About The University Star

The University Star, also known as The Star, is the student-run news organization at Texas State University and one of the oldest publications in the state. The Star provides news and information on issues affecting the university and the San Marcos community.

Our History

The first issue of The Star was published in February 1911 by student Fred W. Adams, son of the founder of Adams Extract and Spice Company. At the time, Adams was milking cows, carrying wood for his room and board, and selling his father’s extracts to pay for an education at a small teacher’s college in the Texas Hill Country.

Adams, who was 20 years old at the time, made a proposal to the college president and assured him that Adams would absorb any printing costs that advertising didn’t cover. In exchange, the president allowed Adams to keep the profits.

With student body approval, the newspaper became the documentation tool of the institution’s history. The name of the paper, The Star, can also be traced to Adams who noted in his diary, “The Star rose again all right today.” And, it has been rising each day on the institution’s grounds ever since.

The Star has published steadily from 1911 through the Great Depression, two world wars, as well as the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Lyndon Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, served as the summer editor of The Star in 1930.

Core Values

Mission The University Star strives to uphold the following non-negotiable core values:

• Accuracy
• Impartiality
• Honesty and Integrity
• Inclusivity and Fairness
• Transparency and Accountability
• Humanity and Public Service

As a student-led publication, we view our newsroom as a learning experience and strive to uphold the highest standards of journalistic ethics. We aspire to the goal of encouraging constructive conversation among our campus community and serving as a forum for discussion and debate.

Vision & Mission

Journalism is an act of civic responsibility. We see our work as a public service that is necessary for any community to thrive, because knowledge is empowering.

The University Star is editorially independent from Texas State University, meaning fellow students make all the decisions about what to cover and how. The university has no say in our content. Period. Our journalism is by students, for students. We also venture into San Marcos to cover the issues that are important to the community that hosts our university because the two are so interconnected.

Contact Us

The University Star is located in the Trinity Building on the Texas State University campus at 203 Pleasant Street. Our main phone number is 512-245-3487. Email is [email protected].

News

The Star has the largest newsroom covering San Marcos. Our student journalists cover a range of issues from health care, immigration, transportation, sports, and local government.

Events

The University Star hosts the Star Stories event each year to highlight the first-person stories of those in our Texas State community. This event is held annually during Mass Comm Week in October.

Volunteerism

Our students regularly volunteer in our community having participated in Bobcat Build, Sights & Sounds, and Great Texas River Cleanup events both in fall and spring.

Distribution

The Star prints 3,000 newspapers each Tuesday during the long semesters that are distributed at locations across campus and the city of San Marcos. The organization also has a website UniversityStar.com, a weekly subscription e-newsletter, as well as a social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The University Star app is part of the College News Network app available in the app store.

Professional Memberships

Associated Collegiate Press (ACP)

College Media Association (CMA)

College Media Business and Advertising Managers (CMBAM)

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA)

Awards and Honors

2024

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Division I

Second Place, Static Information Graphic, Megan Walters

Third Place, Sports Column, David Cuevas

Third Place, Photo Illustration, Delaney Compean

Honorable Mention, Advertising Campaign, Michele DuPont

Honorable Mention, Cartoon Strip/Panel, Devon Crew

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association On-Site Open Division

First Place, Feature Photo, Blake Leschber

First Place, TV Sports Writing, David Cuevas

First Place, PR Crisis Management, Abbie Taylor

Second Place, Best of Show, Newspaper Division I

Second Place, TV News Writing, Lucciana Chouiery

Third Place, Print News Writing, Blake Leschber

Honorable Mention, Spanish News Writing, Carlotta Pulgar

Honorable Mention, Newspaper Design, Sarah Manning

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

Winner, Editorial Writing, Staff

Finalist, General News Reporting, Nichaela Shaheen and Carson Weaver

Finalist, Breaking News Photography, Kobe Arriaga

Finalist, Photo Essay/Slideshow, Kobe Arriaga

Finalist, Feature Writing, Brianna Chavez

Finalist, Best Affiliated Website, Staff

2023

Headliners Foundation

Stuart Long Scholar, Madelyn Weirich

FOI Foundation of Texas

Ralph Langer Scholarship, Brianna Chavez

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Division I

First Place, Feature Story, Carson Weaver

First Place, Static Information Graphic, Staff

First Place, General Column, Andrew Hodge

Second Place, Sports Column, David Cuevas

Second Place, Website, Staff

Third Place, Feature Photo, Liliana Perez

Third Place, Editorial Cartoon

Honorable Mention, Best Use of Social Media – Breaking News, Vanessa Buentello

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association On-Site Open Division

First Place, Editorial Writing, Rhian Davis

First Place, TV Sports Writing, David Cuevas

Second Place, Print Sports Writing, Carson Weaver

Second Place, News Writing, Nichaela Shaheen

Third Place, Radio Sports Writing, Dillon Strine

Third Place, Magazine Design, Sarah Manning

Third Place, Sports Action Photo, Sarah Manning

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

Finalist, Best Affiliated Website, Staff

Finalist, Sports Photography, Vanessa Buentello

2022

Associated Collegiate Press

Finalist, Online Pacemaker

College Media Association Pinnacle Awards

Finalist, Best Breaking News Story, Staff

Finalist, Best Breaking News Photo, Vanessa Buentello

Finalist, Best Sports News Photo, Vanessa Buentello

Finalist, Best Portrait, Vanessa Buentello

Headliners Foundation

Barry Bishop, Madelyn Weirich

Stuart Long Scholar, Sarah Hernandez

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

Best Affiliated Website finalist

Best Use of Multimedia finalist

Best use of Multimedia finalist, “House Fire” Jaden Edison and Brianna Benitez

Breaking News Photography finalist, “House Fire” Jaden Edison

Breaking News Reporting finalist, “House Fire” Jaden Edison and Brianna Benitez

Editorial Writing Finalist

Feature Photography finalist, “ACL” Natalie Ryan

Feature Writing finalist, “Dignity in Death” Leanne Castro

Sports Photography finalist, “Football” Vanessa Buentello

Sports Writing finalist, “Texas Skate Forever” Aidan Bea

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Previously Published Division I

First Place, General News Multimedia Story, Staff

First Place, Multimedia Feature, Brianna Benitez, Jeffrey Halfen, Liliana Perez

Second Place, Website, Staff

Second Place, Editorial, Staff

Second Place, Feature Story, Aidan Bea

Second Place, General News Reporting, Arthur Fairchild

Second Place, Breaking News, Jaden Edison and Brianna Benitez

Second Place, General News Multimedia Story, Jaden Edison and Brianna Benitez

Second Place, Documentary Video, Kim Davis, Jr.

Second Place, Sports Action Photo, Vanessa Buentello

Second Place, Video Feature Reporting, Jeffrey Halfen, Natalie Ryan, Liliana Perez

Third Place, General Column, Jacklynn Broussard

Third Place, Documentary Video, Rasika Gasti and Douglas Smith

Third Place, Overall Design Website, Staff

Third Place, Feature Photo, Natalie Ryan

Honorable Mention, Feature Reporting Audio, Rasika Gasti

Honorable Mention, In-Depth Reporting, Payton Russell

Honorable Mention, Overall Design Newspaper, Molly Gonzales

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association On-Site Competition Open Division

First Place, Radio News Writing, Madelyn Weirich

First Place, Radio Sports Writing, Kyle Owen

First Place, PR Crisis Management, Nadia Gonzales

Second Place, Press Release Writing, Nadia Gonzales

Second Place, Feature Writing, Brianna Benitez

Second Place, 2-person Photo Essay, Vanessa Buentello and Liliana Perez

Second Place, Feature Photo, Vanessa Buentello

Second Place, Sports Action Photo, Vanessa Buentello

Third Place, Copy Editing, Sarah Hernandez

Honorable Mention, Print Sports writing, Dillon Strine

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Jeff Henderson Memorial Scholarship $1,000

Sarah Hernandez

2021

Associated Collegiate Press

First Place, Sports Feature Story, “Raising Declan” Aidan Bea

College Media Association

First Place, Online Best Breaking News Coverage, “House Fire” Jaden Edison, Brianna Benitez

Second Place, Best Online Infographic, “Black History at TXST”

Honorable Mention, Online Best Breaking News Coverage, “Winter Storm” staff

Honorable Mention, Best General News Story, “Dignity in Death” Leanne Castro

Headliners Foundation

Stuart Long Scholar, Brianna Benitez

Stuart Long Scholar, Valeria Torrealba

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards National

Sports Writing finalist, “Raising Declan” Aidan Bea

Editorial Writing finalist, staff

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

Editorial Writing, winner

Sports Writing, winner, Aidan Bea

In-Depth Reporting, winner

Breaking News Reporting, winner

Online In-Depth News Reporting, winner

Best All-Around Student Newspaper, finalist

General News Photography, finalist

Sports Photography, finalist

Best Affiliated Website, finalist

COVID-19 Coverage, finalist

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Division I

First Place, Environmental Portrait, “MLK Commemoration” Jaden Edison

First Place, General News Video, “A Lifeless City” Rebecca Harrell

Second Place, Overall Design Website, Morgan Byers

Second Place, Photo Story, “Death of police officer” Jaden Edison, Rebecca Harrell

Second Place, Interactive Graphic, “The 11% Project Timeline” Staff

Second Place, Multimedia Feature, “The 11% Project Timeline Editorial” Staff

Second Place, Headline Writing, “Volleyball finds magic broom” Staff

Second Place, Breaking News, “Texas State student-athlete killed in apartment shooting” Staff

Second Place, Feature Reporting (Audio), “Behind the names” Hannah Thompson, Michele DuPont

Second Place, Sports Column, “Opinion: Football is not worth athletes risking long-term COVID-19 complications” Toni Mac Crossan

Third Place, Cover Design Newspaper, “BLM issue” Molly Gonzales, Blake Wadley, Jaden Edison, Rebecca Harrell

Third Place, Multimedia Sports Story, “Revisiting Michael Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ at Texas State” Aidan Bea

Third Place, Documentary Video, “Blevins” Haley Brand

Third Place, Editorial, “Stop hiding COVID-19 information” Editorial Board

Third Place, Feature Photo, “It is our time to speak” Jaden Edison

Third Place, Feature Reporting (Audio), “Necessary now, forever essential” Rebecca Harrell

Third Place, In-Depth News Reporting (Audio), “We built this country” Rebecca Harrell

Third Place, Sports Feature Photo, “Texas State’s missed opportunities” Kate Connors

Third Place, In-Depth News Reporting (Video), “Black history professors reflect on significance behind Juneteenth” Daniel Weeks, Rebecca Harrell

Honorable Mention, Feature Story, “Raising Declan” Aidan Bea

Honorable Mention, Environmental Portrait, “Bicycle repair” Douglas Smith

Honorable Mention, General News Photo, “death of police officer” Jaden Edison

Honorable Mention, Overall Design, “Feb. 18 Housing Guide Issue” Molly Gonzales

Honorable Mention, Sports Action Photo, “TXST vs. Arkansas State” Kate Connors

2020

Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards

Honorable Mention, Best Sports News Story, Colton McWilliams

Seventh Place, Social Justice Reporting

Seventh Place, Advertising Rate Card

College Media Association Pinnacle Awards

Second Place, Best Campus Engagement, Star Stories

Second Place, Best Sports Feature Photo

Honorable Mention, Best Online Sports Section, Staff

Headliners Foundation

Stuart Long Scholar, Jaden Edison

Poynter College Media Project

2020 Newsroom

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards National

Editorial Writing finalist

Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

Editorial Writing winner

Best Use of Multimedia winner “Pegasus School” Bayley Bogus, Jaden Edison, Morgan Byers

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Division I

First Place, Special Edition Print Design “Year in Review,” Staff

Second Place, In-Depth Reporting “Clery reporting,” Jakob Rodriguez

Second Place, Headline Writing, Staff

Second Place, General News Photo “Cite and Release,” Rebecca Harrell

Third Place, Editorial “Texas State, Do Your Job,” Staff

Third Place, General News “Free Speech Feud,” Sierra Martin

Third Place, Documentary Video “Flaka,” Jaden Edison and Rebecca Harrell

Third Place, Photography Environmental Portrait “Memorial Day,” Jaden Edison

Third Place, Overall Design Website, Staff

Third Place, Sports Page Spread Design “Sept. 24, 2019,” Molly Gonzales

Third Place, Interactive Graphic “Iconic Village Plans,” Sawyer Click

Honorable Mention, Interactive Graphic “Sexual Assault Crimes Timeline,” Camelia Juarez

Honorable Mention, In-Depth Reporting “Haven Only Knows,” Laura Figi

Honorable Mention, Editorial Cartoon “Luv is Luv,” Lindsey Taylor

Honorable Mention, Sports Feature Photo “Homecoming Celebration,” Jamie Dorsey

Honorable Mention, Cover Design Newspaper “Oct. 15, 2019 issue,” Molly Gonzales

Honorable Mention, Overall Design Newspaper, Gloria Rodriguez

Texas Auto Writers Harold Gunn Journalism Scholarship

Jaden Edison

2019

Associated Collegiate Press Story of the Year

Fourth Place, Sports Game Story, Colton McWilliams

Finalist, Editorial, Staff

College Media Association Pinnacle Awards

Second Place, Best App/Plugin of the Year

Headliners Foundation

Stuart Long Scholar, Carrington Tatum

Darrell K. Royal Scholar, Jakob Rodriguez

SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards Region 8

General News Reporting winner, “Keep Quiet,” Carrington Tatum

Feature Writing finalist, “Sutherland Springs: Evil Did Not Win,” May Olvera

General Column Writing finalist

In-Depth Reporting finalist

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Division I

First Place, Interactive Graphic, “Clegg Administration Timeline,” Jessi Spain, Garrett McGinley, Sawyer Click

Second Place, Cartoon Strip/Panel, “Procrastination,” Stephanie Cloyd

Third Place, In-Depth Reporting, “TPUSA Allegations,” Sawyer Click, Jakob Rodriguez, Katie Evans

Third Place, Print Ad Campaign, “Soapbox Soundoff,” Megan Hicks

Third Place, Cover Design Newspaper, “He’s Out,” Vivian Medina

Third Place, Special Section Design, “Apartment Guide,” Vivian Medina

Honorable Mention, Feature Page Design, “San Marcos Stars,” Vivian Medina

Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Onsite Competition Open Division

First Place, Sports Writing, Jakob Rodriguez

First Place, Sports Action Photography, Jaden Edison

Second Place, Editorial Writing, Samantha Guerrero

Third Place, Feature Photo, Sierra Martin

Honorable Mention, Copy Editing, Claire Partain

Hearst Journalism Awards Program

Breaking News, 17th place, Sawyer Click