Students earn 17 journalism awards
Pittsburg, Calif. – Los Medanos College student publication, Experience, won 17 awards in the 2025 Annual State Publication and On-the-Spot contests of the
Journalism Association of Community Colleges.
Winners were announced March 8 at the annual Associated Collegiate Press Spring Media Conference held jointly with the Journalism Association of Community Colleges in Long Beach, Calif.
The Experience brought home the Pacesetter Award, the highest JACC state award for the print edition. As a staff, the Experience earned the meritorious prize for General Excellence. Additional awards included first place for front page layout, first place for news judgment, first place for audio and first place for feature photo.
Experience adviser Cindy McGrath praised the work of LMC student journalists who continue to pursue and achieve excellence as they work to fulfill the role of watch-dog journalists and provide relevant news to the college community and beyond.
“Our program is growing, and this year’s staff has worked tirelessly to inform and entertain the college community with important and interesting news,” McGrath said. “The student reporters and editors are passionate about journalism, and I am proud of the work they do to follow their dreams of working in a free-press that supports democracy in America.”
Competition Awards, complete list
- General Excellence — Experience Staff
- Meritorious for enterprise news story/series – Aliyah Ramirez, Gabbie Munoz, Jordan Suisala, and Darcy Meadows
- First place for front page layout – Gabbie Munoz and Aliyah Ramirez
- First place for feature photo – Sarah Capperauld
- Second place for inside page layout – Aliyah Ramirez
- Second place for editorial – Chijioke Onyeagucha
- Fourth place for photo illustration – Alexis Ramirez
- Honorable mention for photo illustration – Alexis Ramirez
- Honorable mention for critical review – Sarah Capperauld
- Honorable mention for podcast/audio news – Ricky Montejo, Jordan Suisala and Malilitimari Suisala
- Honorable mention for photo essay – Juan Cebeiros
- Honorable mention for sports action photo – Juan Cebeiros
On-the-Spot Contest Awards, complete list
- Pacesetter Award, print edition
- First place for news judgment and layout – Gabbie Munoz
- First place for audio news – Jordan Suisala
- Third place for critical review – Lesly Fisiiahi
- Honorable mention for news writing — Koen Steers
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.