Southwestern College journalism students took home the Gold Crown — the highest award — from Columbia University Scholastic Press Association for being the top collegiate newspaper in North America.
The Southwestern College Sun was picked out of hundreds of student newspapers at four-year universities and two-year colleges across the country and Canada based on reporting, writing, editing, design and production. The award, which recognizes “overall excellence,” was announced recently at Columbia University in New York City.
“It is a rare triumph for a community college to win the prestigious award that usually goes to elite university journalism programs,” said Max Branscomb, longtime professor of Journalism at Southwestern College and faculty advisor.
The Sun has a record of awards, but this is the first time receiving the Gold Crown. The Sun was named 2024-25 national champion by the National Newspaper Association as well as state champion by the Society of Professional Journalists and California Newspaper Publishers Association.
“Our staff comes from many cultures and speaks many languages. That gives us the power to speak to the people from all over the world who have settled here,” said Alexa Lima, the Sun’s editor-in-chief.
Southwestern’s El Sol Magazine won the Gold Crown in 2023. The Sun’s website won in 2012.
The Sun and El Sol Magazine earned a number of national awards in 2024, including the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker, considered the Pulitzer Prize of college student newspapers. Both publications also won the College Media Association Pinnacle Award. El Sol was selected as National College Magazine of the Year by the American Educators of Journalism and Mass Communication, American Scholastic Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and California College Media Association.
