American University’s School of Communication (SOC) was thrilled to celebrate this year’s Journalism Award winners winners and induct new members of AU’s Kappa Tau Alpha Society Chapter

The Streitmatter Journalism Awards include categories for Reporting, Advanced Reporting, Best Audio Story, Best Video Story, and Race, Ethnic, and Community Reporting (see full list at below). The Streitmatter Award for Excellence is SOC’s top journalism award. This year’s winner is Jane Fusco. She has been previously been awarded Streitmatter prizes for Print, Audio, and Video reporting throughout her academic career which has included several experiential learning opportunities. Whether interning with ABC news or working her way up to be American University Television’s (ATV) News Director, Fusco exemplifies exceptionalism in the journalism program. Her name will be engraved on the award’s trophy alongsideall past winners! 

The awards ceremony also celebrated this year’s White House Correspondents Association Investigative Journalism Scholarship Winner Maya Cederlund! Cederlund, SOC/BA ‘25, co-founded AU’s Asian American Journalist Association chapter. She has also been a reporting fellow at the Investigative Reporting Workshop and the DEI and Community Engagement Editor at The Eagle, AU’s award-winning newspaper. 

The Wendy Rieger Memorial Scholarship Award went to Maria Lawson. Wendy Rieger (SOC/BA ‘80) became a household name in the DMV during her career, having worked as an anchor and reporter for NBC4 Washington. Maria has been an ESPN fellow while completing her masters at AU and recently was a part of AU’s Bridging Investigative Journalism (BRIJ) fellowship, where she travelled to Norway as a part of the exchange program with University of Bergen’s Center for Investigative Journalism. 

The Antarctica Trip Journalism Award was given to Gabe Castro-Root. Gabe spent this past winter break traveling to Antarctica with FUTURE of SPACE, an organization working to uplift young journalists. Partnering with Space2Sea, Gabe traveled across the ocean and documented his journey. 

The American News Women’s Club Scholarship was awarded to Abby Turner. Turner served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Eagle and was a past winner of the White House Correspondents Scholarship. 

The Horace Donald Crawford Award for Excellence was awarded to Hannah Campbell. The award is given to a student who exemplifies excellence in print journalism, as well as thoughtfulness and understanding of the freedom of the press. She is pursuing her masters degree in journalism, and has been a part of the Investigative Reporting Workshop team.

The Gridiron Club Scholarship went to Natalia Quintana-Feliciano and Abby Turner. Founded in 1885, The Gridiron Club and Foundation is one of the oldest journalism organizations in the DMV working to support, connect, and create a sense of community among journalists. Natalia is earning her masters in Journalism and Digital Storytelling, and has worked with PBS and done freelance journalism work. 

The Gary Corcoran Student Prize for Excellence in Reporting on Disability went to Ella Robinson. Ella assisted in NBC4’s investigative research into DC’s lack of wheelchair accessible taxis and is earning her masters in Journalism and Public Affairs with an Investigative Journalism Specialization. 

The awards for Streitmatter Prize winners included $300 for first place and $150 for second place in each category: 

• Best Story in COMM 320 Reporting: Shreya Jyotshi, first place; Jack Stashower, second place
• Best Story in COMM 425 Advanced Reporting: Caleb Ogilvie, first place; Gwyneth Hill, second place
• Best Audio Story: Emily Sohl, first place; Jacob Saucier, second place
• Best Video Story: Maryjane Williams, first place; Genesis Magpayo, second place
• Best Story in Comm 588: Race, Ethnicity, and Community Reporting: Emily Sohl, first place; Grace Hagerman, second place

The Kappa Tau Alpha inductees included:

• Maddie Gerber 
• Leta Latin 
• Abigail Turner  
• Alexia Partouche 
• Ella Rousseau  
• Maya Cederlund  
• Anthony Bracuti  
• Jane Fusco  
• Stella Guzik  
• Ava DeAngelis 
• Lillian Lemme
• Kendal Thomas