AU’s Wahl, Highfield capture two CMA Pinnacle Awards for design
Staff report
Augusta University’s CM Wahl and Sydney Highfield won a pair of College Media Association Pinnacle Awards at MediaFest in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Oct. 16.
Wahl, who served as editor in chief of the Phoenix, and Highfield, the design editor, took first place for literary magazine cover for two different editions of AU’s student magazine. Wahl graduated with a degree in communication from AU in May.
Highfield, Wahl and writer Abby Appleman, a communication junior, took third place for best literary magazine spread. Highfield is a senior English major and communication minor.
Wahl, who also served as news editor of the Bell Ringer, earned an honorable mention for long documentary and for investigative reporting for the student newspaper.
The Phoenix also received honorable mention for literary magazine of the year.
Dylan Wilson, assistant professor in the Department of Communication, serves as the adviser of the Phoenix. Wilson is giving four workshops on photojournalism at MediaFest, which is being held at the Grand Hyatt in Washington.
Rachel Balducci, senior lecturer in communication, along with Bell Ringer editor in chief Rodrigo Burgos Avila and Bell Ringer social media editor Nayla Reese gave a workshop about the student newspaper’s social media strategy. Burgos Avila is a sports management major and communication minor, while Reese is a communication major and the social media manager for the Birdie Club, which promotes AU’s golf teams.
Bell Ringer news editor Leanne Dudash and reporter Caelyn Dockal are also attending MediaFest.
CMA is a national organization devoted to student media. CMA is hosting MediaFest along with the Society of Professional journalists.
The cover of the spring 2025 edition of the Phoenix, which won a College Media Association Pinnacle Award for best cover. At the top of the page, Phoenix design editor Sydney Highfield shows her two awards, which she shared with editor in chief CM Wahl. (photo by Dylan Wilson/special to the Bell Ringer)
