Recent Pamplin grads lead the way at the College Media Awards

Augusta University’s student-run publications The Phoenix Magazine and The Bell Ringer earned multiple national honors at the 2025 Pinnacle College Media Awards, marking a strong year for student publications in AU’s Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

The ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., at the 2025 MediaFest conference. This year’s awards were especially meaningful for Sydney Highfield, who graduates this December with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in communication.

Highfield received two first-place awards for Literary Magazine Cover and Magazine Cover for her work on The Phoenix, along with third place for Literary Magazine Spread. She is one of three AU students recognized this year.

Her interest in publication design began when she volunteered to create layouts for the Sand Hills Literary Magazine. After joining The Phoenix, she shifted her focus to magazine design and visual content. Her background in photography and design helped shape the covers that earned national recognition.

This was Highfield’s first time competing at the Pinnacle Awards, and she didn’t realize placements were announced during the ceremony.

“I thought I was only nominated,” she said. “I didn’t understand the awards had first, second and third places until I got there.”

One of the night’s biggest surprises for her was The Phoenix earning honorable mention for Literary Magazine of the Year.

“It helped me put things into perspective,” she said. “I knew I had strong skills for my university, but seeing it at a national level was gratifying.”

After graduation, Highfield plans to continue working in editorial design, magazine production and publishing.

CM Wahl, who graduated in May 2025 and was the editor-in-chief for both of the winning Phoenix Magazine issues, earned honors for her investigative reporting and documentary work. Wahl’s journalism covered major issues in the Augusta community, including sexually transmitted disease rates and human trafficking. She also expanded into video work, producing her first documentary on active-shooter preparedness at Augusta University. The project earned an honorable mention at the Pinnacle Awards and won earlier this year at the Gwinnett County Student Public Library Film Festival.

Wahl said she is most proud of her contributions to The Phoenix.

“I felt like we did strong work,” she said. “We spent a lot of time making sure it had quality and substance.”

Transfer student Abby Appleman supported the award-winning spread through her Fall 2024 feature, The Sole of Personality. Although she does not plan to pursue journalism, she said she valued the experience and collaboration with her peers.

Award recap

• First Place Division 2, Literary Magazine Cover – Sydney Highfield and CM Wahl
• First Place Division 2, Magazine Cover – Sydney Highfield and CM Wahl
• Third Place Division 2 & 3, Literary Magazine Spread – Abby Appleman, Sydney Highfield and CM Wahl
• Honorable Mention Division 2, Literary Magazine of the Year – The Phoenix Magazine
• Honorable Mention Division 2, Investigative Story – CM Wahl, The Bell Ringer
• Honorable Mention Division 2, Long Documentary – CM Wahl, The Bell Ringer

“It is fantastic to see our students continue to earn national recognition for their work in our student-run publications. These awards not only strengthen their resumes as they pursue career opportunities but also showcase the exceptional skills and experiences students gain through Pamplin’s outstanding programs,” said Kim Davies, PhD, dean of Pamplin College.

Both student publications encourage AU students from any major to get involved. Courses connected to The Bell Ringer and The Phoenix allow students to earn academic credit while gaining hands-on experience.

“Our goal is to continue producing a high-quality product for students and faculty,” said Dylan Wilson, assistant professor in Pamplin College’s Department of Communication and supervisor of The Phoenix Magazine.

“Publications like The Bell Ringer and The Phoenix help students grow as writers, designers and journalists,” said Rachel Balducci, senior lecturer and supervisor of The Bell Ringer.