For the third year in a row, The Vermilion, UL Lafayette’s student newspaper has earned a first-place award from the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) in New York in their national student newspaper competition.
The Vermilion staff—made up of 30 students from 12 different majors—was recognized for excellence in content coverage, editing, art, illustrations and overall quality.
The Vermilion earned perfect scores from the ASPA in page design and creativity.
“Producing a weekly newspaper is like tending to a garden; writers plant seeds, editors water them, designers provide sunlight. Without each step, nothing grows,” said Kay Padilla, Editor-in-Chief of The Vermilion for 2024-25.
Padilla continued, “Within The Vermilion, there are so many moving parts that have to intricately connect every week. All of our staffers have to produce their assignments, no matter the obstacles thrown at them. The Vermilion staff is comprised of different skill sets, opinions and creativity. Being a place where everyone can feel uplifted empowers them to continue to exceed their job expectations. That organic drive from every staffer is what makes the student newspaper successful.”
“The Vermilion’s national recognition this year didn’t come to be because of one entity; it was rather the collective effort of a hardworking, talented and diverse student staff,” said Ramudhi Kariyawasam, The Vermilion’s Managing and News editor for 2024-25.
“Our team not only has ambition for newspaper production, but a deep appreciation for creativity and the truth. Our journey to these achievements does not necessarily signal perfection; we are in fact imperfect, but we learn and grow to produce a newspaper that shares how even the most difficult challenges can prosper into some good. I am beyond honored for The Vermilion’s first place win and am rooting for many more achievements to come.” Kariyawasam stated.
The Vermilion staff has earned 16 regional and national awards in the past six years, including four consecutive awards from ASPA.
In 2023, The Vermillion, won seven awards, including best overall newspaper at the Southeastern Journalism Conference, where it competed against student papers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Memphis, Arkansas State, Troy and ULM.
“The Vermilion staff has been consistent in producing an extremely high level of content that is well received by our students, staff, faculty and alumni,” said Matthew Tarver, director of Student Publications.
“For more than 120 years, The Vermilion staff has overcome any internal or external obstacles, to develop professional-level skills while effectively preserving campus life and events for future generations.”
Edith Garland Dupré started The Vermilion in 1904, and the newspaper is one of the oldest student organizations on campus.