Awards
2026
College Media Association — David L. Adams Apple Awards (NYC)
Best Magazine | Best Magazine 1st Place – Division II | Ponder Issue 4 | CMA | 2026 David L. Adams Apple Awards
Best Feature Photography | 3rd Place – Division II | Ponder Issue 4 – “Badlands Cowboy” | CMA | 2026 David L. Adams Apple Awards
Best Cover Design | 3rd Place – Division II | Ponder Issue 4 | CMA | 2025 David L. Adams Apple Awards
American Advertising Awards (ADDYs)
Best of Show | Ponder Issue Three | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue Four | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue Three | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Staff Photo Spread | Noah Westergaard | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | We’re Not Robots Photography Campaign | Alec Butterfield | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ink & Asphalt, Publication Design – Cover Editorial Spread/Feature Series, Cole Marquez | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Izakaya Three Fish, Still Photo Campaign, Alec Butterfield | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Illustrations, Illustrations Campaign, Rae Hanzlik | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Area ‘76, Publication Design – Cover Editorial Spread/Feature Series, Alec Butterfield | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | Where We Belong, Still Photography – Color, Alec Butterfield | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | Feature Designs, Cover Editorial Spread/Feature Series, Hunter Clay Davis | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | PONDER Business Cards, Stationery Collateral, Hunter Davis | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | Because this, honey, is DRAG., Still Photography – Campaign, Noah Westergaard | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | Maten Er Halve Føda, Publication Design – Spread/Feature, Taylor SanFilippo | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
Silver Addy Award | Don’t Cry Over Spilled Corn, Still Photography – Color, Taylor SanFilippo | American Advertising Awards 2026 | Black Hills, SD
2025
Magazine Pacemaker Award | Ponder Magazine | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25 | Washington, D.C.
Recognized as one of the top eight student magazines in the nation out of 31 finalists, considered the highest honor in collegiate magazine journalism.
Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile Award – 1st Place | ’Til the Wheels Fall Off | Nathan Feller | Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25
One of the most prestigious national feature writing awards in student journalism, awarded for excellence in human-interest storytelling.
Environmental Portrait – 1st Place | We’re Not Robots (portrait) | Alec Butterfield | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25
Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile Award – 3rd Place | Hayden Hill | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reporting – 3rd Place | Hayden Hill | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25
Sports Game / Action Photo – Honorable Mention | Caleb Minor | Associated Collegiate Press | MediaFest25
AEJMC National Student Magazine Competition
General Excellence | Ponder Issue Three | Ponder Staff | AEJMC National Student Magazine Competition
Profile Story – 2nd Place | ‘Till The Wheels Fall Off | Nathan Feller | AEJMC National Student Magazine Competition
Design – 3rd Place | Ponder Issue Two | Ponder Design Team | AEJMC National Student Magazine Competition
College Media Association (CMA) – 2025 National Awards
Feature Magazine of the Year – Honorable Mention | Ponder Magazine | CMA National Awards
Magazine Spread – 2nd Place | Taylor SanFilippo, Noah Westergaard | CMA National Awards
Special Section – 2nd Place | Ponder Staff | CMA National Awards
Magazine Cover – 2nd Place | Ashley Beguin | CMA National Awards
A&E Story (Print/Web) – Honorable Mention | Taylor SanFilippo, Alec Butterfield, Ellen Sheehy | CMA National Awards
Sports Feature (Print/Web) – Honorable Mention | Nathan Feller, Caleb Minor, Hunter Davis | CMA National Awards
College Media Association — David L. Adams Apple Awards (NYC)
Best Magazine | Best Magazine 1st Place – Division II | Ponder Issue 2 | CMA | 2025 David L. Adams Apple Awards
Best Feature Photography | 2nd Place – Division II | Ponder Issue 2 | CMA | 2025 David L. Adams Apple Awards
Best Cover Design |Honorable Mention – Division II | Ashley Beguin | Ponder Issue 2 | CMA | 2025 David L. Adams Apple Awards
American Advertising Awards (ADDYs)
Best of Show | Ponder Issue Two | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue Two | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Nationals
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue Two | American Advertising Awards 2025 | District 8
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue Two | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Issue One | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | Ponder Launch Party Invite | Noah Westergaard | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Black Hills, SD
Gold Addy Award | We’re Not Robots Photography Campaign | Alec Butterfield | American Advertising Awards 2025 | Black Hills, SD
Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association – Golden Leaf Awards
Golden Leaf Award – 1st Place | Best Feature Story | “Chasing Distance” by Alec Butterfield | Ponder Issue Two
Golden Leaf Award – 2nd Place | Best Feature Story | “Student of Fire” by Nathan Feller | Ponder Issue Two
University Awards
Board of Regents Award for Academic Excellence | Ponder Magazine | BHSU Student Volunteer Awards Celebration
Outstanding New Student Organization | Ponder Magazine | BHSU Student Volunteer Awards Celebration
2024
Design Runner-Up | Ponder Design Team | AEJMC National Student Magazine Competition