Central Michigan Life wins second straight Student Media Business Pacemaker
Business and editorial teams honored with 21 awards at national conference
Central Michigan Life business and editorial staff earned 21 national awards, including the prestigious Student Media Business Pacemaker, Saturday at the Associated Collegiate Press’ 2025 National College Media Conference in Long Beach, California.
In addition, two student leaders – Advertising Manager Olivia Garcia and Lead Graphic Designer Brittany Stevens – were recognized as the top in the country in their respective roles.
This marks the second year in a row that CM Life’s business and advertising staff – led by Assistant Director of Student Media Kathy Simon and comprising eight student account representatives and four graphic designers – has earned the coveted Pacemaker.
“It is a great honor to have our program recognized among the best in the nation” Simon said. “Everyone on this team has worked hard and pushed each other to provide creative solutions for our clients. It is incredibly rewarding to have that work also recognized with other outstanding university student media."
In February, nine universities from across the country were named finalists for the Student Media Business Pacemaker, with the winners named March 8.
“The business and marketing side of student media is critical in today’s media world – it is very important for ACP to recognize this important aspect of journalism,” association Associate Director Gary Lundgren said in a statement.
To qualify for the Student Media Business Pacemaker, applicants must provide for judging:
- A three-page overall narrative detailing
- The institution’s media kit
- Examples of print, digital, video and audio advertisements created for clients
- A newspaper special section and
- Examples of audience engagement events and a social media campaign.
CM Life business staff also garnered the following Advertising & Business Individual Awards:
- Best Advertising Graphic Designer (first place): Brittany Stevens
- Best Advertising Representative (first place): Olivia Garcia
- Print Advertisement (second place): Mickie Dausey
- Print Advertisement (fourth place): Stephanie Phung
- Video Advertisement (fifth place): Olivia Garcia
- Video Advertisement (honorable mention): Olivia Garcia
- Audio Advertisement (second place): Olivia Garcia
- Audio Advertisement (fourth place): Mickie Dausey
- Media Kit (second place): Rachel Kidder, Olivia Garcia, Mickie Dausey, Brittany Stevens and Zoey Lawrence.
- Audience Engagement Event (fourth place): Rachel Kidder and Olivia Garcia
- Social Media Campaign (first place): Brittany Stevens
“In addition to these honors, our team also attended sessions with other students on improving their skills in multi-media design, strategy and analytics,” Simon said. “They are excited to implement these new ideas with their clients in 2025 and beyond.”
The Associated Collegiate Press also recognizes outstanding advertising and editorial content via its Best of Show awards. These recognitions are judged on-site by experienced advisors and industry professionals. The business and editorial staff earned the following Best of Show Awards during the Spring 2025 conference:
- Best advertisement, print, online, video or audio (Best of Show): Olivia Garcia
- Design, newspaper/newsmagazine (sixth place): Lauren Rice and Zoey Lawrence
- Photojournalism, news/feature photo (sixth place): Ella Miller
- Photojournalism, sports photo (ninth place): Mark Hoover
- Reporting, feature story (seventh place): Masha Smahliuk
- Advertising Media Kit (second place): Central Michigan Life/Gold Media Group staff
- Digital Newsletter, four-year campus (second place): Central Michigan Life staff
- Website, four-year campus, 15,000 students or fewer (second place): Central Michigan Life staff
