The Hawkeye staff earn honors at SEJC

Published February 24, 2026

A group of people standing in a row smiling.

CAPTION:听Pictured L-R:听Johnathan Warren, Apil KC, Blade Gowen, Keith Webb, Stirling Terry, and Mae Harding

MONROE, La.听鈥撎�Representatives of the University of Louisiana at Monroe鈥檚 student-run newspaper,听The Hawkeye,听joined students from more than twenty-five universities at the recent Southeast Journalism Conference 2026, hosted by Georgia Highlands College. Keith Webb, editor-in-chief; Blade Gowen, arts and entertainment editor; Mae Harding, news editor; Stirling Terry, opinions editor; Johnathan Warren, sports editor; and Courtney Collins, assistant director, enjoyed sessions and speakers on the conference鈥檚 theme, From Front Porches to Front Pages: Storytelling in the South.听

The annual on-site competitions challenged editors with real-world tasks and tight deadlines. For the Art and Entertainment Multimedia contest, communication senior, Blade Gowen, covered a live performance of The Superstation at the opening听evening鈥檚听reception. Blade won third place for his multimedia coverage. Computer science major, Apil KC photographed the Georgia Highlands vs. USC Lancaster baseball game, which earned him first place in Sports Photography. His entries in the Feature Photography category also earned first place.听

In the听Best of the South 2025听competition, the听weekend鈥檚听highlight, senior copywriter Emma Sullivan, a pharmacy major, earned third place as Best Opinion Writer.听Chacahoula听editor-in-chief Pawan Khatri, a computer science major, placed first in Best Graphic Design.听听Keith Webb, an accounting major, earned the first-place award in Best Newspaper Design.听听听

According to Webb, a veteran of SEJC competitions, 鈥淐ompeting and placing at SEJC, where strangers are unbiased in judging my work, helps me to better grasp my skill in the field.听听My goal is to help our team recognize that everyone else is just like us when competing.听听It is our approach and skill that lead to placing.鈥澨� Webb also recognized the value of shared team experiences away from campus.听听听

Courtney Collins, Assistant Director of Student Publications,听mirrored Webb鈥檚 sentiments and commended the听group for听representing听ULM with excellence. She added, 鈥淚t was especially wonderful to see one of our graduating seniors receive a special award for their hard work during听the听on-site competition. Their success was a reminder that consistent effort, late nights, and commitment truly matter鈥攁nd I听couldn鈥檛听be prouder of how they showed up and stood out.鈥澨�听

ULM Student Publications publishes听The Hawkeye听in print or digital formats most Tuesdays of each semester. Students and faculty can pick up听The Hawkeye听on campus at the Hub, the library, and near the entrances of most academic buildings. The digital versions of听The Hawkeye听and of the听Chacahoula, ULM鈥檚 yearbook, are available at听. For more information contact Courtney Collins,听Assistant听Director, at听ccollins@ulm.edu听or Whitney Martin,听Director, at听wmartin@ulm.edu.听听