2016 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
Anaheim, California
- Erika Bolado – National Winner, Feature Photography “Graduation”
- Lauren Franco – National Finalist, Sports Photography, “Tennis”
- Lydia Lawson – National Finalist, General News Photography, “Fire”
2016 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
Stephenville
- Erika Bolado – Winner, Feature Photography “Graduation”
- Lauren Franco – Winner, Sports Photography, “Tennis”
- Lydia Lawson – Winner, General News Photography, “Fire”
- Allison Brown, Haley Remenar and Daniel Zepeda – Winner, Editorial Writing, “ACU Athletics Lacks Transparency Needed for Div. I Reputation; We Can’t Let This Become Our New Normal, etc.”
- Haley Remenar and Allison Brown – Winner, General News Reporting, “Campus Demonstration Draws a Crowd: Snapchat Video Initially Flagged by Freshmen Sparks University Action”
- Lydia Lawson – Finalist, Feature Photography, “Dancers”
- Optimist – Finalist, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Allison Brown – Finalist, In-Depth Reporting, “University recognizes LGBT Support Group”
- Savanah Silva – Finalist, Television Breaking News Reporting, “Two-alarm Fire Destroys Service Center”
2015 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Linsey Thut – Winner, Feature Writing, “Giving Up Perfect”
2014 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
Nashville
- Linsey Thut – Finalist, Breaking News Reporting, “CCSL drops five Campaigns”
2014 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
Norman, Oklahoma
- Linsey Thut – Winner, Breaking News Reporting, “CCSL drops five Campaigns”
- Denzil Lim – Winner, In-Depth Reporting, “The Fight Against Cyber-crimes”
- Madeline Orr – Finalist, Breaking News Reporting, “AES faces restructuring proposal”
- Brittany Jackson – Finalist, In-Depth Reporting, “Home school may affect recruiting process”
- Laura Benson – Finalist, Best All-Around Television Newscast, “JMC Network Newscast”
- Matt Sloan – Finalist, General News Reporting, “Financial stakes rise with move to Div. I”
- Gabi Powell – Finalist, Feature Writing, “Catching Atchley”
- Shera Niemirowski – Finalist, Sportswriting, “Sims returns for fresh start”
2013 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Taylor Langston – National Finalist, Breaking News Reporting, “ACU student killed in accident”
2013 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
League City
- Taylor Langston – Winner, Breaking News Reporting, “ACU student killed in accident”
- Rachel Fritz – Finalist, General News Reporting, “ACU drops Spring Break Campaigns”
- Julie Coppedge – Finalist, Feature Writing, “Tappin’ Jack”
- Gabi Powell – Finalist, Feature Writing, “Second Chance Student”
2012 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
San Antonio
- Optimist – 1st, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- JMC Network Staff – 1st,Best All-Around Television Newscast, “JMC Network News”
- KACU Staff – 2nd, Best All-Around Radio Newscast, “News At Noon”
- Taylor Langston – 2nd, Feature Writing, “Facing his Giants: Rex Fleming confronts his cancer with a bravery beyond his years”
- Edward Isaacs – 2nd, Sports Writing, “Wally’s World”
- Mark Smith – 3rd, General Column Writing
- Mandy Lambright – 3rd, Feature Photography, “Smashing Fruit”
- Mandy Lambright – 3rd, Sports Photography, “Touchdown Stretch”
2011 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Caitlin Bradford – National Winner, Television Feature Reporting, “Leah Green Thumb: Student artist gardens on the go”
- Farron Salley – National Finalist, Television Breaking News Reporting, “ACU bus wrecks while traveling to service project”
2011 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Farron Salley and Jozie Sands – 1st Place, Television In-Depth Reporting, “Special Report: Extended coverage of fatal bus accident”
- Farron Salley – 1st Place, Television Breaking News Reporting, “ACU bus wrecks while traveling to service project”
- Caitlin Bradford – 1st Place, Television Feature Reporting, “Leah Green Thumb: Student artist gardens on the go”
- Caitlin Bradford – 1st Place, Television Feature Photography, “Leah Green Thumb: Student artist gardens on the go”
- Samantha Sutherland – 1st Place, Online Feature Reporting, “Map guides tour of area Christmas lights”
- Ben Miller – 1st Place, Editorial Cartooning, O Dear, Christian College, “Your New Homepage”, “Week Effort”, “Then and Now”
- The Optimist – 3rd Place, Online News Reporting, “One dead, many injured in ACU bus accident”
- Austin Gwin and Kristin Goodspeed – 2nd Place, Television Sports Photography, “Wildcats hang 51 in rout of Western Oregon”
- Kristin Goodspeed and Taylor Langston – 3rd Place, Television Sports Photography, “ACU escapes Tarleton State with a 27-24 victory”
- Daniel Gomez – 1st Place, Breaking News Photography, “Bus Accident”
- Daniel Gomez – 2nd Place, General News Photography, “Switchfoot Concert”
- Daniel Gomez – 3rd Place, General News Photography, “Veterans Day Flag”
- Laura Acuff – 2nd Place, Feature Writing, “Make Hay
- Ryan Self – 3rd Place, Editorial Writing, “Tasteless speech remains protected”
2009 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- The Optimist – National Finalist, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
2009 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist – 1st Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Daniel Johnson-Kim, Michael Freeman, Colter Hettich and Kelline Linton
1st Place, General News Reporting, for their coverage of the impeachment of the SA President in 2009 - Daniel Johnson-Kim, Laura Acuff, Kelline Linton, Linda Bailey and Chelsea Hackney
1st Place, Editorial Writing, “SA meeting closure shows blatant disregard for students’ rights,” “SA Congress must strive for maximum productivity” and “Local government should remain open” - Jozie Sands – 3rd Place Breaking News Photography, “Warehouse Fire”
2008 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Kelline Linton – 1st Place, Feature Writing, “Where everything makes sense”
- Michael Freeman – 3rd Place, Breaking News Reporting, “An outrageous act”
- Colter Hettich – 3rd Place, Feature Writing, “Staying in tune”
2007 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Jared Fields – National Finalist, Feature Writing, “Living to Run”
2007 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Jared Fields – 1st Place, Feature Writing, “Living to Run”
- Daniel Johnson-Kim – 1st Place, Sports Writing, “Manning Mania”
- Brian Schmidt – 1st Place, Breaking News Photography, “Creek Runneth Over”
- Brian Schmidt – 2nd Place, Sports Photography, “Saturday Surprise”
2005 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Steve Holt – National Finalist, Sports Writing, “Niamadu chases track titles”
2005 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist, 1st Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Daniel Barcroft – 1st Place, Editorial Cartooning, “In My Words”
- Sarah Carlson – 1st Place, General Column Writing, “Column Collection”
- Steve Holt – 1st Place, Sports Writing, “Niamadu chases track titles”
- Kyle Robarts – 2nd Place, Sports Column Writing
2004 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Blake Farmer – National Finalist, Television Feature Photography, “Leap of Faith-Jeff Berry Segment”
2004 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Blake Farmer – 1st Place, Television Feature Photography, “Leap of Faith-Jeff Berry Segment”
2003 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist – 1st Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Editorial Writing – 1st Place, Jonathan Smith, “Student Apathy”
- General Column Writing – 3rd Place, Paul Anthony, “Trust Between Journalists”
- Sports Column Writing – 1st Place, Joel Weckerly, “For Pitcher Cochran …”
- Feature Writing – 2nd Place, Melanie Knox, “Road to Redemption”
- Sports Writing – 2nd Place, Steve Holt, “The Voice of God”
- General News Photography – 3rd Place, Rafael Aguilera, “Apartment Fire”
- Feature Photography – 2nd Place, Emily Chastain, “Are You Getting My Good Side?”
- Photo Illustration – 2nd Place, Jason Craddock, “Williams Performing Arts Center”
- Sports Photography – 3rd Place, Gary Rhodes, “Sky High”
- Online Spot News Reporting – 2nd Place, Paul Anthony, “Vice President Speaks …”
2002 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist – 1st Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Jessica Smith and Paul Anthony – 2nd Place, Editorial Writing
- Daniel Barcroft – 2nd Place, Editorial Cartooning
- Steve Holt and Joel Weckerly – Sports Column Writing
2001 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Cajuan Smith – 2nd Place, Sports Writing, “Running a Rough Race,”
- Brady Lane – 2nd Place, Sports Photography, “Hang on for the ride,”
- Jessica Smith, Paul Anthony and Steve Holt – 3rd Place, Spot News Reporting, “Anthrax scare,”
- Jessica Smith – 3rd Place, Feature Writing, “A Really Hot Job,”
2000 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Amy Wilson – 2nd Place, Editorial Writing, “Media oversteps role in election”
- Jessica Smith – 2nd Place, General Column Writing, “Measuring Stick” and other columns
- Amanda Reiter – General News Photography
1999 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Amanda Reiter – 3rd Place, Sports Photography
- Amanda Reiter – 3rd Place, Photo Illustration
1996 – National Mark of Excellence Awards
- Michael Woods – National Finalist, Sports Photography
1989 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- Julie Fitzpatrick – 2nd Place, Newspaper Feature Writing
- Jonathan Witt – 2nd Place, Newspaper Sports Writing
1988 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist – 2nd Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
- Byron Harrell – 2nd Place, Feature Writing
- Candy Holcombe – 3rd Place, Column Writing
- Dawn Treat – 3rd Place, Sports Writing
1987 – Mark of Excellence Awards – Region 8
- The Optimist, 2nd Place, Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper