UNC Hussman students sweep international Society For News Design competition (again)
More than a dozen students from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media swept the international Society for News Design’s Best of Student Design competition by winning the most first place, second place and overall awards of any other university. The competition is the top design contest for university students around the world.
The 2017 design contest is the 18th time the Society for News Design has held the international contest and the seventh year in a row that UNC Hussman has won the most overall awards of any university.
The Society for News Design was founded in 1979 and is an international organization for news media professionals and visual communicators. It established its student competition in 2000 to recognize outstanding work done by young visual journalists. Through its annual competition, the Society for News Design encourages ethical journalism and storytelling across mediums.
In total, UNC Hussman students received 16 awards in the 2017 competition: three first place, four second place, one third place and eight honorable mentions.
Of the continued success of his students, Associate Professor Terence Oliver said, “I’m incredibly proud of those who were recognized for such great accomplishments, but I am even more impressed by the talent, energy and passion that I am fortunate enough to witness in the classroom on a daily basis. Some things are taught and some things are caught; the students that I’m entrusted with easily receive both ways, and I’m so honored and proud of them all.”
Congratulations to the 2017 student winners:

First Place
- Magazine Cover: Victoria Price
- Sports Page Design: Jiabing Song (pictured above)
- Standalone Media: Lisa Dzera

Second Place
- Alternative Story Format: Allison Lyles
- Art & Illustration: Jessica Zhang (pictured above)
- Digital Storytelling: Kiersten Schmidt
- Standalone Media: Carolyn Bahar, Charlotte Moore & Jiabing Song

Third Place
- Special Sections: Becky Scheib (pictured above)

Honorable Mention
- Alternative Story Format: Paige Ehlers
- Art & Illustration: Michael McGowan
- Art & Illustration: Victoria Price
- Feature Page Design: Sydney Oakley
- Infographics: Jessica Zhang (pictured above)
- Standalone Media: Kara Wiley
- Standalone Media: Kara Wiley
- Standalone Media: Meaghan McFarland, Haley Huckabee & Alicia Taylor
For more information, contact Terence Oliver at olivert@email.unc.edu.