The Lantern proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of its student journalists who were recognized for their excellence in reporting, writing and photography during the 2024-25 academic year.

This year’s honors include awards from the Society of Professional Journalists  Mark of Excellence Awards and the Ohio News Media Association – two prestigious competitions that spotlight some of the best student journalism in the region and state.

SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

The SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards recognize top-tier student journalism from collegiate outlets across Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. Category winners will go on to compete in a national contest this summer. Being named a finalist or winner signifies work that ranks among the best in the region.

Congratulations to:

Christian Harsa – Winner, Breaking News Photography
Samuel Cipriani – Winner, Sports Column Writing
Lantern Staff – Winner, Breaking News Reporting
Phoebe Helms – Finalist, Feature Writing
Emma Wozniak – Finalist, General News Reporting
Sandra Fu – Finalist, Sports Photography

Ohio News Media Association Awards

These statewide honors recognize excellence in student journalism across Ohio, offering a competitive platform for emerging media professionals.

Congratulations to:

Samantha Harden – First Place, Feature Writing
Noah Weiskopf – Second Place, Sports Coverage
Amani Bayo – Third Place, In-Depth Reporting
Caleb Blake – Third Place, Photojournalism