- First Place: “Collegian Weekly: Never forget, even if you can’t remember”
- Second Place: “Collegian Weekly: What happened to ‘agree to disagree’?”
- Third Place: “Collegian Weekly: Wednesday will be another normal day”
Best Writer
- First Place: Thomas McKenna ’25
- Second Place: Moira Gleason ’25
Front Page Design
- Second Place: Catherine Maxwell ’26 (Jan. 22, 2025)
Non-Front Page Design
- Honorable Mention: Caroline Kurt ’26 (Opinions page, Sept. 19, 2024)
Additionally, Elaine Kutas ’27 was awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Michigan Press Association Foundation.
“I am honored to receive the Michigan Press Association scholarship for Michigan writers,” Kutas said. “The opportunities that Hillsdale’s journalism department has offered are like nothing I ever imagined getting to experience and have shaped me into the writer I am today.”
Hillsdale journalism alumni have gone on to the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, ESPN, National Review, Politico, Nashville Public Radio, and many more.