2025 Golden Press Card: Student Journalism - East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists

Here are the 2025 Golden Press Card winners in the Student Journalism category. The entries were judged by the San Diego SPJ Pro Chapter.

STUDENT- PHOTOJOURNALISM: BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: Overlooked in Appalachia
Entry Title: Brian Disoso Best News Photography
Entry Credit: Brian Disoso
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: True photo journalism where each photo depicts an important aspect of a community recovering from natural disaster.

Second Place
Contestant Name: Overlooked in Appalachia
Entry Title: Jordan Bond Best News Photography
Entry Credit: Jordan Bond
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: Innovative use of angles and focus.

STUDENT – PHOTOJOURNALISM: BEST SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Cole Moore Photography
Entry Credit: Cole Moore
Judge Comments: A keen eye for the relationship between movement and color. These photos grab you by the throat!

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Photos by Cambree Gliessner
Entry Credit: Cambree Gliessner
Judge Comments: This photographer put the human emotion firmly in focus in each shot. Every photo tells a story.

STUDENT – COMMENTARY (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: Overlooked in Appalachia
Entry Title: Corey Ray: Commentary
Entry Credit: Corey Ray
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: There was this entry, and then all the rest. This author came at this topic with a flamethrower so hot I could feel my eyebrows getting singed – but never let their emotions get ahead of making the case with enough facts and research to get a 9-0 ruling in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Simple one of the best commentaries I’ve ever read – including the pros.

Second Place
Contestant Name: Overlooked in Appalachia
Entry Title: Brian Disoso: Commentary
Entry Credit: Brian Disoso
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A deeply personal story which couldn’t have been easy to tell, but served a much higher purpose.

STUDENT – SPORTS REPORTING (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Danny White’s UT is thriving
Entry Credit: Jack Church
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: What a surprise to realize after selecting the winning entries thst both were written by the same journalist. First place barely edged second place, but the thorough treatment of the subject with the thoughtful selection of quotes surrounded by crisp writing shows the effort put toward this exceptional feature story.

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Does food fuel victory?
Entry Credit: Trevor McGee
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: So tasty! This feature is the journalism equivalent of a nutritionist’s perfectly constructed meal plan. Every element of the story added value, from the lead to the details and data, and the exploration of nutrition’s contribution to performance. Maybe there should be a tie for first place!

BEST STUDENT JOURNALIST (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Olivia Lee
Entry Credit: Olivia Lee
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Excellent, committed reporting around a thorny but timely subject.

Category Comments: I wanted to say that even though I could only select two winners, I am highly impressed by the quality of work these students have submitted. It speaks to a professionalism beyond their years, and a true passion for their coverage.

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Volunteer Channel
Entry Title: Aubree Curran Reports
Entry Credit: Aubree Curran
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Very well-shot and produced, focusing on an interesting array of subjects.

STUDENT – BEST FEATURE STORY (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Remembering first Black man to attend UT
Entry Credit: Shelby Wright
Links: See entry

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Volunteer Channel
Entry Title: March for the Fallen
Entry Credit: Aubree Curran
Links: See entry

STUDENT – CONTINUING COVERAGE (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Volunteer Channel
Entry Title: Continuing Coverage: Keeping Campus Safe
Entry Credit: TVC Staff
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: This is an impressive and highly professional body of work that demonstrates a clear understanding of journalism’s role in serving a campus community. The reporting is thorough, thoughtful, and grounded in strong use of data, particularly in the way Clery Act statistics are contextualized and made accessible to a student audience. Rather than stopping at surface-level coverage, the team consistently pushes for clarity, accountability, and follow-up. What stands out most is the commitment to public service. The coverage treats safety as an ongoing issue rather than a series of isolated incidents, and the inclusion of student voices alongside administrative perspectives creates a well-balanced and credible report. The team’s ability to report quickly during breaking situations while maintaining accuracy and avoiding speculation reflects strong editorial judgment. Overall, this is excellent, impactful journalism. It is clear that The Volunteer Channel has built trust within its community by prioritizing accuracy, transparency, and meaningful engagement on issues that directly affect students’ daily lives.

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Academic Freedom
Entry Credit: Olivia Lee, Caden Dyer, Patrick Busch
Links: See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: This is an outstanding and ambitious package of coverage that reflects a mature, newsroom-level approach to a complex and sensitive issue. Across the series, The Daily Beacon demonstrates strong editorial judgment by expanding beyond the immediate controversy to examine broader questions of academic freedom, institutional decision-making, and campus climate. The reporting is deeply sourced, particularly through extensive use of public records, which adds both credibility and depth to the storytelling.

HURRICANE HELENE ONE YEAR LATER (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: Land Grant Films
Entry Title: Healing from Helene
Entry Credit: Eli Patterson
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A powerful and intimate documentary that brings the long-term impact of Hurricane Helene into sharp focus through deeply human storytelling.

Second Place
Contestant Name: Overlooked in Appalachia
Entry Title: Hurricane Helene One Year Later
Entry Credit: Corey Ray, Brian Disoso, Faith Vance
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: The coverage demonstrates a strong sense of place and sensitivity to the community, particularly in how it balances scenes of destruction with moments of unity and hope.

LOCAL IMPACT OF FEDERAL CHANGES (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Academic Freedom
Entry Credit: Olivia Lee, Caden Dyer, Patrick Busch
Links: See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: The Daily Beacon’s coverage of the fallout surrounding Charlie Kirk’s murder captures, with clarity and nuance, the tensions unfolding on college campuses nationwide. While not centered explicitly on federal policy, the series reflects the broader political climate and the pressures universities face in responding to it. The reporting is deep and well-sourced, drawing from administrators, faculty, and students to present a comprehensive view of a highly charged situation. What sets this work apart is its willingness to engage difficult questions around academic freedom, challenging readers to consider whether it can truly be upheld in such an environment. Overall, this is thoughtful, wide-ranging, and courageous coverage of a complex issue.

STUDENT – PODCAST (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: UT Chattanooga
Entry Title: Rising Rock Podcast by Megan Cooper
Entry Credit: Megan Cooper
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A strong and well-produced podcast that demonstrates excellent storytelling and audio craftsmanship throughout. The use of natural sound is particularly effective, creating an immersive listening experience that enhances the emotional weight of each segment. Strong interviewing and sourcing add credibility and depth, allowing voices to feel authentic and grounded. The stories reflect the theme of communities coming together to help one another through difficult times. The structure is clear and intentional, guiding the listener smoothly through each narrative while maintaining strong pacing and clarity. The production shows strong editorial judgment in how material is selected and organized, and both stories reflect thoughtful reporting and sensitivity to lived experience.

STUDENT – BEST NEWS COVERAGE (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Academic Freedom
Entry Credit: Olivia Lee, Caden Dyer, Patrick Busch
Links: See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: The Daily Beacon’s academic freedom coverage captures a moment that feels bigger than a single campus dispute. It speaks directly to the climate universities are navigating right now, where a single social media post after a social media post can trigger institutional response, public pressure, and questions about where the line between speech and consequence actually sits. What stands out is the way the reporting holds that tension without flattening it, showing administrative decision-making, faculty pushback, and the uncertainty around policy in real time. The tone of the coverage mirrors the stakes. It is careful and measured, but it is not afraid to sit in discomfort. Paired with the print edition’s striking visual of a silenced mouth, the package reinforces the central question running through it all: what academic freedom looks like when pressure is coming from multiple directions at once.

Second Place
Contestant Name: UT Chattanooga
Entry Title: A Stadium’s Last Stand
Entry Credit: Kayleyn McCaslin, Clara Paulson, Ryan Conley, Malcolm Key, Delaney Holman
Links: See entry
Judge Comments: A Stadium’s Last Stand stands out for its strong sense of place and deeply human storytelling. The piece captures Engel Stadium not just as a physical structure, but as a living archive of community memory and identity in Chattanooga. What makes the coverage especially effective is the way it blends history, personal testimony, and present-day impact without losing narrative clarity. The reporting is grounded in strong interviews and thoughtful sourcing, allowing the voices of those most connected to the stadium to shape the story in a meaningful way. The multimedia work elevates the entire package. The video, photography, and audio each bring a different dimension to the storytelling, helping the audience experience the stadium’s history and current condition in a more immediate and layered way. The visuals powerfully contrast decay with memory, while the audio adds intimacy and presence through voice and sound that deepen the emotional resonance of the reporting.

STUDENT – PHOTOJOURNALISM: BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: UT Chattanooga
Entry Title: Clara Paulson Best Photographer
Entry Credit: Clara Paulson

Category Comments: The photos included in this entry give viewers a glimpse of daily life in the communities. I was particularly impressed by the portrait of the bluegrass musician. The photo is captivating.

STUDENT – SPORTS BEAT REPORTING (Student Journalism)

First Place
Contestant Name: UT Chattanooga
Entry Title: Sydney Banks Sports Beat
Entry Credit: Sydney Banks
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry
Judge Comments: Comprehensive, spirited reporting of men’s basketball through the championship final.

Second Place
Contestant Name: The Daily Beacon
Entry Title: Alex Sarkis Baseball
Entry Credit: Alex Sarkis
Links: See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry, See entry