SJMC assistant professor Alex Scott, watched with excitement as two SJMC students, Emily Nyberg, and alum Grace Smith were recognized for their college photography work at the College Photographer of the Year Awards.

“Our students are really putting in the effort and they’re doing some amazing work,” Scott said.

Smith won gold in the Sports Feature category for her story of the UI baseball team’s Kid Captain. Smith, during her time at the SJMC was apart of the team photographing the Iowa Women’s Basketball team and was a producer for the Iowa WBB book, “More than a Moment.” She was also a finalist for the CPOY 79 Portfolio.

Nyberg received an Award of Excellence in the Domestic Picture and was a finalist for the General News category for her story on midwifery in rural Iowa.

The CPOY Awards recognize undergraduate and graduate achievements in photography from around 50 countries, with the top winner receiving an internship with Reuters.   

“I spent months on the midwife story, and I really got close to my sources,” Nyberg said. “For their lives to be showcased like that, I think is what makes that story my favorite one, just because it’s important for people to know what others are going through.”  

If you would like to see Nyberg and Smith's CPOY photo galleries click here.