ElonComm students celebrated in Best of the Web/Best of Digital national competition

School of Communications students collected five awards in the 2023 Best of the Web/Best of Digital competition, presented by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, including a podium sweep in the contest’s mobile application category for small schools.

On the Grid, a student group project advised by Assistant Professor Rebecca Bagley, won first place in the contest’s App – Individual/Team/Single Class – Small School Category. Produced as part of Bagley’s Web and Mobile Publishing class, the project allows users to create an account to collect and share their adventure experiences. Users can record and post notable details and photos while earning “badges” along the way. The student group consisted of Anne Kalinowski ’22, Kayla Shaw ’22, Natasha Osses-Konig ’21, Kathryn Quinn ’22 and Sally Long ’22.

Interactive Media graduate student Abby Lachance G’23 captured second place in the aforementioned app category for her Sport Creative Hub entry, an interactive social media platform that builds a community with sport creatives, sports agents and sports fans. Lachance’s work was also highlighted earlier this spring.

Lastly, a second student group project advised by Bagley earned third place for its Fuel Space mobile application entry. The app is designed to help consumers locate the cheapest gas options and available parking based on location. Group members included Molly Mahoney ’23, Patrick Hanrahan ’22, Ashleigh Garcia ’22 and Aulani Barnes ’23.

Elon student entries also captured first and second place in the Website – Individual/Team/Single Class – Small School Category. The top prize was awarded to the Dove Youth Development website, a robust online platform that supports a nonprofit organization in the Dominican Republic that provides educational opportunities and afterschool programs.

As part of their Interactive Project for the Public Good course, 10 Interactive Media students and Associate Professor Nicole Triche spent a week in Puerto Plata to collect video interviews, photography and written content to overhaul the organization’s online presence. Student participants included Olivia Archer G’23, Shaina Catchings G’23, John Donohue G’23, Lachance, JaRiah Morris G’23, Sequoia Nichols G’23, Maya O’Neal G’23, Hana Sedivy ’21, G’23, Courtney Simmons G’23 and Michaela Zeno G’23.

Morgan Chisholm ’23, a double major in strategic communications and communication design, earned second place for her website entry, titled The Chronicler. The recent graduate created a website design to highlight the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s movies, TV shows and characters to help viewers understand the basics of each film and how they intertwine. In April, Chisholm received the school’s Outstanding Senior Award for the strategic communications major.

The Best of the Web/Best of Digital Competition is an annual web and app design contest co-sponsored by the AEJMC’s Communication Technology (CTEC) and Visual Communication (VISC) Divisions. Web and app design professionals and academics with a background in web and app design technology are responsible for judging the competition.

Winning entries

WEBSITE – Individual/Team/Single Class – Small School

First Place: Dove Youth Development Website
Olivia Archer, Shaina Catchings, John Donohue, Abby Lachance, JaRiah Morris, Sequoia Nichols, Maya O’Neal, Hana Sedivy, Courtney Simmons, Michaela Zeno
Nicole Triche, faculty adviser

Second Place: The Chronicler
Morgan Chisholm, Elon University
Ben Hannam, faculty adviser

APP – Individual/Team/Single Class – Small School

First Place: On the Grid Mobile Application
Anne Kalinowski, Kayla Shaw, Natasha Osses-Konig, Kathryn Quinn, Sally Long
Rebecca Bagley, faculty adviser

Second Place: Sport Creative Hub
Abby Lachance
Derek Lackaff, faculty adviser

Third Place: Fuel Space Mobile Application
Molly Mahoney, Patrick Hanrahan, Ashleigh Garcia, Aulani Barnes
Rebecca Bagley, faculty adviser