BYU Communication Students Earned Top Honors in Journalism, PR, Advertising, and Media Arts on National and International Stages.
BYU communications students and alumni are making their mark on some of the industry’s most prestigious stages. This summer, they have brought home top awards in journalism, public relations, advertising and media arts. These honors highlight not only individual talent but also the collaborative spirit and mentorship that fuel BYU’s programs.
Alliance for Women in Media: The Gracie Awards
Brigham Young University journalism alumna Jackie Asher was recognized at the prestigious Gracie Awards, which honor media created by and about women. The awards celebrate excellence in storytelling that elevates women’s voices, and for Asher, the experience reaffirmed journalism’s power to foster connection and understanding. “Attending the Gracies Award luncheon in New York was amazing,” she said. “It reinforced to me that journalism is important and made me want to give my career my all.”
Asher’s winning story, produced in her multimedia reporting class, covered BYU research on the “neuroscience of belonging.” The Office of First-Year Experience hosted a story slam where upperclassmen shared personal first-year experiences with current freshmen. Using specialized caps, researchers measured brainwaves in storytellers and listeners to identify moments of connection. She found that neural activity synced when a storyteller presented a need and its resolution.
Asher’s trip also included networking with BYU alumni working in New York media, gaining career advice and technical tips. She credits journalism professor Melissa Gibbs for mentoring her through the process and for fostering the alumni connections that made the trip so meaningful.
Arthur W. Page Society Case Study Competition
BYU public relations senior Rachel “Ray” Shuler and her teammates, Maurielle Cook and Adah Shippen, earned national recognition this year in high-profile competitions. Their team took top honors in the Arthur W. Page Society’s International Public Relations Case Study Competition, an elite contest showcasing strategic communication expertise. Led by public relations professor Chris Wilson, BYU teams have a strong legacy of success, and this year’s competitors continued that tradition. “If you treat it as a creative, collaborative and strategic challenge, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences you have,” Shuler said.
The team began preparations months in advance, tracking national news, researching potential cases and narrowing options through an NFL-style bracket. They ultimately focused on Tractor Supply Company’s rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, situating it within broader corporate trends. Shuler gained professional skills in anticipating questions, refining strategy and presenting complex topics clearly.
Andy Awards
BYU AdLab graduates Mia Shumway and Eli Rothas were among the BYU students honored at this year’s Gold Andy Awards, one of the advertising industry’s most competitive showcases. Their Crayola spot, “Ink Up, Wash Out,” won best of show, standing alongside professional campaigns created by global agencies with large teams and budgets.
Shumway, who wrote and co-directed the ad, and Rothas, who served as art director, brought the idea of a children’s tattoo parlor to life — complete with hand-drawn designs, thrifted props and a child actor covered in marker tattoos. “Winning the Andy award was very unexpected,” Shumway said. “It was very cool to know we were honored at a gathering with all the industry’s coolest professionals.”
The project, however, was not without challenges. Shumway and Rothas were stranded on the tarmac in Houston during the New York ceremony, leaving their teammate Kyle to accept the award on stage. Even so, the recognition was unforgettable. “It’s crazy being up there with professional work that took months and teams of hundreds of people,” Rothas said. “And making something just as impactful with a couple months and a team of three.”
Broadcast Education Association
Students in BYU’s Journalism and Sports Media program earned six honors at the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts, an international digital media and broadcast competition that drew more than 2,285 entries from over 300 schools. Awards spanned multiple categories, including a 2nd place finish in Short-Form Documentary for “How Gen Z is Changing Journalism” produced by COMMS 490 capstone students, and an Award of Excellence in Social Media for Annabelle Jones’ “Cougars Cooking: Pumpkin Cider.”
Additional Awards of Excellence were given in Television Hard News to Emma Butler Price for “BYU track star places at national competition following car accident recovery” and Chloe Peterson for “International Media Flock to Washington D.C.” Wilson Gustaveson also earned two top recognitions for his Big 12 Hype Reel, including Best of Festival in the Student Sports Competition and 1st place in the Promotional Video/Tease/PSA category.