The Sundial earned 19 college journalism awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention in Denton, Texas, March 21, capping a four-day event that brought together student journalists from colleges and universities across the state.
The annual convention featured professional development workshops and panels, a career fair, and live journalism contests. Live contest winners and students and publications that earned recognition in TIPA’s annual contest for college journalism published in 2025 were recognized at a closing awards banquet.
“TIPA has been around since 1909, starting at Baylor, and it has just grown; it’s an opportunity for students all over the state to learn from professionals and industry leaders,” TIPA Executive Director Julie Reed told the Sundial.
Sundial staff members were recognized across multiple categories, earning awards in writing, photojournalism, broadcast journalism, social media, and multimedia reporting.
Sundial Editor-in-Chief Natalia Edwards, Managing Editor Aaron Martinez, Photo Editor Jacob Lopez, Deputy Photo Editor Catie Broadus, Staff Photographer Christopher Hernandez and Multimedia Journalist Ryan “Niko” Maurer represented SAC at the convention.
“The best part of TIPA for me wasn’t the awards, it was the experience of meeting all the students.” Sundial Photo Editor Jacob Lopez, who earned eight awards at TIPA, said. “Meeting others who are going through the same thing as you makes you remember why you do this job.”
SAC Journalism Instructor and Sundial faculty adviser Ethan E. Rocke attended the convention with the students.
“Our student journalists work so hard to inform, entertain and empower SAC’s community with high-quality, multimedia journalism, and these awards are a testament to that,” Rocke said. “I am so proud of all the students who serve as Sundial staffers and editors, and I congratulate them for their outstanding achievements.”
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Niko Maurer concentrates while making photos at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science March 21. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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Sundial staff listen as Brad Loper, assistant professor of practice at UT Arlington and former Dallas Morning News staff photographer and editor, discusses photojournalism, March 19. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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The UNT courtyard glows as the sun sets, March 18. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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Sundial staffer Chris Hernandez stares into the camera at the University of North Texas, March 19. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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UNT students dance together in the UNT courtyard, March 18. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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UNT students dance together in the UNT courtyard, March 18. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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Sundial Photo Editor Jacob R. Lopez gets his camera ready before competing in the 2-Person Photo Essay live contest with Catie Broadus, March 20. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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Sundial Deputy Photo Editor Catie Broadus competes in TV Announcing live Contest March 19.
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Sundial Staff Photographer Chris Hernandez and Social Media Manager Niko Maurer own the night in Denton, Texas, March 20.
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From left, Sundial Editor-in-Chief Natalia Edwards, Managing Editor Aaron Martinez, Deputy Photo Editor Catie Broadus, Staff Photographer Chris Hernandez, Photo Editor Jacob R. Lopez and Social Media Manager Niko Maurer in the hotel lobby in Denton, Texas, March 18.
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From left, Sundial Social Media Manager Niko Maurer, Deputy Photo Editor Catie Broadus, Photo Editor Jacob R. Lopez, Staff Photographer Chris Hernandez, Managing Editor Aaron Martinez and Editor-in-Chief Natalia Edwards pose in front of street art in downtown Denton, Texas, March 20. (Photo courtesy of Ethan E. Rocke)
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Sundial Photo Editor Jacob R. Lopez and Editor-in-Chief Natalia Edwards represented SAC in the Sports Photography and Sports Writing live contests at TIPA.
Complete list of the Sundial’s awards:
Overall Excellence: 1st Place – Website Division
Overall Excellence: Honorable Mention – Social Media
1st Place – Environmental Portrait – Jacob Lopez, Janelle Alemán
1st Place – Sports Feature Photo – Jacob Lopez, Janelle Alemán
1st Place – Headline Writing – Natalia Edwards, D.J. Agleton, Aidan De Leon, Aaron Martinez
1st Place – Sports Reporting Video – Nicholas Clark
1st Place – Sports Action Photo – Elias Navarro
2nd Place – Photo Story – Jacob Lopez
2nd Place – General News Multimedia Story – Catie Broadus, Jacob Lopez, Elias Navarro
2nd Place – Sports News Story – Natalia Edwards
2nd Place – Sports Game Story – Aidan De Leon
2nd Place – Feature Photo – Aidan De Leon
2nd Place – Multimedia Sports Story – Aaron Alvarado, Nicholas Clark, Vivian Mora, Jazmin Calvillo
3rd Place – Social Media General Coverage – Jacob
3rd Place – Sports Action Photo – Aidan De Leon
Honorable Mention – Photo Story – Aaron Martinez, Catie Broadus, Itzabel Lara, Jacob Lopez
Honorable Mention – Social Media Overall Excellence – Jacob Lopez, Sarah Sanchez, Niko Maurer
Honorable Mention – Environmental Portrait – Aidan De Leon
Honorable Mention – Feature Story – Gissela Hernandez
Honorable Mention – Live Contest Sports Action Photo – Jacob Lopez
