The student-run news organization was recognized across multiple categories in the SPJ Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards, including seven first-place finishes.
Students from Elon News Network earned numerous honors across a range of categories in the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 Mark of Excellence Awards. In addition to individual recognitions, the organization received the region’s top honor for best newspaper.
SPJ’s Region 2 includes Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and the District of Columbia. First-place recipients advance to the national competition, where they will be judged alongside winners from SPJ’s 12 regions. National honorees will be recognized at the SPJ convention, scheduled for Oct. 1–4 in Columbus, Ohio.
Elon News Network earned seven first-place awards:
- Best All-Around Student Newspaper | The Pendulum | April 9, 2025; April 30, 2025; and Dec. 10, 2025 editions
- General News Reporting | Nia Bedard | “‘We’ve forgotten about the conversation’: HIV/AIDS still hits the South as awareness fades”
- In-depth Reporting | Anjolina Fantaroni | “‘We definitely don’t want anybody to feel hungry'”
- Feature Photography | Katrina Holtz | Black Student Union fashion show
- Television Feature Reporting | Charlotte Pfabe | Graze the Grid
- Regional Political Reporting | Miles Hayford | “Alamance County approves warning label for books with sensitive content,” “‘Iryna’s Law’ may spark return of death penalty in NC,” and “North Carolina budget stalemate enters 4th month”
- Retail/Small Business Journalism | Lilly Molina | “Inside the hive: Alamance County Beekeepers and their fight for honeybee survival” and “The revival of downtown Gibsonville: how locals are rebuilding a thriving Main Street”
In addition, the organization earned five finalist nods:
- Best Affiliated Website | Elon News Network | www.elonnewsnetwork.com
- Best All-Around Television Newscast | ENN Tonight | April 28, 2025 edition
- Best Use of Multimedia | Erin Martin | “Rocket League sparks connection at Elon”
- Personality Profile Writing | Avery Sloan | “‘I’m not hiding out’: Transitioning late in life”
- Sports Writing | Miles Hayford | “$6.6 billion bet in first year of legalized sports betting in North Carolina”