Communication students at Texas A&M-San Antonio are celebrating two national awards in recognition for the Spring 2020 issue of El Espejo, a student-produced feature magazine produced by Jaguar Student Media. 

The Associated Collegiate Press awarded El Espejo magazine a Pacemaker Award in the four-year feature magazine division. In addition, the publication won second place for the design and visuals for COVID-19 coverage, “We’ve Been Here Before.”

Considered the most prestigious award in collegiate journalism, the ACP pacemaker designates the best of the best in today’s student media. “The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award,” APC director Laura Widmer said.  
 
The Associated Collegiate Press named nine winners on Thursday in the four-year feature magazine category during a virtual awards ceremony. The Pacemaker winners included A&M-San Antonio, the University of Miami, Ball State University, Drake University, Western Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, Fashion Institute of Technology, Syracuse University and the University of Oregon.  

The association confirmed El Espejo is the first student magazine in the Texas A&M System to win a Pacemaker award.

This is the first time ACP has recognized the student magazine, which just launched in 2018, said faculty adviser and Communication lecturer Donna Pazdera. 

Students involved in producing the 48-page magazine include Katelyn Earhart, editor-in-chief, as well as Dimon Jae Barnes, Victoria Martinez, Roman Guzman Ramirez III, Alexander Chavarria and Michea Marquez. 

Students publish El Espejo in the fall and spring terms. The team is working virtually this semester and will publish its next issue in December.