Spartan Media Awards highlight outstanding student work

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, May 15, 2026 – Stark State College recently hosted its annual Spartan Media Awards. The event shines a spotlight on student excellence, creativity and digital artistry.

Students earned recognition in a competition judged by industry professionals. The winners received awards in several categories, including graphic arts, video production, music production, photography, and 3D modeling and animation. The 2026 honorees include:

• Digital page layouts: Russel Bloom
• Digital illustrations: Allison Berry
• Digital photo composites: Rachel Toxie
• Traditional illustrations: Abigail Messerly
• Black and white photography: Elijah Carter
• Commercial photography: Sarah Scholz
• 3D modeling: Zachery Jackson
• 2D/3D animation: Eliza Knop
• Comedy short: Taylor White
• Fiction short: Dylan Rudy-Gattone
• Non-fiction short: Gwendolyn Crabb
• Original composition: Aidan Mark
• Music production: Aidan Mark
• Sound design: Christopher Briley

Learn more about the Spartan Media Awards at spartanmediaawards.com.

Pictured above:
(Back row: left to right) Eliza Knop, Russel Bloom, Allison Berry, Abigail Messerly, Aidan Mark and Rachel Toxie.
(Front row: left to right) Elijah Carter, Christopher Briley, Gwendolyn Crabb, Zachery Jackson and Sarah Scholz.
(Not pictured) Winners Dylan Rudy-Gattone and Taylor White.