The Hustler won 28 national awards this year, earning three Associated College Press Pacemakers, three Society of Professional Journalist Mark of Excellence Awards, a record-breaking 20 College Media Association Pinnacles and two ACP Best of Show awards at the Fall 2023 National Media Convention. Other Vanderbilt Student Communications organizations also brought home six CMA Pinnacles. 

The Vanderbilt Review won second place for CMA’s Literary Magazine of the Year, while VandyRadio won second place for CMA’s Radio Station of the Year. “Love or Cookie,” a Vanderbilt Video Productions dating show hosted by Hustler Deputy Opinion Editor Noah Weitzel, junior Devin Laye and junior Stephan Bellamy received an honorable mention for Best Video Entertainment Program. Hustler Deputy Podcasts Director Jaylan Sims earned an honorable mention in CMA’s Best Audio Newscast category for his newscast with VandyRadio. Juniors Cameron Lenkov and Terrie Jeon of VandyRadio won third place in CMA’s Best Audio Promo/PSA for their show, “California Cowgirls.” Sophomore Erica Lutz, also of VandyRadio, placed second in CMA’s Best Audio Talk/Entertainment Program competition for their radio show, “The Hits with EJ.” 

Hustler CMA Pinnacles

Nationally, The Hustler competes in  CMA and ACP’s Division II, composed of colleges and universities with a student enrollment between 3,000-9,999. 

The Hustler hosted a debate with VSG candidates during the 2022-23 school year, which placed third in Best Overall Media Engagement. Oung and Perrotta moderated the debate, and Editorial Director Aaditi Lele and News Editor Brina Ratangee covered the debate.

The Hustler won multiple CMA Pinnacles for its coverage of the Covenant School shooting. Photography Director Barrie Barto, alongside Deputy Social Media Director Nikita Rohila and Staff Photographer Amelia Simpson, won first place for Best Photo Package for their photo story “IN PHOTOS: Nashville community rallies downtown, at Fisk University after Covenant School shooting.” Editor-in-Chief Rachael Perrotta Newsroom Operations and Data Director Katherine Oung, and Former Social Media Director Lindsey Jorda (‘23) placed second in Best Social Media Reporting for their breaking coverage of the Covenant School shooting on Instagram, Facebook and X. Perrotta also won third place for Best Editorial for “LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: As a reporter, I’m begging you to pay attention” in response to the shooting. Perrotta urged students, Vanderbilt professors and citizens to openly discuss and spread awareness about gun violence, as well as to confront current events without trepidation around uncomfortable topics. Oung also won third place in Best Interactive Infographic for their interactive map on racial diversity across Tennessee’s congressional districts, created in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Tennessee Three. 

Also in politics, Former Senior Staff Writer Ekta Anand won second place for Best Investigative Story for “VUSM students report decreased efficiency in healthcare delivery and gaps in education post-Roe.” Anand interviewed Vanderbilt Medical School students about changes to healthcare protocol and limitations in OB/GYN education after the overturn of Roe v. Wade (1973). 

Opinion Editor Zoe Abel took home first place for Best Column, receiving recognition for “ABEL Don’t kill me on my morning run,” “ABEL: Why are we preparing to die?” and “ABEL: I hope you dance.” Abel discusses the dangers experienced by women, growing up in the generation of gun violence and valuing the present during the post-pandemic era. 

For the second year in a row, Perrotta, along with Oung and Former Staff Writer Abhinav Krishnan (‘23) won first place for Best Multimedia Breaking News Story. The article, “Record-low 5.6% of applicants admitted to Class of 2027, admission rates continue to decline,” features data visualizations that compare Vanderbilt’s admissions data to past years and other universities.   

The Hustler Sports section, then led by Bryce Smith (‘23) as Sports Editor, won first place for Best Web Sports Section for the second year in a row. The sports section covers all 16 varsity sports, and sends a weekly sports report, which also placed second for Best Sports Email Newsletter. The Vanderbilt Hustler Weekly Digest similarly placed second in Best General News Email Newsletter. Digest is sent to subscribers every Monday and includes articles from the past week. 

Smith won first place for Best Sports Columnist for his columns covering Vanderbilt’s 2022 football season. The column, titled “Commodore Brunch,” received recognition for Weeks 8, 11 and 12. Smith also won third place for Best Sports Feature alongside Assistant Sports Specialist Jonah Barbin for “Modern unicorn: Jordan Wright is the rare fourth-year senior in today’s college basketball.” In this article, Smith and Barbin interview former Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball player Jordan Wright on his experience as a fourth-year senior in the era of NIL, the transfer portal and extra eligibility. 

Assistant Sports Specialist Jayce Pollard won first place for Best Sports Investigative Story for the first edition of his two-part series titled “How data analytics has transformed Vanderbilt Athletics.” In this article, Pollard examines how Vanderbilt Soccer and Bowling utilize data analytics to produce institutional buy-in and to push the teams to compete at the SEC level. 

Deputy Photography Director Sara West earned second place for Best Portrait for a photo of pop-rock artist GUNNAR. The artist was featured in West’s interview with the artist titled “‘All I had left was the music’: Artist GUNNAR on growing with his music.” 

Hustler ACP Pacemakers

The Hustler placed second for Best Website and sixth for Best Email Newsletter for ACP’s Best of Show awards. Oung won third place for Reporter of the Year, and Abel won second place for Best Column with the same package of articles as CMA. Oung, Lele and Graphics Director Lexie Perez won second place for Best Multimedia News Story for “Tennessee gun laws: What you need to know,” also a CMA Pinnacles award winner.  

Hustler SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards

Regionally, The Hustler competes in SPJ’s Region 12, composed of student media outlets in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. 

Perrotta, Oung, Lele, Senior Staff Writer Alison Winters and Former Magazine Editor Charlotte Mauger placed first in SPJ’s General News Reporting competition among schools with more than 10,000 students. They won for a package of stories about investigations into VUMC’s transgender health clinic including “Gov. Lee calls for investigation of VUMC transgender health clinic after accusatory social media posts,” Matt Walsh hosts anti-trans rally headlined by Marsha Blackburn, Tulsi Gabbard” and “Pamphlets left around campus accuse Vanderbilt of ‘fascism’ due to VUMC transgender healthcare.” 

Full list of awards

Hustler CMA Pinnacles national awards

• Best Web Sports Section — First place: The Vanderbilt Hustler 
• Best Sports Columnist — First place: Bryce Smith for “Commodore Brunch Week Eight: Teardrops on my Keyboard,” “Commodore Brunch Week 11: A Moment to Remember” and “Commodore Brunch Week 12: Get Out of My Swamp”
• Best Sports Investigative Story — First place: “How data analytics has transformed Vanderbilt Athletics: Part 1” by Jayce Pollard 
• Best Column — First place: “ABEL: Don’t kill me on my morning run” “ABEL: Why are we preparing to die?” and “ABEL: I hope you dance” by Zoe Abel 
• Best Multimedia Breaking News Story — First place: “Record-low 5.6% of applicants admitted to Class of 2027, admission rates continue to decline” by Rachael Perrotta, Katherine Oung and Abhinav Krishnan 
• Best Photo Package — First place: “IN PHOTOS: Nashville community rallies downtown, at Fisk University after Covenant School shooting” by Barrie Barto, Nikita Rohila and Amelia Simpson 
• Best Investigative Story — Second place: “VUSM students report decreased efficiency in healthcare delivery and gaps in education post-Roe” by Ekta Anand 
• Best Social Media Reporting — Second place: Coverage of Covenant Shooting by Katherine Oung, Lindsey Jorda and Rachael Perrotta 
• Best Portrait — Second place: “‘All I had left was the music’: Artist GUNNAR on growing with his music” by Sara West 
• Best Sports Email Newsletter — Second place: The Vanderbilt Hustler Weekly Sports Report (Bryce Smith)
• Best General News Email Newsletter — Second place: The Vanderbilt Hustler Weekly Digest (Rachael Perrotta)  
• Best Interactive Infographic — Third place: “Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson unanimously reinstated, students lead marches in support” by Katherine Oung 
• Best Editorial — Third place: “LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: As a reporter, I’m begging you to pay attention” by Rachael Perrotta 
• Best Sports Feature — Third place: “Modern unicorn: Jordan Wright is the rare fourth-year senior in today’s college basketball” by Bryce Smith and Jonah Barbin
• Best Overall Campus Media Engagement — Third place: “The Hustler hosts debate with 2023 VSG presidential and vice presidential candidates” by Aaditi Lele and Brina Ratangee
• Best Podcast — Honorable Mention (1/2): “VU History Bonus File: Dodging Controversy with Chancellor E. Gordon Gee (2000 – 2007)” by Jaylan Sims 
• Best Breaking News Coverage (package) — Honorable Mention (1/2): “​​BREAKING: Seven dead after Covenant School shooting in Green Hills,” “Vanderbilt and elected leaders respond to Covenant School shooting” and “IN PHOTOS: Nashville holds vigil in honor of Covenant School shooting victims” by Katherine Oung, Aaditi Lele, Barrie Barto and Rachael Perrotta 
• Best Coverage of Faith — Honorable Mention (1/2): “Campus Dining falsely advertises meals as kosher for Passover” by Jacob Stoebner 
• Best Enterprise Coverage of Diversity — Honorable Mention (1/2): “Students report lack of on-campus religious accommodations and support” by Sally Johnson 
• Best Multimedia Feature Story — Honorable Mention (1/2): “Tennessee gun laws: What you need to know” by Katherine Oung, Aaditi Lele and Lexie Perez 

CMA Pinnacles national awards (other VSC organizations)

• Literary Magazine of the Year — Second place, The Vanderbilt Review 
• Radio Station of the Year — Second place, VandyRadio 
• Best Audio Talk/Entertainment Program — Second place, Erica Lutz (VandyRadio)
• Best Audio Promo/PSA — Third place, Cameron Lenkov and Terrie Jeon (VandyRadio)
• Best Audio Newscast — Honorable Mention, Jaylan Sims (VandyRadio)
• Best Video Entertainment Program — Honorable Mention (1/2): “Love or Cookie” by Noah Weitzel, Devin Laye and Stephan Bellamy (VVP)

Hustler ACP Best of Show awards

• Best Website — Second place: The Vanderbilt Hustler 
• Best Email Newsletter — Sixth place: The Vanderbilt Hustler 

Hustler ACP Pacemakers national awards

• Best Column — Second place: “ABEL: Don’t kill me on my morning run” by Zoe Abel 
• Best Multimedia News Story — Second place: “Tennessee gun laws: What you need to know” by Katherine Oung, Aaditi Lele and Lexie Perez 
• Reporter of the Year — Third place: Katherine Oung 

Hustler SPJ Mark of Excellence national awards

• General News Reporting (large school) — National Winner: “Gov. Lee calls for investigation of VUMC transgender health clinic after accusatory social media posts,” “Matt Walsh hosts anti-trans rally headlined by Marsha Blackburn, Tulsi Gabbard” and “Pamphlets left around campus accuse Vanderbilt of ‘fascism’ due to VUMC transgender healthcare.” Reporting by Rachael Perrotta, Katherine Oung, Aaditi Lele, Alison Winters and Charlotte Mauger. 
• Editorials — National Finalist (1 of 2): “ABEL: I hope you dance,” “ABEL: Don’t kill me on my morning run” and “ABEL: Why are we preparing to die” by Zoe Abel
• Sports Column Writing — National Finalist (1 of 2): “Commodore Brunch Week 11: One to remember,” “Commodore Brunch Week 8: Teardrops On My Keyboard” and “Commodore Brunch Week 12: Get Out Of My Swamp” by Bryce Smith