Christian Robles, Contributing Photographer

This weekend, the Yale Daily News Foundation awarded its annual Scot Haller Prize, recognizing exemplary student journalism published in the last year across the News’ many sections.

Every spring, beginning in 2021, editorial desks at the News may nominate up to three entries authored by News affiliates. Entries also include multimedia pieces and features in the Yale Daily News Magazine. A panel of News alumni and other journalists determine first and second place winners — with $2,000 and $500 prizes, respectively — as well as honorable mentions. 

The prize was established in 2021 and honors Scot K. Haller ’77, a former arts editor for the News, who was an award-winning journalist when he died at age 35. 

Winner, Scot Haller Prize: Jack McCordick ’22 for “Figures of Speech

For over a decade, the William F. Buckley, Jr. Program has portrayed itself as a beleaguered defender of free speech and “intellectual diversity” at Yale. This year, its annual conference ended with a call to fire left-wing professors.

Runner-up: Serena Puang ’23 for “I had to choose between my education and my safety

How Yale’s withdrawal and readmission policies leave students no choice but to stay.

Honorable Mention: Lucy Hodgman ’24 “UP CLOSE | Cold, institutional, transactional

A look back on four decades of mental healthcare at Yale.

Honorable Mention: Isaac Yu ’24 for “UP CLOSE | Is the Yale-China relationship in jeopardy?

The University’s future actions could situate it as either a bridge — or another divide — between the United States and China.

Honorable Mention: Sylvan Lebrun ’24 for “UP CLOSE | Buried in an “avalanche of goodness

How emergency housing relief during the pandemic left out New Haven’s most vulnerable.

THE YALE DAILY NEWS