Awards & Honors
MSU student journalists at The Reflector win big at 2025 MPA summit

The Reflector student journalists took home three first-place awards this spring at the Mississippi Press Association’s O.C. McDavid Journalism Summit––walking away with a dozen top awards.

The O.C. McDavid Journalism Summit, hosted annually since 1998 by the Mississippi Press Association, honors excellence in collegiate journalism across the state. Named for longtime Mississippi journalist and artist O.C. McDavid, the event features professional workshops, networking opportunities and the presentation of student awards through the MPA’s Better News/Media Contest.

The Reflector’s Editor-in-Chief Ivy Rose Ball, a senior communication major from Muscle Shoals, won multiple awards for a three-part investigation she conducted on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at MSU.

Ball conducted a survey of nearly 250 students and employees via social media and used the results in the series. She was awarded first place in the “Best Use of Social Media” category, and second place in the “Best Series or Investigative Package” category. 

“This was an excellent project and intrepid work by the reporter,” an MPA judge wrote. 

Cadence Harvey, The Reflector’s managing editor in 2024, won first place in “Best Feature Story” for a story on Alberta Ebeheakey, a Ghanaian forestry researcher at MSU. Harvey, a native of Canton, Ga., graduated in May 2024, and now works as a reporter for The Dispatch in Columbus. 

“Getting to speak with Alberta about her life and share even just a small portion of her story was a moment that really solidified a love of journalism for me,” said Harvey. “Learning about people whose lives are so different from mine is such a special thing—I’m so glad it’s something I get to do every day.” 

Rowan Feasel, a senior English major from Union, and The Reflector’s life and entertainment editor since March, won first place in the “General Interest Column” category. 

“Great connection to readers,” an MPA judge wrote regarding Feasel’s writing. “Use of personal narrative, interesting subjects, original.” 

“I’m proud of our excellent reporters for earning these-hard-to-get accolades,” said The Reflector Advisor Josh Foreman. “Ivy has been a strong leader for The Reflector, and we are lucky to have her for a second term as editor-in-chief next year.”

A full list of awards earned by The Reflector follows: 

1st Place: “Best General Interest Column” - Rowan Feasel 

1st Place: “Best Feature Story” - Cadence Harvey 

1st Place: “Best Use of Social Media” - Ivy Rose Ball 

2nd Place: “Best General News Photo” - Ivy Rose Ball 

2nd Place: “Best Sports Photo” - Ivy Rose Ball 

2nd Place: “Best Series or Investigative Package” - Ivy Rose Ball 

2nd Place: “Best Design” - The Reflector 

2nd Place: “Best Website” - The Reflector 

2nd Place: “Best General Interest Column” - John Baladi, a graduate student from Madison

3rd Place: “Best Sports News Story” - Noah McCord, a junior software engineering major from Laurel

3rd Place: “Best Sports Column” - Noah McCord 

3rd Place: “Best Graphic” - Kate Myers, a junior communication major from Ruston, La. 

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