CCIM’s School of Journalism and Strategic Communication hosted its annual Louie Awards at the end of the Spring 2026 semester.

Named after former journalism department chair Dr. Louis E. Ingelhart, the awards ceremony gives student organizations the opportunity to celebrate their members and the work they’ve achieved throughout the academic year.

Click here to read more about how the Louie Awards have evolved over the years.

At the ceremony, student work is also recognized with the presentation of juried awards for excellence in photography, media design, broadcast journalism, strategic communication, and writing.

The finalists and winners across these categories for the 2025-26 academic year are featured below.

Excellence in Photography Award

For demonstrating the power of photography to capture moments, evoke emotion, inform audiences, and inspire.

1st Place: Meghan Sawitzke

A group of military cadets in full combat gear marches down a dark road at night, their red headlamps glowing through a haze as they carry rifles during a nighttime ruck march. The dramatic scene stretches into the foggy background, where additional cadets and red lights recede into the darkness.
Cadets assigned to 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, participate in Battle March and Shoot training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 5, 2024. During BMS training, Cadets ruck six miles to the range, which simulates a stress response before practicing shooting under pressure. | Photo by Meghan Sawitzke, Ball State University, CST Public Affairs Office

PHOTOGRAPHY FINALISTS

Radley Richman

A black-and-white portrait of a young man in a camouflage cap and open over shirt leaning against a chain-link fence, his gaze cast downward beneath a dramatic, cloudy sky.

Brenden Rowan

A Ball State volleyball player in red, wearing number 20, leaps above the net to set the ball during a home match, with an opposing player in white reaching up to block. NCAA championship banners from various years line the rafters of the arena above the action.

Ryan Fleek

A smiling man in a suit embraces a protester outside the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis, surrounded by demonstrators holding signs criticizing political power and government accountability. The scene captures a moment of personal connection amid a public protest against mid-cycle redistricting.

Excellence in Media Design Award

For demonstrating exceptional skill in communicating information and emotion through innovative design

1st Place: Jessica Bergfors

A photo illustration for a story titled "Breaking the Mold" shows a close-up of a woman's face wearing a black baseball cap and holding a model race car up to her eye, overlaid with screenshots of social media comments dismissing women's place in motorsports. The subtitle reads "Women in motorsports continuously face challenges on and off track."

MEDIA DESIGN FINALISTS

Brenden Rowan

A sports feature design highlights Ball State soccer senior Addie Chester, number 10, during a match against an opponent, with overlaid text detailing her 2025 stats, career stats, and accolades including three MAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. The full-bleed action photo is set against a sideline scene below, with the large "CHESTER" headline dominating the top of the page.

Brenden Rowan

A vibrant, retro-styled spread welcomes readers to "CharlieTown," featuring Ball State's Cardinal mascot interacting with a fan holding a checkered flag, alongside cheerleaders and a packed crowd of Cardinals fans in red and black. The design promotes Ball State's CharlieTown Tailgate event for Family Weekend, incorporating a pull quote, pennant graphic, and bold typography in the university's signature colors.

Gabbrielle Sepeck

A mockup of the Lunar Magazine, a fashion publication, featuring the cover of Issue One — "The Style Edit" — which displays a Dr. Martens Mary Jane and a teal Adidas sneaker side by side. Navigation icons along the top link to sections including Info, Find Your Style, Jobs, Style Quiz, and Contact Us.
The second page of the Lunar Magazine mockup displays two editorial-style fashion portraits side by side, each overlaid with abstract line illustrations and quotes about personal style from Oscar de la Renta and Vivienne Westwood. Navigation arrows on either side indicate this is part of a scrollable or paginated layout.
The third page of the Lunar Magazine mockup features a fashion article titled "The Art of the Belt," with retro-styled photos of belted outfits on the left, a brief history of belts from the Bronze Age to present day in the center, and a vertical grid of various belt styles on the right. The layout combines editorial text, bold typography, and collage-style imagery to make the case for belts as a timeless fashion accessory.
The fourth page of the Lunar Magazine mockup presents a two-panel spread on sustainable fashion, with a mirror selfie of a woman in a layered, thrifted-style outfit on the left alongside three tips for building a sustainable wardrobe, and a editorial photo of colorful heels paired with an informational essay on the fashion industry's environmental impact on the right.
The fifth and final page of the Lunar Magazine mockup displays a back-cover-style closing page featuring a bold plaid pattern in teal, mauve, and terracotta overlaid with the Lunar Magazine logo. The navigation arrow appears only on the left side, indicating this is the last page of the layout.

Excellence in Broadcast Journalism

For demonstrating exceptional reporting and storytelling through compelling visuals and sound.

1st Place: Daniel Huber

BROADCAST JOURNALISM FINALISTS

Jake Dickman

Kahmara Munn

Abby Urban

Excellence in Strategic Communication

For demonstrating exceptional storytelling skill in advertising or public relations.

1st Place: Zoe Whitacre

Portfolio page featuring three student poster designs and Instagram Story voting graphics used to select the final Joey’s Jukebox event poster.

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION FINALISTS

Victoria Sheffield

Page seven of the Pokagon State Park Brand Analysis Report features an Observation Report section accompanied by four photos documenting park facilities, including a wooded amphitheater, a rustic trailside cabin, an informational bulletin board, and a numbered trail marker sign surrounded by lush greenery.

Ella Wagner

Zoe Brock

A slide labeled "Example #1" showcases two proposed Instagram story carousel sequences for Queen City Clay, displayed as rows of five story frames each — one in a warm yellow-and-orange palette and one in red and pink — featuring upcoming event dates, photos of pottery classes and ceramics, and closing "Thank You" frames.

Excellence in Writing

For demonstrating the ability to captivate readers through accurate, compelling, and impactful storytelling.

1st Place: Trinity Rea

Austin Elliott smiles in front of a teal wall. The photo accompanies a feature story about his recovery in the year following a Halloween shooting.
Click the following link to read the article. https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/ball-state-s-austin-elliott-has-rebuilt-his-life-one-year-after-halloween-shooting-daily-news-20260108

WRITING FINALISTS

Sidney Miller

A dark image displays multiple versions of Ball State's Charlie Cardinal mascot costume across different eras, with a collage-style inset graphic titled "The Evolution of Charlie," accompanying the headline "Five decades of cardinal spirit." The design illustrates how the mascot's appearance has changed over his 57-year history.
Click the following link to read the article. https://ballbearingsmag.com/2025/10/13/five-decades-of-cardinal-spirit/

Elijah Poe

Caroline Scheu smiles while standing on the Ball State Women's Basketball court inside Worthen Arena, with players warming up and the red Cardinal logo visible on the hardwood behind her. The photo accompanies a sports feature about her work as a content creator for the program.
Click the following link to read the article. https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/content-creator-caroline-scheu-changed-ball-state-womens-basketballl-while-changing-herself-sports-daily-news-20260131

Tatum Harris

A dramatic, darkened image of Elliott Hall's Gothic limestone exterior frames a brighter inset photo of the same building on a sunny day, accompanying the headline "Echoes of Elliott Hall" and the subhead "Once an on-campus community hub, Elliott Hall now stands quiet, holding decades of memories."
Click the following link to read the article. https://ballbearingsmag.com/2025/11/26/echoes-of-elliott-hall/