Student news publication, Trinity Times, won 29 awards (the 2025 St. Juan Diego Awards) at last week’s Catholic Media Association annual conference; more than any other university in contention. The fantastic recognition for the work of our student journalists and Director of the Newsroom Chaz Muth is a result of years of hard work and dedication to journalistic excellence.

The awards include many First Place awards including “Journalist of the Year” for Brittany McAlister and honorable mention in that category for Nina Payne. The Trinity Times staff also won “Best Student News Organization” and “Best New Student Publication.” Wow! Those are incredible awards for a student newspaper that is just a few years old.

Trinity is very grateful to the Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation for generous grants to support the development of the Newsroom and the journalism program.

See the full list on the CMA website, Trinity awards highlighted below:

2025 St. Juan Diego Awards for Collegiate Journalism presented by the Catholic Media Association

S550: Journalist of the Year

First Place

Brittany McAlister

Honorable Mention

Nina Payne

S601: Best Student News Organization

First Place

Trinity Times

S602: Best New Student Publication

First Place

Trinity Times

S101: Best Video Presentation of Faith on Campus

First Place

“Trinity Food Pantry Addresses Local Hunger”

Brittany McAlister

Second Place

“Priest Serves As Social Justice Champion”

Nneka Browner

S102: Best Video — News

Second Place

“Weighing Jan. 6 As Election Issue”

Nina Payne

Third Place

“Possible Ban On Tiktok Concerns Gen Z”

Jasmine Marshall

S103: Best Video — Feature

Second Place

“‘Senioritis’ Sufferers Need Support”

Nina Payne, Nneka Browner, Kiera Thomas, Kia Ross, Jasmine Marshall and Brittany McAlister

Third Place

“The Balance Of College Academics And Sports”

Kiera Thomas

Honorable Mention

“Trinity Family Library Holds Culture Fest”

Kia Ross

S122: Best Collegiate Podcast/Radio Show

First Place

“Enlightened Exchanges”

Saron Gebereegziabhier, Nina Payne and Brittany McAlister

S131: Best Podcast/Radio Segment

First Place

“Self-Care And Why It’s Important”

Saron Gebereegziabhier and LaPorsha Jackson

Second Place

“Mystery And Controversy Around Critical Race Theory”

Nina Payne and Saron Gebereegziabhier

Honorable Mention

“The Challenges Of Being A Commuter College Student”

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Kia Ross

Honorable Mention

“The Possibilities Of Peace In A World With Endless War”

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Brittany McAlister

S141: Best Multimedia Package

First Place

“Jan. 6 Weighs On Student Voters Disheartened By 2024 Election Choices”

Nina Payne

Second Place

“Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion”

Aiesha Wilson and Nneka Browner

Third Place

“‘Senioritis’ Is A Thing And Some Students At Trinity Washington University Have It”

Nina Payne, Nneka Browner, Kiera Thomas, Kia Ross, Jasmine Marshall and Brittany McAlister

S151: Best Use of Multimedia for Storytelling

First Place

“Trinity’s New Africana Reading Room Envisioned As Defiant Symbol Against Anti-DEI Crusade”

Saron Gebereegziabhier and Nina Payne

Second Place

“Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion”

Aiesha Wilson and Nneka Browner

Third Place

“Democracy On The Ballot’ Symposium Inspires Students To Shape The Nation’s Future”

Saron Gebereegziabhier

S201: Best Article about Faith on Campus

Second Place

“Black Catholic Priest Is A Trinity Social Justice Champion”

Aiesha Wilson

S202: Best Article on Social Justice

First Place

“Trinity’s New Africana Reading Room Envisioned As Defiant Symbol Against Anti-DEI Crusade”

Saron Gebereegziabhier

S206: Best News Reporting

Second Place

“Assassination Attempt Is ‘Shocking’ But Not ‘Surprising,’ Say Trinity Scholars And Students”

Saron Gebereegziabhier

S207: Best Coverage of Culture or Diversity

First Place

“Trinity Officials Forge Ahead With Dialogue On Racism In Higher Education”

Nina Payne

Second Place

“Gentrification Continues To Displace D.C. Natives”

Sydney Ware

S213: In–Depth Profile Feature

First Place

“Defying Odds: NASA Scientist Brings The Universe To Trinity Students”

Saron Gebereegziabhier

Third Place

“Activist Kymone Freeman Makes Green Party Run For D.C. Nonvoting Congressional Delegate Seat”

Nina Payne