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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider UST's Varsitarian makes history as Asia's first multi-category winner at US College Media Pinnacle Awards

UST's Varsitarian makes history as Asia's first multi-category winner at US College Media Pinnacle Awards

Published Oct 19, 2025 08:48 pm
UAAP Media (File Photo)
UAAP Media (File Photo)
The Varsitarian, the official student publication of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), has made history as the first school paper from Asia to win in multiple categories at the US College Media Association (CMA) Pinnacle Awards.
The student publication confirmed it has received eight awards at one of the United States’ most prestigious student media competitions, placing it alongside top campus publications such as the University of Texas at Austin’s The Daily Texan, the University of California Los Angeles’ The Daily Bruin, and the University of Michigan’s The Michigan Daily.
Among its top honors was first place in Coverage of Faith for the entry “Papal Coverage: Francis’ Death and Leo XIV’s Election.”
Its sports feature (A/V) entry, “‘Superstar’ – UAAP Season 87 Second Semester Primer,” produced by incumbent editor-in-chief Chalssea Kate Echegoyen, also won first place and was screened during the CMA Film Festival on Oct. 16.
Other notable awards included second place in Opinion Pinnacles for the editorial cartoon “Surviving Without Sara, the ‘Designated Survivor’” by former layout editor Jan Esguerra, and third place in General News Photo for “Welcome Rites at UST GenSan” by former photo editor Jeremy Edera.
Honorable mentions were also given for promotional campaigns, advertisements, and sports photography.
In the Promotion and Advertising category, the Varsitarian received honorable mentions for the ad campaign “26th Inkblots Promotional Campaign,” animated by former ‘V’ artists Louelle Marie Bumalay and Aisha Sofia M. Fortes, and the video advertisement “Pautakan 2025 Teaser,” animated by incumbent artist Jimmarson Chester Pua.
The publication also earned an honorable mention in the Special Section category for “The People’s Pope: Pope Francis, 1936–2025,” as well as in Sports Photography for “Golden Tigresses Outlast DLSU in 5 Sets,” taken by photo editor James Magboo.
The CMA Pinnacle Awards recognize student-produced media across seven divisions: Creative Pinnacles, Features Pinnacles, General Pinnacles, News Pinnacles, Opinion Pinnacles, Promotion or Advertising Pinnacles, and Sports Pinnacles. 
The CMA Pinnacle Awards recognize student-produced media across seven divisions: Creative, Features, General, News, Opinion, Promotion/Advertising, and Sports.
This year’s competition received over 3,000 entries from student newspapers, magazines, yearbooks, websites, and broadcast outlets, covering works published from June 18, 2024, to June 17, 2025.
Founded in 1954, the CMA is a leading organization for collegiate media and advisers in the United States, with over 600 members providing education and resources to student journalists, the school paper confirmed.
The awards ceremonies were held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17.

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UST VARSITARIAN US COLLEGE MEDIA PINNACLE AWARDS
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