The Hoya won eight awards from the Georgetown University Journalism Department and was named a finalist for the Pacemaker award during the 2025-26 academic year.
At the Georgetown Journalism Program’s annual Edward B. Bunn Awards for Journalistic Excellence ceremony April 20, which recognizes the best journalism published this academic year, The Hoya won eight of the 18 awards. The Hoya swept the News category and won first and second place for Features and Multimedia.
Two members of The Hoya also won the Steve Pisinski Scholarship, a $2,500 award for students working in unpaid or underpaid journalism internships. Another member of The Hoya earned one of the three Journalism Program Capstone Prizes, awarded for impressive reporting in the minor program’s senior capstone class.
In August, The Hoya was also named a finalist for the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award, which recognizes high-quality collegiate journalism publications.
The Hoya received the following awards at the annual Edward B. Bunn Awards:
News Writing
First Place: “GU Professor On Leave Since 2023 for Sexual Harassment, Inappropriate Conduct Allegations,” by Executive Editors Nora Toscano (CAS ’27), Aamir Jamil (CAS ’27) and Ruth Abramovitz (CAS ’27).
Second Place: “After Divestment Referendum, GU Increased Holdings in Alphabet, Amazon,” by Senior News Editor Ajani Stella (CAS ’28).
Third Place: “GU Removes DEI Language from University Sites,” by Contributing Editor Evie Steele (SFS ’26).
Features Writing
First Place: “The Inside-Outside Game: How Generations of GU Student Organizers Have Navigated University Divestment,” by Senior Features Editor Saroja Ramchandren (SFS ’27) and Deputy Features Editor Opal Kendall (CAS ’28).
Second Place: “Consequences of Neighborhood Displacement Persist for GU Students, Georgetown Residents,” by Deputy Features Editor Sophia Tully (MSB ’29) and Features Writer Caroline Blake (CAS ’29).
Photography
Second Place: “The Roar Behind the Dunk” from “Photo Gallery: Looking Back on GU Basketball,” by Senior Photo Editor Matthew Gassoso (SOH ’29).
Multimedia
First Place: “EXCLUSIVE SIT-DOWN | Feat. Olympic Track Athlete Jaden Marchan,” by Senior Multimedia Editor Kate Hwang (SFS ’27), Deputy Multimedia Editor Miranda Kristina Santiago (CAS ’29), Senior Photo Editor Matthew Gassoso (SOH ’29) and Deputy Sports Editor Sam Fishman (CAS ’28).
Second Place: Design for “Amid Political Opposition, LGBTQ+ Students Struggle to Rebuild Historical Advocacy Networks,” by Senior Design Editor Avelyn Bailey (SFS ’28).
Steve Pisinski Scholarship
Senior Audience Engagement Editor Caroline Woodward (CAS ’27) for her work this upcoming summer at The Georgetowner.
Graduate Desk Editor Chloe Taft (SFS ’29) for her work this upcoming summer at a local newspaper.
2026 Capstone Prize
Deputy Audience Engagement Editor Ranee Brady (SFS ’26), for her senior capstone project, analyzed the ways that press access and transparency in the White House are evolving under the Trump administration. The final project, which is still in the works, is currently titled “The Presidential Cellphone: Access or Illusion?”
If you would like to support The Hoya’s operations, please consider donating to us here so we can continue producing fast-paced and comprehensive coverage of our community both in print and online.
Thank you for your ongoing readership and support. We encourage you to share any tips, suggestions or questions with us at [email protected] or visit us in our office at Leavey Center 421. Our door is always open.
