WASHINGTON, D.C., November 2, 2022  — The State Hornet is proud to announce that the publication earned six awards at last week’s MediaFest convention in Washington D.C. 

Most notably, the publication took home the 2022 Online Pacemaker Award for the third time in six years. The State Hornet was among only 17 awardees nationwide. The National Pacemaker Awards are often regarded as the highest recognition of excellence in collegiate journalism and The State Hornet is honored to accept another title. 

The publication also took home Associated College Press Best of Show awards in four categories:

Best Social Justice Reporting

• First place: Pro-agricultural union pressure reaches Newsom’s office by Laura De la Garza Garcia
• Third place: Sac State event aims to bring awareness to mental health resources by Stacy Hanson

Best Broadcast News Program (Four-year university)

• Fifth Place: The State Hornet Broadcast

Best Website (Four-year campus with more than 15,000 students)

• Fourth Place

Best Podcast

• Fourth Place: Hornet Buzzed: Hispanic Heritage Month special, Growing up in Hispanic and Latinx culture by Laura De la Garza Garcia, Monserrat Covarrubias, Hugo Quintanilla, Nancy Rodriguez Bonilla and Lawrence Charles

The publication is incredibly proud of the staff who contributed to this award-winning content.

“I’m really proud of the team and what we’ve accomplished. A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into this semester so far and to be awarded for that hard work feels really good,” Editor-in-Chief Tony Rodriguez said.

“There are a lot of moving pieces in this media organization, but every part played a role in our accomplishments. I want to say thank you to our adviser Fernando Gallo, our editorial board, and our dedicated staff,” Rodriguez said.

Spanish Editor Laura De la Garza Garcia, who took home first place in Best Social Justice Reporting, said she was proud to be recognized for this achievement. 

“I feel very honored to win this award because this is a sign that if you push for something, you believe in something and you believe that it is news– it is going to pay off,” De la Garza Garcia said, “There was pushback on my story, but I continued to believe it was news and relevant to our audience.”

The State Hornet’s staff adviser, Fernando Gallo, said he was pleased to see the organization accept another Online Pacemaker during his first semester in the position.

“I am extremely proud of this achievement by The State Hornet staff. Our writers and editors work tirelessly to cover the Sac State campus community and it’s thrilling to see them recognized,” Gallo said. “Winning another Pacemaker is an incredible honor and reaffirms the Hornet’s commitment to fearless journalism.”

The State Hornet is the student-run newspaper at California State University, Sacramento. It has been the “independent voice” of Sac State since 1949.

If you are interested in contacting the editors or joining The State Hornet staff, please send an email to [email protected].