The Bachelor named Indiana’s best newspaper for third-straight year

For the third-straight year, The Bachelor was named Division III Newspaper of the Year by the Indiana Collegiate Press Association.

On April 12, the editorial staff of The Bachelor made the trek to Indiana University (Bloomington), where, following a morning of educational sessions, awards were granted for the 2024 calendar year.

Taking home 17 awards in 15 different categories, the student voice of Wabash College earned a total of 53 points, besting second-place The Record (Goshen College) and third-place The Torch (Valparaiso University). Despite its lack of a journalism program, a commonplace at the schools Wabash competes with, generations of Wabash students have joined in on one of the school’s oldest traditions and competed successfully with students across the state. 

“Wabash men like a good story and they are naturally curious – asking yet another question comes straight from the work done in classes and labs,” said Chief of Staff and longtime advisor to The Bachelor Jim Amidon ’87. That curiosity drives men like Logan Weilbaker ’25 to challenge us – and himself – with a new, difficult crossword puzzle every week. It’s why a tiny school like Wabash has a strong, readable section focused on world news written by several talented writers. And it’s why the best stories every week are profiles – we’re curious about people and our people make the place special.”

After sweeping the contest two years ago and eking out a win by a single point last year, the three-peat felt like a hard-earned victory for The Bachelor’s editors.

“You never know what the competition is going to bring, so the only thing you can control is your own work,” said Weilbaker, The Bachelor’s managing editor. “We were super in-control of our work this year, having a veteran staff and almost everybody returning for a second year. We definitely wanted to win ICPAs, but accomplishing that was just a matter of taking it week-by-week and making sure that we were doing our best to produce the highest quality content that would give us the best chances at the end of the year.”

After a 3-year stretch at the top, The Bachelor staff will aim to keep its run going in 2026. But with or without external recognition of its successes, Wabash’s student voice will continue to skillfully write about what’s important to Wabash and its community members for years to come.

See the full list of winners below:

Single issue

3rd place: April 19, 2024

Themed issue

1st place: On to Greencastle

News story

1st place: ’shOUT stages silent protest by James Wallace ’26

In-depth story

1st place: Lights… Cameras… Action? by James Wallace ’26 and Elijah Wetzel ’27

Feature story

1st place: Student broadcasters call basketball live for Wabash Club of Indianapolis by Logan Weilbaker ’25

Sports story

2nd place: NCAC shake-up continues with addition of Wash U football by Ethan Wallace ’25

Staff editorial/opinion

1st place: More than just a slur by Liam Grennon ’24

Entertainment column/review

1st place: Raw performances invoke themes of justice, revenge in ‘Death and the Maiden’ by Logan Weilbaker ’25

Sports column

1st place: Appreciate greatness whenever you find it by Ethan Wallace ’25

Special section front/cover design

3rd place: Election special

Photo essay

3rd place: One day a year by Elijah Greene ’25 and Diego Banuelos ’28

Photo & visual awards: Slideshow