Keating Competition 2020

Archive of previous years’ contests

2021

35th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

“Indianapolis in Flux.” Students were encouraged to look at how downtown was emerging from the pandemic, ongoing race relations or weathering the large-scale construction projects.

Winners:

Augusta Nafziger, Goshen College
Alexa Shrake, Franklin College
Taylor Wooten, Franklin College

Other Finalists:

Tabby Fitzgerald
Evan Gerike
Isaac Gleitz
Carolina Puga Mendoza
Mary Claire Molloy
Ryley Ober
Haley Pritchett

Speaker:

Sarah Bahr

Open

2020

34th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

We were unable to gather in person during the COVID pandemic and instead asked students to submit their best published writing on the past year’s most pressing topics: the pandemic, social justice, the election or campus news.

Winners:

Mary Claire Molloy, Indiana University
Jordan Smith, Purdue University
Erica Irish, Franklin College

Open

2019

33rd Annual Keating Competition

Prizes Awarded:
$6,000

Assignment:

Downtown Indianapolis – Behind the Scenes

Winners:

Erica Irish, Franklin College
Cameron Drummond, Indiana University
Riley Eubanks, Ball State

Other Finalists:

Mary Bernard, University of Notre Dame
Lydia Gerike, Indiana University
Tierra Harris, Ball State University
Lexi Haskell, Indiana University
Abigail King Goshen College
Gabe Miller, Goshen College
Kelli Smith, University of Notre Dame

Speaker:
Samantha Schmidt, gender and family issues reporter at the Washington Post and 2014 Keating Competition winner.

Open

2018

32nd Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Events at the the Indiana State Fairgrounds

Winners:

Dana Lee, Butler University
Laurel Demkovich, Indiana University
Shelby Mullis, Franklin College

Other Finalists:

Lauren Fox, University of Notre Dame
Mary Freda, Ball State University
Lydia Gerike, Indiana University
Emma Jones, Hanover College
Brynn Mechem, Ball State University
Maria Manuela Mendez, DePauw University
Emily Sabens, Ball State University

Speaker:
Margaret Sutherlin, social media manager for Bloomberg in New York City and a 2009 Keating winner.

Open

2017

31st Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Veterans Day

Winners:

Jack Evans, Indiana University
Madison Dudley, DePauw University
Taylor Telford, Indiana University

Other Finalists:

Sarah Bahr, IUPUI
Courtney Becker, University of Notre Dame
Austin Candor, DePauw University
Laurel Demkovich, Indiana University
Tyler Fenwick, IUPUI
Dana Lee, Butler University
Sarah Verschoor, Indiana University

Speaker:
Rachel Podnar, now a news editor at The Washington Post Express, is a previous Keating winner and graduated from Ball State University in 2016.

Open

2016

30th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Stories involving wheels

Winners:

Taylor Telford, Indiana University
Carley Lanich, Indiana University
Hannah Alani, Indiana University

Other Finalists:

Amanda Belcher, Ball State University
Alan Hovorka, Ball State University
Brody Miller, Indiana University
Grace Palmieri, Indiana University
Casey Smith, Ball State University
Briana Susnak, Indiana University
Matthew VanTryon of Butler University

Speaker:
Eric Bradner, a CNN Politics reporter fresh off the 2016 campaign, shared stories from the campaign trail and the night of the election.

Open

2015

29th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Circle Centre Mall

Winners:

Grace Palmieri, Indiana University
Anicka Slachta, Indiana University
Annie Garau, Indiana University

Finalists:
Dakota Crawford, Ball State University
Hannah Fleace, Indiana University
Annie Garau, Indiana University
Danielle Grady, Ball State University
Alison Graham, Indiana University
Kaitlin Lange, Ball State University
Grace Palmieri, Indiana University
Anicka Slachta, Indiana University
Mary Katherine Wildeman, Indiana University

Speaker:
Michael J. Sanserino, a two-time Keating winner and Sports Editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Open

2014

28th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Indianapolis’s Old Northside

Winners:

Samantha Schmidt, Indiana University
Michael Majchrowicz, Indiana University
Ryan Howe, Ball State University

Other Finalists:

Hannah Fleace, Indiana University
Danielle Grady, Ball State University
Evan Hoopfer, Indiana University
Alexandra Kincaid, Ball State University
Kathryn Moody, Indiana University
Jacob Rund, Franklin College
Anicka Slachta, Indiana University

Open

2013

27th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:

Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Winners:

Michael Auslen, Indiana University
Evan Hoopfer, Indiana University
Jessica Contrera, Indiana University

Open

2012

26th Annual Keating Competition

Assignment:
Fountain Square Historic District

Winners:

Katie Mettler, Indiana University
Victoria Ison, Ball State University
Claire Wiseman of Indiana University

Speaker:

Jeffrey H. Smulyan, chairman, president and CEO of Emmis Communications, spoke about how the media need to find new business models for their products.

Open