Samford University student journalists earned high honors at the 2024 Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) Student Media Awards, taking home 27 awards that highlight exceptional work in public relations, photography, social media, design and writing completed during the 2023-2024 academic year.

The BCA, which announced the winners this week, annually recognizes excellence in media across multiple categories. Among Samford’s winners, Olivia Koepp received the Grand Prize for Exceptional Achievement in Public Relations for her work promoting The Samford Crimson, marking the first time in recent history that Samford has received a Grand Prize award.

Below is a full list of Samford’s student winners:

Grand Prize for Exceptional Achievement in Public Relations

• Olivia Koepp, for her work promoting The Samford Crimson

First Place Awards (8)

• Total Public Relations Campaign or Marketing Strategy – Olivia Koepp for The Samford Crimson
• Social Media: Single Post – Olivia Koepp for The Samford Crimson
• Photography: Field Portrait – Grace Watters for The Local
• News Writing: Series or Package – Kate Seaver and Sydney Pulliam for The Samford Crimson
• Feature Writing: Single Article – Rebekah Crozier for The Local
• Feature Writing: Series or Package – Staff of The Samford Crimson
• Design: Magazine (Single Issue) – Staff of The Local
• Design: Magazine (Cover) – Staff of The Local

Second Place Awards (9)

• Social Media: Campaign or Event – Noelle Neader and Faith Holley for The Local
• Feature Photography: Series of Photos – Grace Watters for The Local
• Event Coverage: Single Photo – Meg Robinson for The Samford Crimson
• Event Coverage: Series of Photos – Meg Robinson and Will Crawford for The Samford Crimson
• Photography: Studio Portrait – Faith Holley for The Local
• Design: Newspaper (Single Issue) – Staff of The Samford Crimson
• Design: Magazine Spread – Grace Watters for The Local
• Mixed Media Coverage – Aly Durban for The Samford Crimson/SNN
• Electronic Publication – Staff of The Samford Crimson

Third Place Awards (9)

• Feature Photography: Single Photo – Mackenzee Simms for The Samford Crimson
• Single Article: Non-Breaking News – Harper Harwell for The Samford Crimson
• News Writing: Opinion/Editorial – Courtney Robeson for The Samford Crimson
• Designed Element: Infographic – Ashleigh Jones and Faith Holley for The Local
• Design: Newspaper (Front Page) – Staff of The Samford Crimson
• Design: Yearbook Spread – Alison Williams for Entre Nous
• Overall Print Publication (Magazine) – The Local
• Overall Print Publication (Newspaper) – The Samford Crimson
• Overall Print Publication (Yearbook) – Entre Nous