UFCJC Students and Staff Honored in Society of Professional Journalists 2025 Sunshine State Awards
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) students, alumni and staff from WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida, and Atrium Magazine were honored in the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards. The awards recognize outstanding journalism produced in 2024.
In the Print and Digital Writing professional division, Light Feature Reporting – State & Nation, WUFT News Producer Kristin Moorehead was a finalist for “Young People Splurging More as ‘Little Treat’ Internet Trend Looms.”
In the college division, the winners and finalists include:
- Investigative Reporting: First Place, Vivienne Serrett and Garret Shanley for “UF President’s Woes,” Fresh Take Florida
- Investigative Reporting: Finalist, Lee Ann Anderson and Kai Johnsen for “Democrats Fielded Candidates for Every Legislative Seat, Some Live Hundreds of Miles from Districts Where They’re Running,” Fresh Take Florida
- Breaking News Story: First Place, Sophia Baily for ”On Presidential Campaign Ropes, Florida Governor Recounts Conservative Victories in Legislative Address,” Fresh Take Florida
- News Photo: First Place, Kat Tran for “The Scales That Guard the Springs,” Atrium Magazine
- Serious Feature: First Place, Sarah Henry for “Mascot for Cruelty,” Atrium Magazine
- Lifestyle Features: First Place, Alissa Gary for “Do you Want to Try Some Pickles?,” Atrium Magazine
- Narrative Feature: First Place, Siena Duncan for “The Life and Death of a Florida Abortion Clinic,” Atrium Magazine
- Narrative Feature: Finalist, Lauren Brensel for “When Private Pilots Falter, Air Controllers are Saviors of the Skies,” Fresh Take Florida
- Sports Feature Story: First Place, Alissa Gary for “Taming the Beast,” Atrium Magazine
- General News Story: First Place, Lauren Whiddon for “The Watch of the Lynx,” Atrium Magazine
- General News Story: Finalist, Kylie Williams for “Nowhere Else to Go: Florida Seniors Struggle to Recover from Back-to-Back Hurricanes,” Fresh Take Florida
- Serious Feature: Finalist, Vivienne Serrett for “Undercover Messianic Jewish Activist Sought to Entrap Muslim Professors at UF,” Fresh Take Florida
- Human Interest Feature: Finalist, Lauren Brensel for “Tampa Man Refusing to Leave Sailboat in Hurricane Milton Once Arrested Over Claim He Tried to Set Woman on Fire,” Fresh Take Florida
- Front Page Design: Finalist, Delia Rose Sauer & Matthew Cupelli for “Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Cover”
- LGBTQ+ Coverage: Finalist, Amanda Friedman for “Florida Banning Changes of Gender on Driver’s Licenses Sparks Confusion, Backlash,” Fresh Take Florida
- College Journalist of the Year: Finalist, Vivienne Serret for Fresh Take Florida collection
- Student Publication: Finalist, Atrium Magazine Staff for Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Issue
- Website: Finalist, Diego Perdomo and Zarin Ismail for Atrium Magazine website
The SPJ Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards are presented in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists – South Florida Chapter, the National Association of Black Journalists – South Florida Chapter, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association – Florida Chapter and Diversify Photo. The winners were announced at a ceremony at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 6.
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged: Atrium Magazine Fresh Take Florida Kristin Moorehead SPJ Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards WUFT News
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