Just Desserts 2025: Journalism students win school awards at 'sweet' event

May 9, 2025
Jesse Tellez
A group of students stand in the stairwell of the student union

Graduating seniors, graduate students and School of Journalism award winners pose for a group photo following the 2025 Just Desserts student awards ceremony on May 8, 2025.

Photo by Rick Wiley

The University of Arizona School of Journalism celebrated its students and graduates at the 59th annual Just Desserts student awards celebration on May 8, 2025, adding the cherry on top of another spring semester.

A student holding an award poses with the school director

Bilingual Journalism M.A. and Studies of Global Media M.A. student Alejandro Torres Calderon Arrieta poses with Director Jessica Retis.

Photo by Rick Wiley

School Director Jessica Retis and Director of Undergraduate Studies Kendal Blust presented more than 30 awards at the event held at the Student Union Memorial Center. 

Kendal Blust took home the 2025 Hugh and Jan Harelson Excellence in Teaching Award. Outreach Coordinator Jesse Tellez won this year's Carol and Cecil Schwalbe Staff Award for Outstanding Service.

Here are all of the 2025 student award winners:

  • Philip Mangelsdorf Award for Outstanding Newsperson of the Year: Sierra Blaser
  • Sherman R. Miller Award for Outstanding Senior: Olivia Krupp
  • Brewster P. Campbell Award for Outstanding Junior: Emma LaPointe
  • Outstanding Graduate Student: Alexandra Mora Medina
  • Alex Parker Awards for Reporting: Topaz Servellon, Susan Barnett and McKenna Manzo
  • Kathryn Anne Governal Perseverance Award: Ruby McKeown
  • Leadership and Service Award: Alejandro Torres Calderon Arrieta
  • Douglas Martin Courage and Integrity Award: Flo Tomasi
  • William Hattich Award for Journalism Professionalism: Analeise Mayor
  • Donald Still Award – Arizona Daily Wildcat: Sam Parker
  • Diversity and Inclusion Award: Kiana Watchman and Liliana Lopez Ruelas
  • Excellence in Multimedia Journalism: Noor Haghighi
  • Jack Sheaffer Outstanding News Photography: Jay Corella
  • Abe Chanin Excellence in Sports Reporting Award: Melisa Guzeloglu and Jimmy Furcini
  • Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Award: Samantha Callicutt and Kim Ngomo
  • Excellence in Science and Environmental Journalism: Laine Kowalski
  • Excellence in Research: Thatcher Warrick Hess
  • Innovation Award: Pricilia Mugwa
  • School Media Award: Laura Holánszky (AZSN) and Marissa Orr (Arizona Cat’s Eye News)
  • Kappa Tau Alpha honor society: Kyra Berg, Ruby McKeown, Georgia Landeryou, Lizzy Sorensen, Jaidyn Martinez, Thatcher Warrick Hess, Susan Barnett, Richard Whitmer, Laura Holánszky and Zoe Lambert
  • Certificates of Merit: Natasha Cortinovis, Dawn Page, Emily Beck, Arilynn Hyatt, Leah Steinberg, Ray Cervantes, Zander Burnes, Madeleine Slawny, Gwendolyn Buettner, Summer Williams, Desarae Tucker, Isabel Vidrio, Noemie Pichevin, Richard Whitmer, Harshit Khatwani, Kiara Adams, Jason Hoefer, Reed Lofstedt, Emilio Perez, Juan Serrano and Mason Kumet
  • Mark Finley Gold Pen Award for best beginning news writer: First – Ruby Wray.  Second — Griffin Salkowski. Third — Spencer Kyte.
  • Drew Gyorke Photojournalism Contest: Fall 2024: First – Adam Pearlman. Second – Monica Hernandez. Third – Taylor Dowdy. Spring 2025: First – Grant Lyon. Second – Ruby Wray. Third – Celeste Lizarraga.
Students sit at a round table at an awards ceremony

Journalism undergrads pose for a photo at Just Desserts on May 8.

Photo by Rick Wiley

Those receiving scholarships were:

  • John R. Barnett Scholarship: Gwendolyn Buettner
  • John G. Carlton Memorial Scholarship: Sierra Blaser and Ruby Wray
  • Concerned Media Professionals Scholarship: Katherine Martinez, Isabel Vidrio, Andrea Flores and Sara Arellano
  • Peggy Daum Judge Scholarship: Emerson Lampert and Brenda Machado
  • Bernice Cosulich Scholarship: Bryanna Thompson, Esperanza Fernandez and Tara Mitchell
  • Steve Emerine Scholarship: Brenda Machado
  • Richard Gilman Scholarship: Rachel Kietzman, Emma LaPointe, and Mohinur Mannonova
  • Gordon D.C. “Darn Cat” Scholarship: Julia Mortarelli and Alexia Waterman
  • Ruth A. and Donovan M. Kramer Sr. Entrepreneurial Scholarship: Ayla Probst and Isabella Barron
  • Sara and Harold Love Scholarship: Kaitlyn Wright
  • Douglas D. Martin Scholarship: Mady Aulicino
  • William Milburn Memorial Scholarship: Mario Sosa
  • Arizona Daily Star Scholarship: Summer Williams
  • Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Scholarship: Mario Sosa and Richard Whitmer
  • John Ruby Scholarship: Mohim Jahongirova
  • Hank Hubbard Memorial Scholarship: Katlyn Vargas, Harshit Khatwani and TJ Gribble
  • Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship: Arilynn Hyatt
  • Lois Whisler Scholarship: Makenzie Spruill and Sophia Gladieux

Find a photo gallery from the 2025 Just Desserts celebration here: https://bit.ly/JustDesserts2025