NMSU Student Newspaper Wins Seven State Awards
The Round Up received several honors from the New Mexico Press Association for journalism excellence.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Rodeo
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The New Mexico State University student newspaper, The Round Up, earned seven awards at the New Mexico Press Association annual Better Newspaper Contest. This included three first-place and four second-place recognitions for student writing, photography, and digital media.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the quality of student journalism produced in Las Cruces and showcases the professional capabilities of the staff at the university's official publication.
The newspaper secured three first-place and four second-place awards across various categories. These honors followed a staff performance that included recognition for sports photography featuring a 77-75 basketball game outcome.
The players
The Round Up
This is the official student newspaper of New Mexico State University located in Las Cruces.
New Mexico Press Association
This organization represents news professionals and coordinates annual journalism contests across the state.
The details
Staff members from the newspaper attended an awards ceremony alongside representatives from news organizations throughout New Mexico. Students were specifically honored for work spanning categories like digital breaking news, arts review, social media use, and general news photography.
Timeline
Hannah Saltman published her award-winning article in November 2025.
The New Mexico Press Association annual Better Newspaper Contest took place in October 2026.
Season Trajectory
This performance at the New Mexico Press Association annual Better Newspaper Contest marks the inaugural entry for the publication. It shifts the program into a new tier of competitive journalism among statewide news outlets.
The recognition validates the training and editorial standards currently in place at the university's newsroom. Local readers can expect a continued focus on professional-grade digital and visual content from the publication in upcoming academic terms.
The takeaway
Student journalists benefit significantly from peer feedback and professional recognition in competitive statewide settings. Readers are encouraged to support local campus media to stay informed about university developments and regional arts.
Further reading
Learn more about student media coverage in Las Cruces.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTSM 9 News.
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