YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Student journalists at Youngstown State University representing The Jambar, JambarTV and Rookery Radio were honored with multiple national awards in the Society for Collegiate Journalists 2025 national contest.

The awards recognize excellence across print, broadcast and digital platforms. YSU student media is a partnership between the Department of Strategic Communication and Media and the Division of Student Affairs. To be eligible for the national contest, student participants must be inducted members of the SCJ honorary, reflecting academic and professional commitment.

Leading the honors were five first-place national finishes, including a top award for Rookery Radio for online radio overall excellence and a first-place finish for Nicarlyle Handchard and John Ostapowicz for special DEI coverage of Ohio Senate Bill 1. Ostapowicz also earned multiple awards alongside Dylan Lux, both December 2025 graduates, with their coverage of the national champion YSU bowling team and various sports packages receiving top marks across several categories.

“Think of our newsrooms as the training grounds where student journalists hone their craft for the big leagues,” said Adam Earnheardt, student media adviser. “These national honors prove that whether they are covering state legislation or producing multimedia sports packages, our students aren’t just playing the game – they are ready for the show.”

YSU 2025 SCJ National Contest Award winners are:

First Place

  • Special DEI Coverage Overall Excellence: “DEI and Ohio’s SB1 Coverage,” Nicarlyle Hanchard and John Ostapowicz.
  • Online Radio Overall Excellence: Rookery Radio.
  • Television Sports Package: “Softball Season Opener Preview,” Ostapowicz.
  • Multimedia Sports Story: “YSU Bowling Crowned National Champions,” Ostapowicz and Lux.
  • Sports News Writing: “Changes on Horizon,” Lux.

Second Place

  • Sports Column Writing: “Too-early Big Game Prediction,” The Jambar staff.
  • Online Broadcast Website Overall Excellence: The JambarTV staff.
  • Multimedia Sports Story: “Baseball Winds Up for First Pitch,” Ostapowicz.
  • Writing: Review: “The Cure Finds Lost World,” Matthew Sotlar.
  • Enterprise Writing: “Kilcawley Student Center Renovations,” Hanchard and Ostapowicz.
  • Breaking News Writing: “From Interim to Acting, BCHHS Names Dean,” Alex Sorrells.

Honorable Mention

  • Newspaper Overall Excellence: The Jambar staff.
  • Television News Overall Excellence: “Jambar In 10, F25 Episode 3,” The JambarTV Staff.
  • Social Media Presence Overall Excellence: The Jambar staff.
  • Television Feature Package: “Makonde on Display at Steel Museum,” Hanchard.
  • Sports Feature Writing: “Makings of a Power Conference,” Ostapowicz.
  • Sports News Writing: “YSU Bowling Crowned National Champions,” Ostapowicz and Lux.
  • Column or Commentary: “For That Which Is Free, Speech,” Hanchard.
  • Editorial Writing: “Empowered Thoughts on Brain Rot,” The Jambar editorial staff.
  • News Writing: “YSU Honors Life of Officer Clayton,” Ostapowicz and Hanchard.

The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation’s oldest honor society for student media. Formed in 1923, SCJ has approximately 100 active chapters nationwide. The organization focuses on promoting student freedom of expression and elevating the standards of collegiate journalism through its national contest and honorary inductions.