Montana Alumna Wins College Photographer of the Year
Maddie McCuddy, a University of Montana journalism alumna, claimed the competition's top prize, becoming the first UM alumnus to do so.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Photography
Maddie McCuddy won the top prize in College Photographer of the Year, the competition's first-place award for 2026, which was announced last month. She previously won the National Photojournalism Championship in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program this spring.
Why it matters
McCuddy's award marks a milestone for the University of Montana's journalism program, as she is the first UM alumnus to claim first place in the competition. Her recognition highlights the growing visibility of student and early-career photojournalists from Montana.
McCuddy submitted photographs from her time as a UM student and from her summer in Kentucky. She received the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, a global competition that provides thousands of dollars in grant funding.
The players
Maddie McCuddy
A 23-year-old freelance photographer from La Center, Washington, and University of Montana journalism alumna who also received the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant.
Boyd's Station
A journalism residency program in rural Kentucky where McCuddy spent her summer producing photographs.
The details
McCuddy, 23, is a freelance photographer from La Center, Washington. Over the summer she worked on photographs for Boyd's Station, a journalism residency in rural Kentucky, where she developed connections with residents of Harrison County.
Timeline
Summer 2026: McCuddy works on photographs for Boyd's Station in rural Kentucky.
Spring 2026: McCuddy wins the National Photojournalism Championship in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program.
October 2026: McCuddy is awarded the top prize in College Photographer of the Year.
Industry Recognition
McCuddy's back-to-back wins in the Hearst National Photojournalism Championship and College Photographer of the Year extend a pattern of student photographers earning national-level recognition through established journalism competitions. Her results place a Montana-trained photographer among the leading early-career talents in the field.
Aspiring student photographers in Montana can follow the Hearst and College Photographer of the Year competitions to learn submission timelines and eligibility. Photographers considering a residency like Boyd's Station may find it useful to research how such programs connect them with local communities.
The takeaway
McCuddy's trajectory shows that sustained work with local communities, such as her time in rural Kentucky, can translate into competition success. Student photographers can apply that approach by building long-term relationships with the people they document.
Further reading
Explore more in Photography, where Montana photographers and competitions are covered.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Umt.
