Schoolcraft Connection

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The student-led newspaper took home 30 honors last month, competing against student newspapers from across the state.

Schoolcraft College student journalists took home plenty of accolades this spring.

The Schoolcraft Connection, the College’s student newspaper, received 10 awards in the 2025 Michigan Press Association Better College Newspaper Awards this spring during the MPA’s 2026 Convention held in East Lansing last month. The awards were given for work published from Aug. 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025.

In addition, the Connection staff also received 20 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Awards in March in Mount Pleasant.

Several individual students received awards in areas such as Sports News/Feature, non-front page design, Best News Photo, Photo Essay and more. Former editor-in-chief Jess Michael, a 2025 graduate, received three MPA awards for her reporting. Olivia Lambert, this past year’s editor-in-chief, earned three MCCPA awards for her work.

Students competed against other Michigan two-year college publications in the MPA awards, as well as college newspapers publishing less than weekly. The MCCPA awards are given out among the state’s community colleges.

The newspaper also placed third for online newspaper in the MPA awards, competing against other two- and four-year schools in the state.

“Our students put in tremendous work this year, and these awards are a testament to their dedication and commitment to the Schoolcraft College community,” said Rena Laverty, advisor for The Schoolcraft Connection. “Their journalism this past year has been outstanding, and I’m proud of each of them.”

newspaper spread with Batman-related imagery
This spread earned second place for non front-page design in the Michigan Press Association Better College Newspaper Awards.

List of Awards

Michigan Press Association Better College Newspaper Awards

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

  • Online Newspaper: Connection Staff

Honorable Mention

Michigan Community College Press Association Awards

First place

  • General Excellence: Connection Staff
  • Headline Writing: Olivia Lambert
  • Sports Column: Eduardo Niehues
  • Sports Feature: Eduardo Niehues
  • Inside Page Design: Andrew Husken

Second place

  • Multimedia Reporting: Madison DeNoyer/Josh Parrinello
  • Photo Essay: David Grant
  • Sports News Photo: Camille Jamison
  • Editorial: Connection Staff
  • Headline Writing: Joseph LoSchiavo
  • News Website: Connection Staff

Third place

  • Overall Newspaper Design: Connection Staff
  • News Photo: Josh Parrinello
  • Sports News Photo: Josh Parrinello
  • Editorial: Connection Staff

Honorable Mention

  • Inside Page Design: Rachel Husken
  • Front Page Design: Pili Estevez/Andrew Husken
  • Multimedia Reporting: Josh Parrinello/Olivia Lambert
  • Editorial: Connection Staff
  • Feature Story: Olivia Lambert
grad in regalia smiling with degree on stage
This photo taken by Cameron Waller earned Honorable Mention for Best News Photo for the Michigan Press Association Better College Newspaper Awards.

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Short-handed staff produces excellent work

The Schoolcraft Connection student newspaper continues to add to its well-deserved reputation for excellence following outstanding performances in two key contests.

First, the Schoolcraft Connection won seven awards from the 2021 College Better Newspaper contest presented by the Michigan Press Association (MPA). The Connection competed in Division III: Two-year college publications or newspapers publishing less than weekly. 

Members of the Arkansas Press Association reviewed 568 entries submitted by 16 Michigan college newspapers. Over the past nine years, the Schoolcraft Connection has won 95 awards total in this contest.

“It is more important than ever to recognize and encourage good, impactful journalism,” said Joanne Williams, associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Olivet College and Michigan College Press Association president. “That is what our college newspapers are doing, and with support and recognition from contests and professionals in the field, that will continue. Our experienced faculty and advisors will see to it as well,” 

The following students received awards for their work in 2021:

SC Connection Staff
Front row, left to right: Armando Saucedo (Multimedia Editor), Sasha Spearman (Design Intern), Vae O’Neil (Arts and Entertainment Editor), Jordan Weston (Staff Writer).
Back row, left to right: Alexander Hawthorne (Staff Writer), Ben Bolstrum (Editor-in-Chief), Matthew Kern (Managing Editor), Matt Karbownik (Layout and Design Editor).

Awards from the MCCPA

The staff followed that outstanding performance with an additional 14 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Association (MCCPA), making it a total of 21 awards for the 2021-22 academic year.

Here is a look at the Connection’s totals for the last 10 years in both yearly competitions:

  • MCCPA 10-year total (2012-2022): 147
  • MPA 9-year total (2012-2021): 95
  • MCCPA and MPBA combined total (2012-2022): 242

Students who received awards in the MCCPA contest:

  • 1st place for Sports Feature Story: Ben Bolstrom
  • 1st place for News Photo: Armando Saucedo
  • 1st place for Feature Photo: Claire Smith
  • 1st place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
  • 2nd place for Front Page Design: Matt Karbownik
  • 3rd place for Feature Story: Matthew Fular
  • 3rd place for Personality Profile: Vae O’Neil
  • 3rd place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
  • 3rd place for Video Production: Armando Saucedo
  • 3rd Place General Excellence: SC Connection Staff
  • Honorable Mention for Column Serious: Matthew Kern
  • Honorable Mention for Critical Review: Vae O’Neil
  • Honorable Mention for Sports News Photo: Claire Smith
  • Honorable Mention for Video Production: Jordan Weston

“This is a remarkable achievement for these students as they did this with only five senior editors out of the possible 10 positions on staff,” said Rena Laverty, Student Activities Technician, College Photographer and Connection Adviser. “We’re now looking for new editors to join us for the 2022-23 year. Any students interested in writing, photography, videography or design can contact us.

“All majors are welcome and encouraged. Editors are compensated up to $1,100 per semester for Fall and Winter.”

For more information, call 734-462-4422 or email [email protected].