The Rambler, Texas Wesleyan’s student newspaper, attended the 2026 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) Convention in Denton, Texas from Wednesday, March 18 through Saturday, March 21. 

First meeting in 1909, TIPA is the oldest state collegiate press association in the nation. TIPA currently has 49 member schools. The 2026 convention saw five Rambler staff members attend workshops, live competitions, banquets and a career fair aimed at journalistic development and recognizing journalistic excellence across the state.

The convention ended Saturday morning with a breakfast awards ceremony. The Rambler was recognized for the following awards for articles published in 2025:

• First Place General News – Division III, Mica Magday & Kehinde Hopkins
• First Place Sports News Story – Division III, Alexis Bernal & Kayla Wildy
• First Place Feature Story – Division III, Kehinde Hopkins
• First Place Photo Story – Division III, Mica Magday
• First Place Multimedia Sports Story – Division III, Thomas Parsons
• First Place Environmental Portrait – Division III, Alexis Bernal
• Second Place General news – Division III, Mica Magday
• Second Place Sports Game Story – Division III, Thomas Parsons
• Second Place Sportscast – Division III, Thomas Parsons
• Second Place Sports Column – Division III, Thomas Parsons
• Second Place Feature Story – Division III, Kehinde Hopkins
• Second Place Video Sports Reporting – Division III, Alexis Bernal
• Second Place Breaking News Social Media Coverage – Division III, Lucia Larruscain
• Second Place Overall Web Design – Division III, Rambler Staff
• Second Place Print Special Edition – Division III, Rambler Staff
• Third Place Photo Story – Division III, Alexis Bernal & Montez Young
• Third Place Photo Story – Division III, Alexis Bernal
• Third Place Critical Review – Division III, Camila Nguyen
• Third Place In-Depth Reporting – Division III, Camila Nguyen
• Honorable Mention Social Media General Coverage – Division III & IV, Lucia Larruscain
• Honorable Mention Print Special Edition – Division III, Rambler Staff
• Honorable Mention Editorial – Division III & IV, Camila Nguyen
• Honorable Mention Static Ad Design – Division III, Mica Magday

In addition, Rambler Editor-in-Chief Kehinde Hopkins was elected by TIPA attendees from across the state to be TIPA Student Body Vice-President. Through the role, he will represent his peers and play an active role in planning and shaping the 2027 convention.

To keep up with the award-winning work of Texas Wesleyan University’s student journalists, click here.  

Rambler staff members Mica Magday (managing editor), Josephine Juarez (content producer), Thomas Parsons (broadcast director), Dr. Jenny Dean (Student Media Director), Kehinde Hopkins (editor-in-chief) and Roxanne Dominguez (content producer) pose for photograph with their awards.