Article by | Tacy Brown
From left to right: Ann Mervin, Brooklyn Brown, Eleni Fotis, Alanna Hutton, Kalise Huber, Javier Benjamin, Tacy Brown, Claudia Brown, and Colin Lowry.
Owl Media had a fantastic time during their trip to Times Square, New York City for the 2025-2026 Apple Awards sponsored by the College Media Association (CMA). The highlights of the trip varied for individuals, but one event was repeated in everyone’s answer.
“I was very nervous before and during the awards ceremony because all I really cared about was getting top three instead of an honorable mention. When I saw that I made second place my body just moved on its own in excitement,” says Owl Media’s treasurer Javier Benjamin.
Javier shared this triumph of winning second place for Best Opinion Column for his article “From Problematic to Unlimited Potential: My Life With Autism,” with the rest of the staff during the awards ceremony.
“All the wins we achieved were amazing and seeing how accomplished Javier was when his article won was incredibly heartwarming,” says Ann Mervin, an Owl Media staff member.
Colin Lowry, another Owl Media staff member, stated, “When Javier won his awards, which I was even more proud of, I also got emotional during them as well because he wanted that award so bad and he worked so hard to get it.”
“I was just grateful to be there and feel the excitement for the other members in Owl Media. After the award ceremony I felt so joyful I had goosebumps when Javier was sitting there anxiously waiting to see if he got an award.” Vice President Brooklyn Brown continues, “Once he did I started jumping and cheering it was truly just amazing and a wholesome experience. It looked like he had just won the lottery in his eyes.”
Alanna Hutton also exclaimed, “I was so incredibly excited that Javier won a national award”.
Owl Media had a lot of adventures during this trip as well. Two students enjoyed a Broadway show one night, while other students went as a group to go to the Museum of Modern Art. On the last day, Owl Media traveled to Rockefeller Ice Rink to shoot some videos for a WMAR 2 “Good Morning Maryland” video while also trying some new moves on the ice.
“Seeing how accomplished Javier was when his article won was incredibly heartwarming.”
The groups split up and tried different varieties of food cuisine. Some students even experienced New York for the first time on this trip.
Students enjoyed broadway show, “Death Becomes Her.”
“My experience on the New York trip was amazing, I got to go to New York for the first time and had a blast there,” mentions Lowry.
Meanwhile, others got to find new experiences in their favorite city and become a tour guide for the rest of the group.
“I am forever a New York girly. Not only were the conferences very enticing, but spending time in New York and getting to know new people was exhilarating as well,” claims Hutton.
While the students had a wonderful experience as a group, each one also found that they learned a lot on their own.
“I learned a great deal from this, at first I was only expecting to learn from the article journalism side of things, but I learned a good bit of photography skills as well that can relate to journalism,” remarks Lowry, he goes on to say, “I now have good interest in both of these, which is awesome because I learned some valuable lessons from professors at the conferences as well.”
“I learned there are so many people out there willing to help you and give you feedback to keep bettering yourself and Owl Media as a whole.”
Mervin reports,”The conferences were very educational.” She also continues to say that she learned a lot about how to be a journalist during this trip. Many students felt as though they got a lot out of each conference they attended.
From left to right: Alanna Hutton, Kalise Huber, and Ann Mervin enjoy touring Manhattan and stumble upon the M&M store.
Kalise Huber, another Owl Media member claimed, “The New York trip was an enlightening journalism experience that taught me new awesome ways to create media. The conferences also made me want to create a school podcast.”
Vice President Brown mentioned, “I learned there are so many people out there willing to help you and give you feedback to keep bettering yourself and Owl Media as a whole.”
Professor Claudia Brown gave some insight on her background with the CMA conferences, “I first attended the CMA conference in New York City as a college student at age nineteen. I paid my own way and stayed at the international seafarers lodge, walking forty five blocks to the conference. What I learned there helped me get a full-time job at WBAL TV before I turned I turned 20! I have been bringing students to this conference since 2010 when I began advising the Harford Owl newspaper, and it’s just been an incredible experience, sharing this opportunity with the students here at HCC. I’m so grateful to the office of college life for their support and funding for the valuable experiences my students have had this conference through the years.”
Unfortunately, 2026 is the final year of the Apple Awards due to the end of a CMA contract, marking the conclusion of this specific NYC-based awards program. Although, the memories of Owl Media in New York City will always remain prevalent with us all.