Published on February 11, 2026  
SEJC2026

Samford University student media once again earned regional recognition at the Southeast Journalism Conference (SEJC), with students bringing home multiple honors from the conference’s annual “Best of the South” Awards this February. 

Samford students accepted five awards during the competition. The top individual finish for Samford belonged to senior Hanna Allen, who placed second in the Best Magazine Writer category. 

Allen is a two-year editor for Entre Nous, Samford’s yearbook, and served as editor-in-chief during the 2024–25 academic year. 

Individual award recipients included: 

  • Second Place, Best Magazine Writer: Hanna Allen 
  • Third Place, Best Advertising Manager: Lola Casey 
  • Third Place, Best Infographic: Liza Coffin 
  • Fourth Place, Best Feature Writer: Jordyn Davis 

Casey, public relations manager for The Samford Crimson, earned her second consecutive SEJC award. Davis was a member of The Samford Crimson staff during the 2024–25 academic year, while Coffin’s recognition highlighted Samford’s continued strength in visual and data-driven storytelling. 

In addition to individual honors, Samford received an organizational award for The Local, which finished third in the Best Magazine category. The Local is produced through the Department of Communication and Media’s print practicum course. 

Will Heath, Samford’s media and professional development adviser, said the awards reflect both student effort and faculty investment. 

“This recognition is a reflection of our students’ hard work as well as all the faculty who pour into them,” Heath said. “They are a true credit to our community and to our industry.” 

Students who attended the 2026 conference included Avery Abruzzo, Lola Casey, Ben Edwards, Nina Hamilton, Belle Kelly, Sydney Pulliam and Kate Seaver. Throughout the weekend, students participated in professional development sessions and on-site competitions alongside peers from institutions of all sizes across the Southeast. 

Founded to promote student journalism and collaboration among journalism programs, SEJC includes member colleges and universities from across the region, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.

At the conclusion of the conference, SEJC organizers announced that the 2027 Southeastern Journalism Conference will be hosted by Samford University, scheduled for Feb. 5–7, 2027.

Performances like these reflect the strength of Samford’s academic programs and hands-on learning opportunities, an impact recognized nationally in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges rankings, where Samford earned multiple Top 10 distinctions, including #3 for career preparation and #7 for learning opportunities.

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Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and boasts one of the highest scores in the nation for its 97% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.