Her Campus’ 2023 Chapter Award Winners were announced last week, and chapters found out which of their stories were the top three across different categories like Entertainment, Lifestyle, and more. After all of the hard work college students poured into their stories for the last school year, these honors are more than deserved. We’re proud of each and every chapter in the Her Campus family and can’t wait to see what you whip up for 2024.

Features with published authors and micro-influencers compelled readers and breaking entertainment stories focused on music, film and TV captivated their audiences. Emotional, personal essays and breath-taking profiles graced our screens and it felt nearly impossible to pick just a few to highlight. Be proud of what your chapter produced this school year. I’m already looking forward to watching how you’ll top it next year.

Without any further ado, you can find all the winners below!

pexels karolina grabowska 6954785?width=1024&height=1024&fit=cover&auto=webp — Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Best Feature: Career

First Place: Her Campus at Western

What Writing a Book is Actually Like: In Conversation With Author Jenny Holiday by Emily Berberich

“The process of writing and publishing a book is mystifying at best. For every article promising to have cracked the code to writing a bestseller, there are four more telling you that everything you think you know is incorrect. As with any new skill, the best way to learn how to write a book is from someone who’s done it. With that in mind, I turned to USA Today bestselling author and London local Jenny Holiday.”

10 of the Best Locations at and Around NC State to Take a Unique Professional Headshot by Ashley Rattenbury

“In today’s competitive professional world, one great way to stand out as an applicant to any job, university or program is to showcase what makes you unique. A great way to highlight your personality and individuality is with a striking professional headshot for your LinkedIn, email profile picture, social media, resume or website. Here are 10 beautiful places on or near NC State’s campus that you can use as a backdrop to your new professional headshot!”

Top 5 Majors For People Unsure About Their Career Plan by Olivia Davis

“It’s tough being forced to decide what you’re going to do for the rest of your life before you even become an adult. Even if you make the choice to come in undeclared, you only have a few semesters until you have to hunker down and choose the major that you would like to pursue. Fear not, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are the 5 best majors offered by SUNY Plattsburgh for students who aren’t sure about what they want to do after graduation, and why that program might be appealing to you!”

Ready to Become an Influencer? Here’s How To Start by Siarah Mazariegos

“I started my micro-influencer journey almost three years ago, and now I help others do the same! If you are interested in starting your own journey, then you’ve come to the right place! Here are the five steps you need to take in order to get started!”

Are Humanity Students Better Leaders in The Workplace? by Josie Smith

“We are now well and truly settled into the academic year, and have now perfected our answers to the classic trio of ‘get to know you’ questions: “what’s your name?”, “what year are you in?” and “what do you study?”. Now, in my third year, I have begun to take a lot of enjoyment in the various reactions people give when I tell them I study philosophy, all the way from the condescending ‘ahhh’s to the puzzled looks to the pitying smiles. These are usually immediately followed by the question of what I plan to do with a philosophy degree after university (often said in a tone that suggests I have the same odds of getting a job as a zebra).”

woman shopping for clothes in store — Photo by Burst from Pexels

Best Feature: Lifestyle

First Place: Her Campus at UConn

UConn Dorms: A Guide To On-Campus Housing by Joan Tejera

“As housing selection time nears, questions my friends always have each spring around this time include where to live, how big the rooms in each space are, and if they even have enough credits to get into a specific housing assignment. As a rising senior who has been exposed to all different types of housing, as well as the pros and cons of each space, I know how important housing is for students and how easily it can determine the experience someone has for their next year of college.”

Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Your Aggie Ring by Sydnie Harrell

“Aggie Ring Day, held on April 13 and 14 this spring, is when Texas A&M students who completed 90 hours in the previous semester get their Aggie Ring. While the day of achievement can be joyous and exciting, it can also feel hectic and stressful. Here are 8 things you need to know before getting your Aggie Ring.”

Top Spots to Cry on FSU’s Campus by Emily Hancock

“The highs and lows of college life inevitably leave you in tears at one point or another. You walk out of class after a bad exam, time to cry. Your long-distance girlfriend broke up with you, time to cry. You realized you are failing organic chemistry, you probably want to cry. Florida State University (FSU) has a beautiful campus that lends itself to the use of distressed college students.”

How I’m Learning Business At UCLA (A University Without A Business Major) by Kylee Kropf

“UCLA, I have a question for you: do you genuinely believe that business and accounting are the same things? Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic, but I had already taken several classes and declared my major as Pre-Business Economics at UCLA before my counselor informed me that the so-called “Business Economics” major was pretty much just economics featuring accounting.”

Best Kent State Study Spots by Hevin Wilkey

“The campus has a lot of nice places to study and it took quite a bit of work to find my favorite ones. I am sure I have yet to find some incredible spots, but these are the few that I have discovered and fallen in love with within my few months of being at Kent State. I cannot wait to see what else I will find.”

two women in college — Photo by George Pak from Pexels / Design by HC Design Team

Best Feature: Entertainment

First Place: Her Campus at ASU

Local Love: Phoenix Bands on the Rise by Mia Milinovich

“The smell of sweat and ash in the air. The slow rumble of a note thrumming from the bass. A singer, hair wet with perspiration, mouth open and welcoming to the tune it creates, steps to the mic. Guitarists thrash their heads to the raging beat of the drums, tearing their fingers against the strings. You’re surrounded by faces: college students, drop-outs, artists, families, and strangers.”

D&D Diaries: Sophia Lillis Wants To Change The Way You Look At The Game (SXSW 2023 Interview) by Leia Mendoza

“Sophia Lillis is unapologetically a huge Dungeons & Dragons fan. In case you weren’t at the SXSW Opening Night World Premiere, she explained to the audience how she played D&D in high school and has contributed to play it after the filming. With her character, Doric, Lillis portrays a Druid with nowhere to go until she is introduced to Edgin (played by Chris Pine) and Holga (played by Michelle Rodriguez) to help Edgin retrieve his daughter, Kira, back safely. After the world premiere, I spoke with Sophia Lillis about the progression of Dungeons & Dragons throughout our generation, stunt-work, and Doric’s insecurities as a character.”

The White Lotus: A Lesson on Toxic Masculinity by Sofía Capllonch

“The White Lotus has undoubtedly been one of the most talked-about shows of 2022, and for good reason. Putting aside all the Jennifer Coolidge Peppa Pig memes fans cannot get enough of (myself included), the show created by Mike White features a legendary cast and it recently snagged the Golden Globe for Best Limited Series.”

Why Is It Just Harry Styles Who’s Allowed To Be Queer Presenting? By Upasana Dandona

“When Sam Smith released their latest song, I’m Not Here To Make Friends during the last week of January this year, they immediately started getting trolled for their costumes in it — mainly a pink, fluffy outfit that they were shown to be wearing at the beginning of the song and a white corset that they flawlessly flaunted later on. Our cis-heteronormative world could somehow not accept a song about self-love and sexuality created by a queer person.”

My Time in the Oscars Virtual Press Room..and My Interview with Brendan Fraser by Cameron Crews

“Another year means another Oscars, and the 95th ceremony did not disappoint. I love award shows, and the Academy Awards are my absolute favorite. It is a dream of mine to be able to attend, so I decided on a whim to apply for a press pass to try and get to the show in person. Expectedly, I was denied a pass for in-person coverage. This was no surprise, I have never covered a high-profile event before and am only nineteen, so I wasn’t too beat up over the rejection. But then, I was given the opportunity to apply for a virtual press pass, so I did.”

person reading the newspaper — Photo by Roman Kraft from Unsplash

Best Feature: News

First Place: Her Campus at St. Andrews

Women Still Face Obstacles Pursuing Careers in Science: A Look into the New University of St Andrews Women in STEM Society by Natalie Olofsson

“Despite making up a comfortable majority, women are still failing to fill classrooms in life sciences, mathematics, and graduate research at the University of St Andrews. Computer science and physics have ratios of 4-to-1 for men to women; there is also a discrepancy between gender ratios in undergraduate degrees, and those in positions of power, which disproportionately favours men.”

March For Our Lives Rallies for Gun Control in Lansing by Charlotte Plotzke

“On March 23rd, 2023, March For Our Lives hosted a rally at the Michigan State Capitol building. Students, community members, activists, parents, and elected officials rallied in support of gun control measures. We heard from many students and activists during the rally including Troy Forbush, who was one of the five injured survivors of the mass shooting that occurred at Michigan State University on February 13th, 2023.”

CNU Stroll to the Polls: Dance Off by Brooke Martin

“The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity of Christopher Newport University hosts their annual “S.T.R.O.L.L” event in front of the whole student body for an impressive tenth year record. The event is a part of the Upsilon Beta Chapter’s effort to promote awareness for voting rights for midterm elections and a future of civic engagement.”

The Fashion For Change Show At UWaterloo Is The Charity Event Of The Season by Natalia Ruiz

“On March 25, I got the opportunity to attend the Fashion for Change show at University of Waterloo. The show was run by a group of talented students at the university to promote artistic expression through different mediums, such as dance, music, fashion, art and dance.”

Couldn’t Attend The GWS Forum? Here’s What You Missed by Olivia Davis

“On the second of November, the Gender and Women’s Studies Department alongside the Plattsburgh State Art Museum and Behavioral Health Services North ran a forum on domestic violence intending to spread awareness of the many forms of domestic violence and abuse.”

young woman in college dorm — Photo by Yoshua Giri from Unsplash

Best Feature: Personal Essay

First Place: Her Campus at MSU

MSU, The Shadows Now Haunt Me by Charlotte Bongratz

“I am not a Michigan resident. I go to school here, but I am a four-and-a-half hour drive away from my home. I cross over time zones, multiple state lines, and through major cities. I made a conscious decision to go to school far enough away that I would experience an entirely new environment, but close enough to get back home if I ever needed to.”

Social Burnout @ College Life: How I realized it’s okay to not be a social butterfly by Sitara Sigi

“To this day, I still distinctly remember every little detail of the first week of offline college. When the shackles of lockdown and isolation finally lifted from my life, I fully embraced the newfound freedom of travelling to new places, meeting new people, and completely devoting myself to living the perfect extroverted life.”

Flex Your Cooking Muscles: Teenage Boys, Masculinity And BBQs by Charli Keely

“It was the summer after my last year at school and we were just teenagers ready for festivals, celebrating the ‘end of an era’. Some threw outrageously large parties and others invited their peers over to relax with cans of beer in their gardens.”

A Portrait Of My (Brazilian) Family by Manuela Queiroz Ribax

“My mother is beautifully Brazilian. She looks Russian but also American but also French but also Argentinian but also Brazilian. She has a very thick accent that immediately reveals to anyone where she is from, but it’s a comforting kind of thick, thick like a wool scarf on a windy winter evening.”

Travel Diary To Ukraine by Katriona Hannah

“On Tuesday, I land at Kraków airport at 21:00, hop into a taxi and head to the hotel in the old town centre. It is close to the train station and not too expensive, so it works perfectly for my 7-hour stay. A quick shop at Żabka (the local grocery store) for dinner and breakfast, and I’m off to bed.”

Woman filming a group scene — Photo by Vanilla Bear Films from Unsplash

Best Profile

First Place: Her Campus at UCLA

Elevating Black Voices: An Inside Look Into UCLA’s Hip Hop Congress With Kanwulia Onianwa by Brianna Rose Hewitt

“UCLA is a minority majority school, but it is no secret that Black people are the minority of minorities. With a 4% Black population, Black students can sometimes feel swallowed up at the #1 public university. But thanks to clubs like Hip Hop Congress, Black culture is being elevated at UCLA, and the club’s very own Kanwulia Onianwa gave Her Campus UCLA all the details.”

Ally Pankiw Knows How To Make You Laugh, Then Break Your Heart – SXSW 2023 Interview by Leia Mendoza

“Ally Pankiw has always had the it factor. If you look at her filmography, it’s clear that she’s always had the comedic chops; taking on projects like Schitt’s Creek and The Great have established her as a voice in bridging comedy and heartfelt characters into worlds of opulence and outlandish situations.”

The UConn Sexperts Talk Sex Ed, Stigma, & Student Resources by Molly McGuigan

“Proper sex education is severely lacking in the United States. According to the CDC, less than half of high schools and fewer than a fifth of middle schools teach all 20 topics recommended by the CDC as essential components of sex education— topics such as basic information on STIs and critical decision-making skills.”

Shining a Spotlight on the Events of St Andrews: What is BPM? By Katie Gretter

“In St Andrews, there is no doubt that there are a variety of music collectives and events constantly going on, and it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming as events blend together – should you should be buying tickets for OneDirection Bop or Throwbacks at the Vic, Welly Ball or Opening Ball, Down to Funk or Szentek?”

Meeting Surge’s Student Body Candidates by Megan McEnery

“A link will be sent to all FSU students on March 1, allowing them to vote between seven a.m. and eight p.m. This election season is crucial because the positions of the student body will be decided: President, Vice President and Treasurer. Erick Rivers, Kaela Braxton and Megan Bettley are all a part of the student government (SGA) party Surge and will be running for student body positions.”

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