Recent Drake University graduate Cassandra Schoene was recognized as a national leader in Social Media Reporting in the Associated College Press’s annual Pacemaker Awards, one of the most prestigious national college media contests in the country.
Schoene was awarded first place in Social Media Reporting for her six-part TikTok series for Urban Plains, the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s capstone project. Her story focuses on factory farms, otherwise known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)—how they came to be, the risks they pose, and the policies and politics that allow them to exist.
“I feel incredibly honored to get this award,” Schoene said. “I’m elated to have won, to see the endless sleepless nights, the time collaborating with professors and peers, and the overall hard work I put into this series recognized on a national level.”
Schoene graduated in December 2024. She currently works as a multimedia journalist for KHQA-TV in Quincy, Ill.
More Awards
Schoene wasn’t the only Drake student to be recognized at this year’s Pacemaker Awards. Two other students, recent alums Lauren Theisen and Eve Kelly, also received awards. Theisen’s Urban Plains story, “Empty Plates and Empty Promises,” nabbed second place in the In-Depth News Story category. Kelly’s Fall 2024 Drake Mag cover received honorable mention in the Best Magazine Cover category.
Multiple Drake University student media projects were also named Pacemaker Finalists this year. Drake Mag and Drake Political Review were both named Magazine Pacemaker finalists. It was the second year in a row Drake Political Review has been named a finalist, while this was the ninth year in a row Drake Mag had been named a finalist. Six of those resulted in wins.
In the spring, both Urban Plains and the Times-Delphic, Drake University’s student newspaper, were named Online Pacemaker finalists. It was the first time the Times-Delphic had been recognized, while it was the fifth time Urban Plains received the honor, four of which were named winners.
The seven overall Pacemaker Organizational and Individual awards were the most Drake has received since 2016.
“The Pacemakers are the Oscars of college media,” said Jeff Inman, associate professor of journalism and Drake SJMC’s contest coordinator. “To receive so many awards is a testament to the level of student talent we have at Drake.”
Here’s the complete list of this year’s winners.
Social Media Reporting: First Place
The Midwest: The Region of CAFOS
Cassie Schoene
Urban Plains
In-Depth News Story: Second Place
Empty Plates and Empty Promises
Lauren Theisen
Urban Plains
Best Magazine Cover: Honorable Mention
Fall 2024
Eve Kelly
Drake Mag
Magazine Pacemaker Finalists
Drake Mag Spring 2025
Drake Political Review Spring 2025
Online Pacemaker Finalists
Urban-Plains.com
TimesDelphic.com