Photo from the SPJ Indy Pro Facebook
On Friday, May 2, the Indiana Daily Student received the most recognition for any college media organization in the state from the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at the organization's awards banquet.
The annual event, which honors professional and student media organizations across the state, took place at the 502 East Event Centre in Carmel, Indiana. The IDS took home staff and individual awards for writing, multimedia, podcasting, photography and design. IUSTV and IU NewsNet were honored for individual and team excellence in broadcasting.
Two IDS staff members also received a Scott Uecker College Scholarship for the 2025-26 school year: Samantha Camire with a $2,500 scholarship and Isabella Vesperini with a $1,000 scholarship. Entry fees for the Best in Indiana Journalism contest help fund the chapter’s college scholarship program.
The complete list of winners across IU Student Media include:
Student Breaking News Reporting
1st Place
33 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Dunn Meadow Encampment, Staff, Indiana Daily Student
Student Investigative Reporting
1st Place
‘Neverending’: Sexual abuse persists in the IU Jacobs School of Music, Marissa Meador, Indiana Daily Student
3rd Place
‘You just don't know.’ After their abortions, three Indiana women hope election will restore rights, Natalie Fitzgibbons, Indiana Daily Student
Student Non-Deadline News
1st Place
How one college woman navigates her reproductive rights, Ruth Cronin, Indiana Daily Student
3rd Place
‘You have a right to say no’: Former Crazy Horse employees allege sexual harassment, Eva Remijan-Toba, Indiana Daily Student
Student Coverage of Race and Diversity Issues
1st Place
A doctor doubted a Black woman’s pain. Four years after her death, an IU student mourns his mom, Isabella Vesperini, Indiana Daily Student
Student Feature Story
2nd Place, Dog Number One: Morty came to the Bloomington Animal Shelter with 67 other dogs from a seizure in 2023. Now, he's the last one waiting on adoption, Mia Hilkowitz, Indiana Daily Student
3rd Place
‘We love you daddy’: IU student shares her memories of loss, Natalie Fitzgibbons, Indiana Daily Student
Student Column Writing
1st Place
IDS Opinion Columns, Joey Sills, Indiana Daily Student
Student News Photography
1st Place
Dunn Meadow protest, Jacob Spudich, Indiana Daily Student
Student Page One or Cover Design
1st Place
IDS Fronts, Alayna Wilkening, Indiana Daily Student
Student Best Design Other Than Page One or Cover
1st Place
IDS Pages, Alayna Wilkening, Indiana Daily Student
Student Graphics or Illustration
2nd Place
IDS Illustrations, Juliette Albert, Indiana Daily Student
Student Best Journalism Website
2nd Place
idsnews.com, Staff, Indiana Daily Student
Student Best Online Multimedia
1st Place
"You just don't know." After their abortions, three Indiana, women hope election will restore rights, Natalie Fitzgibbons, Lydia Norton and Theo Hawkins, Indiana Daily Student
2nd Place
IU’s Gaza encampment: Day 3, Staff, Indiana Daily Student
Student Best Podcast
1st Place
IDS Weekly News Rundown, Annabel Prokopy and Jonathan Soco, Indiana Daily Student
2nd Place
Asking the Artist, Gino Diminich, Indiana Daily Student
Student Best Newsletter
1st Place
IDS Daily Rundown, Nora Barth and Trinity Ly, Indiana Daily Student
2nd Place
IU Basketball, Dalton James and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer, Indiana Daily Student
Student Television Best Newscast
1st Place
IUSTV News
Ashton Hackman, Carson Johnson, Grace Marocco and Sidney Moore, Indiana University Student Television
2nd Place
IU NewsNet Newscast
Shelby Brown, Ryan Costello, Caroline Geib and Emma Herwehe, IU NewsNet
Student Television News Reporting
1st Place
Neighbors voice opposition to Vernal Pike jail site, Ashton Hackman, Indiana University Student Television
Student Television Features Reporting
3rd Place
How IU Police are prepping for sold out football crowds, Ashton Hackman, Indiana University Student Television
