UFCJC student journalists, alumni and staff honored in 2025 Region 3 SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) student journalists and alumni, WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida, Atrium Magazine and Grandstand Magazine were honored in the Region 3 2025 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence (MOE) Awards competition.
The awards recognize the best collegiate journalism in 2025 in Region 3 which comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. UFCJC received 21 first-place awards.
Winners and finalists include:
- Best Affiliated Website: Finalist, Atrium Magazine, by Atrium staff
- Best Ongoing Student Magazine: Winner, Atrium Magazine, by Atrium staff
- Breaking News Reporting: Finalist, “Florida Appeals Court Decision Allows Openly Carrying Guns” by Sara-James Ranta, Fresh Take Florida
- Feature Writing: Finalist, “‘I Grieve What I Could Have Had’: Daughter of Murdered Couple Reflects on Killer’s Execution” by Bea Anhuci, B.S. Journalism 2025, Fresh Take Florida
- General News Reporting: Winner, “Florida’s New ‘Deportation Depot’ Immigrant Detention Center Stirs Fears Among Neighbors” by Sara-James Ranta, Fresh Take Florida
- General News Reporting: Finalist, “Man at Center of Landmark Florida Open-Carry Gun Ruling Calls Himself ‘Patriot’” by Sara-James Ranta, Fresh Take Florida
- In-Depth Reporting: Winner, “The Price of Paradise” by WUFT staff
- In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, “The Cold, Hard Facts” by WUFT staff
- In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, “From Sewer to Soil” by WUFT staff
- Personality Profile Writing: Winner, “800 Miles, No Shoes: One Migrant’s Journey to Freedom” by Nathan Thomas, Atrium Magazine
- Personality Profile Writing: Finalist, “Fists of a Fighter, Heart of an Angel” by Lauren Brensel, B.S. Journalism 2025, Atrium Magazine
- Personality Profile Writing: Finalist, “The Oaks Will Remember” by Tarryn Nichols, Atrium Magazine
- Sports Writing: Winner, “$19 Chicken Fingers? How UF’s Baseball Concession Prices Rank vs. SEC Rivals” by Jackson Castellano, B.S. Journalism 2025, WUFT
- Sports Writing: Finalist, “Racing’s Virtual Revolution” by Jessica Garcete, Grandstand Magazine
- Sports Writing: Finalist, “Months of Work for 90 Seconds: The Making of a UF Gymnast’s Floor Routine” by Scarlett Cooney, WUFT
- Sports Writing: Finalist, “New Law Aimed at Punishing Trump Protesters Being Used Against UF Fans Who Ran Onto Football Field” by Olivia Evans, Fresh Take Florida
- Breaking News Photography: Winner, “No Kings Protest” by Kimberly Blum, WUFT
- Breaking News Photography: Finalist, “Candlelight Vigil” by Sydney Johnson, WUFT
- General News Photography: Winner, “Prison Masonry” by Kade Sowers, WUFT
- General News Photography: Finalist, “Trooper” by Libby Clifton, WUFT
- Illustration: Winner, “Issue 5 Cover” by Delia Rose Sauer, Atrium Magazine
- News Videography: Winner, “Rebuilding Paradise: How a Florida Coastal Town is Bouncing Back After Three Consecutive Hurricanes” by Nicole Borman, WUFT
- Photo Illustration: Winner, “Tracking Devices” by Alyvia Logan, WUFT
- Sports Photography: Finalist, “Backflip” by Matthew Lewis, WUFT
- Sports Photography: Finalist, “Diving” by Sydney Johnson, WUFT
- Sports Videography: Winner, “The Rodeo Kid: An Unlikely Teen Roper” by Juan Carlos Chaoui, WUFT
- Best All-Around Radio Newscast: Winner, “Morning Edition” by Victoria Perez, WUFT
- Podcast (Narrative): Winner, “Uncelebrated” by WUFT staff
- Radio Feature: Winner, “Transportation Race” by Ailee Shanes and Sofia Dinka, WUFT
- Radio In-Depth Reporting: Winner, “Food Pantries and the Government Shutdown” by Gabriel Velasquez and Gabe Vargas, WUFT
- Radio News Reporting: Winner, “Cedar Island Resident Who Lost Home to Hurricane Helene on Picking Up the Pieces” by Ailee Shanes, WUFT
- Radio News Reporting: Finalist, “Between Pressure and Hope: How an English Class Can Help Gainesville Immigrants Bridge the Cultural Divide” by Sofia Zarran, B.S. Journalism 2025
- Radio Sports Reporting: Winner, “The Rodeo Kid: An Unlikely Teen Roper” by Juan Carlos Chaoui, WUFT
- Best All-Around Television News Magazine: Finalist, “Viviendo con la Tierra” by Noticias WUFT Staff
- Best All-Around Television Newscast: Winner, “WUFT News First at Five” by WUFT staff
- Television Feature Reporting: Winner, “The New Florida Follies: The Dance Stage Has No Age Limits” Alex Land, WUFT
- Television Feature Reporting: Finalist: “No Limits Coffee Shop Provides Employment Opportunities to People with Special Needs” by Juan Carlos Chaoui, WUFT
- Television General News Reporting: Finalist, “Rebuilding Paradise: How a Florida Coastal Town is Bouncing Back After Three Consecutive Hurricanes” by Nicole Borman, WUFT
- Television In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, “Oystering in Florida: A Dying Tradition Meets a Modern Fix” by Nicole Beltran, WUFT
- Television In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, “Bradley’s Law: Turning Grief into Action” by Bernardo Montas, WUFT
- Television Sports Reporting: Winner, “The Rodeo Kid: An Unlikely Teen Roper” by Juan Carlos Chaoui, WUFT
- Regional Political Reporting: Winner, “Florida GOP Passes Immigration Bill DeSantis Trashes as ‘Weak, Weak, Weak.’ Will Trump Settle the Dispute?” by Ella Thompson, B.S. Journalism 2025, Fresh Take Florida
- Regional Political Reporting:Finalist, “DeSantis’ Latest Goal: Repeal Gun Safety Measures Enacted After Parkland” by Bea Anhuci, Fresh Take Florida
- Regional Political Reporting:Finalist, “Florida Governor Signs Compromise Immigration Bill: ‘Plane Has Landed Safely’” by Diego Perdomo, B.S. Journalism 2025, Fresh Take Florida
- Science/Environmental Reporting: Finalist, “The Catch” Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, WUFT
SPJ MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism.
The first-place awards will be forwarded to the national level to compete among other SPJ MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. The national winners will be notified in late spring.
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged: 2025 Region 3 SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards Atrium Magazine Fresh Take Florida Grandstand Magazine Noticias WUFT WUFT News
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