UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Fifteen entries produced by Penn State students were selected as finalists in a national competition that recognizes excellence in student-produced college media.
The Pinnacle College Media Awards honor overall excellence in student work on college newspapers, websites, magazines, yearbooks, radio or television stations, including internet or closed circuit-outlets, produced during an academic year. The Pinnacle College Media Awards for individuals and organizations are presented at the Fall National College Media Convention, which will be conducted Nov. 4-7, 2026, in Kansas City.
Penn State Student Media produced a dozen finalists. They were:
- Arts & Entertainment Story (audio/video), “The Man Behind the Mural” (Cailey Thalman, Penn State Student Media)
- Audio/Video Produced Sportscast, “After The Whistle” – March 18, 2026 (After the Whistle Staff, Penn State Student Media)
- Feature Package (audio/video), “End of an era: State College small-business owner retiring after 51 years” (Owen Cameros, Penn State Student Media)
- Feature Story (print/web), “Economy in Transition: The decline of domestic tourism in Argentina” (Vasco Chen, Penn State Student Media)
- Game Story (audio/video), “Losing Streak: Penn State football drops fifth straight game at Ohio State” (Cailey Thalman, Penn State Student Media)
- General News Package (audio/video), “Anti-ICE Posters spark controversy in State College” (Bronwyn Liber, Penn State Student Media)
- General News Story (audio/video), “Fighting to Survive: PA volunteer fire companies battle funding and staffing challenges” (Sarah Grosch, Penn State Student Media)
- Long Documentary: “Sensational: The Sidney Abogunde Story” (Zach Miller, Penn State Student Media)
- Special Event Coverage (audio/video), Live Coverage from Punxsutawney - Groundhog Day 2026 (Centre County Report Staff, Penn State Student Media)
- Sports Feature (audio/video), “Girls wrestling programs see success across the state” (Jennae Overton, Penn State Student Media)
- Sports Newsletter, After the Whistle High School Sports Digest Newsletter (After the Whistle Staff, Penn State Student Media)
- Video Newscast, “Centre County Report” – Feb. 13, 2026 (Centre County Report Staff, Penn State Student Media)
In addition, three submissions for The Daily Collegian were named finalists. Specifically:
- News Photo Package, Photo Essay, “Addison Court tenants left to ponder an uncertain future amid sale, redevelopment talks” (Jonathon Chiu)
- Sports Column, “Penn State needs to add women's wrestling to truthfully say 'Wrestling lives here'” (Andrew Deal)
- General News Story (print/web), “Despite Penn State's party culture, peer support helps students in recovery redefine their identities” (Mia Debelevich)