By: Tiffany Boggs

Communication major Emma Redden (class of 2025) joined WGMU Radio during her freshman year at Mason and stayed involved all four years of her undergraduate career. Her popular Retro Rewind radio show featured music from the 1960s to the 1990s alongside trivia and background information about her favorite songs and artists. In addition to her role as DJ, Emma developed her leadership skills during her sophomore year when she was promoted to the role of program director, overseeing staff training, scheduling on-air content, and assisting the general manager with day-to-day operations. Redden also wrote album reviews for wgmuradio.com and worked behind-the-scenes to produce WGMU’s audio broadcasts of men’s and women’s basketball games (she even returned as an alumni in spring 2026 to assist with basketball production).

All that experience across different areas of radio paid off post-graduation when Redden landed a full-time job at Audacy, the second-largest radio company in the United States with over 200 million monthly listeners and 220 stations (including D.C.’s 106.7 The Fan).

Redden credits Student Media and WGMU as an important part of her life as a Mason student and a vital training ground that prepared her for career success in her chosen field: “WGMU gave me everything in terms of radio, not just on-air, but [also insight into] different revenues of radio to prepare me for this position. I was able to go in and say, ‘Hey, anything you need I can pretty much do.’”

In her current role as a sales assistant at Audacy, Redden is applying and extending the knowledge she gained at Student Media. In the D.C. market, where Audacy, Inc. owns six music and sports stations, Redden assists account executives with clients who purchased radio time, specialty programming, and audio commercials. “I help make sure that content is created that it’s put into the system correctly,” she said. Redden shared that, on occasion, she’ll get to work with on-air programming during live broadcasts and promotion to advertise the station. “So, I get to do a little bit of everything, which I love.”

Reflecting on her WGMU experience brought back fond memories for Redden, notably the station’s annual “Name That Song” event where students correctly guess the name of a song to win prizes. Redden recalls how in spring 2024, the team “put the pedals to the medals” to make sure that event was amplified across campus by passing out flyers around campus, advertising on Instagram, and even painting a pillar outside on Wilkins Plaza. Some of her proudest moments were when people came up to her afterwards saying that it was WGMU’s best event since COVID-19.

Redden is thankful for her time at Student Media and called it “the heartbeat of campus.” She misses being on-air at Mason but is proud of the legacy she left behind: “It is time for me to pass the baton to the new generation. It is now their time.”

Photos provided by: Emma Redden

Student Media is proud to announce that The Forge, Mason’s only sci-fi and fantasy magazine, won Third Place in the Best Magazine Cover category (Division I) at the 2026 CMA Apple Awards! Winners were announced on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at the Times Square Marriott Marquis in New York City during the final day of the College Media Association‘s Spring National College Media Convention.

First published in spring 2019, The Forge is a sci-fi and fantasy literary journal at George Mason University that publishes short stories, flash/micro fiction, poetry, and visual artwork focused on “all things speculative.” The Forge seeks to elevate original student works that explore the many realms of speculative fiction, such as imagining new, expansive worlds, exploring aspects of futuristic technologies, and investigating the variety of ways speculative fiction can educate as well as entertain.

Click here to read The Forge’s award-winning issue online >

According to CMA’s website: “Each year, the College Media Association hosts a series of prestigious contests designed to highlight the best in student journalism across print, broadcast, digital, and design. The David L. Adams Apple Awards recognize outstanding achievements as the “Best of Show” at the annual CMA Spring Conference held in New York City. Named in honor of David L. Adams, a dedicated and influential figure in the College Media Association and a longtime adviser at Indiana University, the awards commemorate his enduring legacy following his passing in 2007.”

This accolade comes on the heels of The Forge’s multiple wins at the 2025 Pinnacle Awards this past October…

Congratulations to the entire team on an amazing year!

By: Tiffany Boggs

From the time Student Media alumnus Zachary Hamilton (class of 2021) was a freshman in high school, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. Like most students aspiring to higher education, Hamilton searched for universities that could accommodate his determined career path. George Mason University was the answer he’d been looking for.

Student Media was the place Hamilton honed his sports broadcasting skills for five years as an undergraduate and graduate student, gaining hands-on experience and logging countless practicum hours in his chosen field to build a strong resume that would be attractive to future employers. Post-graduation, all that experience helped him land key internships and he is now a three-time Emmy Award-winning sports producer for Monumental Sports Network.

In his current role as a producer at Monumental, his portfolio includes pre- and post-show production and coverage of a host of Washington, D.C. home teams including the Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA), Mystics (WNBA), and Capital City Go-Go’s (NBA G League).

On July 10, 2025, Hamilton returned home to his alma mater to cover a live basketball game (Washington Mystics vs. Las Vegas Aces) at Mason’s Eagle Bank Arena in a “full-circle” career moment that inspired reflection on his experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student.

“It was great,” Hamilton said. “It really allowed me to learn behind-the-scenes and not just in front of the camera. Now that I’m working full-time behind the camera, you can definitely see where that transition helped me [get to] where I am today.”

Hamilton shared that he loved his time at Mason and recalled reaching out to Student Media’s Associated Director of Technology, David Carroll, to express his interest in doing play-by-play commentary before his freshman year even started. According to Carroll, Hamilton emailed him a month after graduating high school in July 2016 with tapes showcasing his skills calling athletic games.

Hamilton recalls asking Carroll how early he could start calling games at Mason and was told he could begin during his freshman year. Other universities he was considering wouldn’t allow him to start calling games on his own until sophomore or junior year, so Carroll’s answer was a welcome surprise.

“David right away saw potential in me and said, “can you actually come call two games before you even start class as a freshman?” I came up right away [because] I knew that Mason was where I wanted to be,” said Hamilton. “I felt like there was a lot of educational value at Mason, but also a lot of tangible experience I could get in my field.”

Under Carroll’s direction, Hamilton ended up calling several hundred games that aired live on ESPN+ as an on-air commentator for Student Media’s Sports Broadcasting Team. Hamilton completed his undergraduate studies in three years, earning a degree in Communication and Sports Broadcasting. He decided to stay at Mason to complete a Master’s degree as well, taking on numerous behind-the-scenes roles as a graduate assistant including on-air commentator, camera operator, technical director, and graphics operator.

After Hamilton received his Master’s degree in 2021, he stuck around the Mason community to mentor other students and help them land jobs. According to Carroll, “Zach was instrumental in helping [other students] grow as well. One of Zach’s skills is that he’s really good at is recruiting people.”

Now an award-winning professional, Hamilton spoke fondly about his time as a graduate assistant and intern, but noted that working in sports media is “not a typical 9-to-5 job” that may entail extended time away from family and friends or missing important events. That’s why he says it’s a “big deal” to build a community within the industry because the people he works with become a second family.

“I believe if you have talent, you should have that opportunity,” Hamilton said. “So I’m all about helping other people get to their journey as well.”

Photos provided by: Zach Hamilton

Student Media is proud to announce that The Forge, Mason’s only sci-fi and fantasy magazine, is the winner of multiple 2025 National Pinnacle Awards presented by the College Media Association (CMA)! Winners were announced October 15-18, 2025 at the MediaFest25 Conference in Washington, D.C.

For the second year in a row, Volition, Mason’s undergraduate literary and arts journal, was named a national finalist for the 2025 Pacemaker Award by The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). Unofficially known as the “Student Pulitzer,” the Pacemaker is the preeminent award in student journalism.

Congratulations to both journals!

Click here to download the full press release >

The Pinnacle Awards are CMA’s flagship national honors, “recognizing the best student work in collegiate journalism, media production and organizational excellence.” A panel of experienced media professors and educators selected this year’s winners from a pool of 3,358 entries across eight categories. Open to individuals and student media outlets from across the country, the Pinnacles span a wide range of categories including writing, photography, design, multimedia storytelling, and more.

First published in spring 2019, The Forge is a sci-fi and fantasy literary journal at George Mason University that publishes short stories, flash/micro fiction, poetry, and visual artwork focused on “all things speculative.” The Forge seeks to elevate original student works that explore the many realms of speculative fiction, such as imagining new, expansive worlds, exploring aspects of futuristic technologies, and investigating the variety of ways speculative fiction can educate as well as entertain.

“There are no words to describe how happy I am that The Forge is getting the recognition it deserves. All the talented creators and hardworking staff gave their all for this issue,” said Emily Gomez-Adames, the student editor-in-chief of the award-winning 2024-2025 issue. “Leading a team for the first time was nerve-wracking, but seeing everything come together made it all worth it.”

“Winning multiple Pinnacle Awards feels incredible and I’m so proud of the team! It’s amazing to know that the hard work and care we put into the issue paid off,” said current Forge Editor-in-Chief Samantha Gerken. “By working at The Forge, I learned more about teamwork, project management, and the publication process. I’m excited to see where the publication goes in the future!”

“Well-deserved but not surprising; both editorial teams consistently create publications that are the best of the best in college media journals,” said Mason Student Media Director Kathryn Mangus.

“I am extremely proud of Mason’s student publications and was thrilled to see The Forge gain national recognition at this year’s Pinnacle Awards. I especially enjoyed hearing the student team cheer for each win during the awards ceremony,” said faculty advisor Jason Hartsel. “Each individual issue is the culmination of many hours of hard work, creativity, and hands-on learning by our talented students, and these awards will no doubt inspire future teams to leave behind their own legacy of distinction.”

According to CMA’s website, contests such as the Pinnacle Awards, “highlight the best in student journalism [and] empower students and student media organizations to elevate their work, gain national recognition, and set professional standards for storytelling, design, and multimedia innovation.” Participation “helps students build portfolios, raise their publication’s visibility, and benchmark their work alongside peer institutions. Winning entries are featured at CMA conventions, shared with the broader journalism community, and published as models of excellence.”

The Forge’s 2025 Pinnacle Awards:

• Second Place, Division I: Literary Magazine of the Year (team award)
• First Place, Division I: Literary Magazine Cover (Ann Rodriguez, Samantha Gerken, and Marian Claros Barrientos)
• Second Place, Division I: Editorial Illustration (Marian Claros Barrientos)
• Honorable Mention, Division I: Literary Magazine Spread (Kerry Bishop, Zeenat Hamidi, and Samantha Gerken)

Student Media was proud to host two interactive #Welcome2Mason events during fall 2025 that welcomed 100+ attendees each!

The first event was our annual Press Pass Open House on Thursday, September 4th, where students, faculty, and staff were invited to visit the Student Media office in The Hub 1201 to learn more about what we do. Attendees enjoyed free pizza and drinks as they toured our newsroom, met student leaders and staff from each media group, picked up branded swag items, and learned how to get involved. Watch a quick video recap above!

The second event was Constitution Day on Wednesday, September 17th in The Hub’s Side Pocket. Student Media helps the Mason community observe Constitution Day each year by hosting a celebration featuring refreshments, a prize wheel, trivia questions, free pocket Constitutions, a chance to “Sign the Constitution,” and the “Preamble Scramble” where students solve a giant puzzle by re-constructing our founding document’s Preamble that begins with three important words: “We the People…” Watch a quick video recap below!

Check out our Constitution Day resource page: studentmedia.gmu.edu/constitutionday

Press Pass Videos/Photos by: Mitchell Richtmyre / Video Editing by: D’Shaun Wells

Constitution Day Videos/Photos by: Joylin Ting / Video Editing by: Joylin Ting

Student Media would like to thank and congratulate each of our 45 involved students graduating in 2025!

Your hard work, creativity, and leadership helped our groups continue to inform, enrich, and entertain the Mason community.

Click here to meet our outstanding 2025 graduates! >

While we are sad to see our grads move on, we know that each of them has a bright future ahead. Our work is inherently collaborative, but the individual contributions made over the years by the Class of 2025 have made a tremendous impact on the Mason community. Your shared commitment to excellence will not be forgotten.

Congratulations to everyone graduating in 2025 and best of luck with your new careers in media and beyond!

Student Media is proud to announce that Hispanic Culture Review (HCR) has been awarded a 2024 National Magazine Pacemaker Award by The Associated Collegiate Press (ACP), the preeminent award in student journalism!

Volition, Mason’s undergraduate literary and arts journal, was named a finalist in the same category!

Congratulations to both journals for earning this tremendous honor!

Click here to download the full press release >

Unofficially known as the “Student Pulitzer,” the Associated Collegiate Press has awarded the Pacemaker to spotlight excellence in college media since 1927. According to the ACP website, this “prestigious award recognizes overall excellence and distinguishes the top student media produced during a particular school year.”

First published in fall 1990, Hispanic Culture Review is a bilingual literary journal at George Mason University that features poetry, essays, narratives, photography, and visual art in both Spanish and English. Celebrating more than 30 years of excellence, HCR’s mission is to bridge communication gaps and strengthen cultural bonds between English- and Spanish-speaking peoples by publishing original works from diverse creators around the world.

Since the first issue of Volition in fall of 2006 (formerly known as Apathy), the publication’s mission has been to unite Mason’s artistic community and serve as a showcase for undergraduate creativity. Publishing original poetry, prose, and visual art, Volition seeks to elevate emerging artists and writers while fostering free expression
on campus.

“Well-deserved but not surprising; both editorial teams consistently create publications that are the best of the best in college media journals,” said Mason Student Media Director Kathryn Mangus.

“I am extremely proud of Mason’s student publications and thrilled to see these two journals recognized nationally by the Pacemaker committee,” said Volition and HCR faculty advisor Jason Hartsel. “Each individual issue is the culmination of many hours of hard work, creativity, and hands-on learning by our talented students, and this award will no doubt inspire future teams to leave behind their own legacy of distinction.”

“It is a profound honor to support this amazing group of students as they share narratives that celebrate Hispanic culture and foster cross-cultural understanding—especially through Mason’s only bilingual literary journal,” said HCR faculty advisor Carla Burns. “I’m continually impressed by their dedication and so proud of this important accomplishment.”

Gary Lundgren, ACP associate director and coordinator of the Pacemaker competition, noted the quality of the winning student magazines rivals those produced by professionals: “The verbal and visual storytelling in the winning magazines is incredible and robust long-form stories combined with shorter quick-reads to pace the reader through the pages of the feature magazines,” Lundgren said. “And the creativity displayed in the literary arts magazines is incredible — the unique formats and creative designs make the magazines themselves a work of art.”

Student Media is proud to announce a new archival video initiative that we will be unveiling over the course of the spring 2025 semester: The Mason Throwback Project!

The Mason Throwback Project is an ongoing series documenting the history of George Mason University through student-produced videos and photos from Student Media’s archives.

You may have noticed the first two videos debut on YouTube, Instagram, and X/Twitter last month during Mason’s 2025 Homecoming celebrations. Future installments will spotlight important Mason traditions and events such as Greek Week, International Week, Mason Day, Commencement, and more!

Check out the full Mason Throwback Project playlist and stay tuned for new videos on Student Media’s YouTube channel and follow @gmustudentmedia on social media.

Playlist link: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZZHnC0JXWSuZP1cfbfTq6jLbvwa6A6U_

Mason Throwback: Homecoming (Basketball):

Mason Throwback: Homecoming (Tailgate/Parade):

Staff Credits: Patrice Pannell, Video Editor; Music Credits: Skilsel via Pixabay (Energetic Hip-Hop); Footage Courtesy of: GMView Yearbook, Mason Cable Network, and Student Media Archives; Learn More: studentmedia.gmu.edu

On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. Today, we celebrate this achievement and reflect on what the United States Constitution means to each of us.

To help the Mason community observe Constitution Day 2024, Student Media hosted an event in the Corner Pocket as part of #Welcome2Mason. The event featured free pizza and game play, a prize wheel, trivia questions, free pocket Constitutions, a chance to sign the Constitution, and the Preamble Scramble where students solved a giant puzzle by recounting our founding document’s preamble that begins with three important words: “We the People…”

Constitution Day Resource Page: studentmedia.gmu.edu/constitutionday

Photos & Video by: Mitchell Richtmyre