The Southwestern College Sun continues its reputation as one of the best collegiate newspapers in the country having recently won top awards at the local San Diego Press Club and the national Associated Collegiate Press award ceremonies.
The Sun picked up two Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards, often considered the Pulitzer Prize of college media, for its newspaper and its sister publication El Sol Magazine at the National College Media Convention in Dallas. At the San Diego Press Club’s 44th Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards, the Sun dominated the college category taking home 30 of the total 42 awards presented. In addition to publication awards at both ceremonies, students won top individual awards in writing, photography, design and editing.
“Southwestern College journalism students have achieved something very impressive in competition with America’s best university and college journalism programs,” said Dr. Max Branscomb, journalism professor and adviser to The Sun and El Sol. “They are role models for other students in the South Bay because they have shown that with hard work and a winner’s attitude anything is possible.”
Mirella Lopez, The Sun’s and El Sol’s former editor-in-chief, was in attendance in Dallas to accept The Sun’s Pacemaker awards and an additional three Best of Show awards for its newspaper, magazine and special edition. Lopez also took home first place Pinnacle Award for Best Editorial, competing with students from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada.
“I am very honored on behalf of my staff to be recognized for the hard work and passion that is put into our newspaper,” said Lopez, who is currently the video editor at the Daily Aztec, San Diego State’s student publication. “These awards are validation to the hours of hard work each of our writers and editors put into our content. I am so proud of The Sun and will continue to use everything I learned from the program.”
The Sun is one of Southwestern College’s top programs, often topping the list of accolades, transfer rates and students honored as Southwestern College students of distinction at the college’s annual student awards. This is the 10th Pacemaker award for The Sun, qualifying it for a spot on the Associated Collegiate Press’ Hall of Fame, a rare honor in collegiate media.
