Marian University celebrated student creativity and achievement at the 2025 Creative Knights Awards, held April 23, 2025, during the annual Arts and Media Showcase. Formerly known as the Arts and Media Awards, this campus-wide competition recognizes exceptional student work in writing, media production, visual arts, theater, and music. Marian faculty and industry professionals evaluated entries.
The Creative Knights Awards highlight student excellence and reflect Marian’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across disciplines, embodying the Franciscan values of dignity and responsible stewardship through transformative education.
2025 Creative Knights Award Winners
Writing
Critical Essay
- 1st – Ann Nelson
- 2nd – Brock Worrell
Poetry
- 1st – Sylvia Vanderburgh
- 2nd – Ann Nelson
- 3rd – Mary Chittle
Short Fiction
- 1st – Sylvia Vanderburgh
- 2nd – Julianna Britt
- 3rd – Brock Worrell
Nonfiction
- 1st – Ann Nelson
- 2nd – Hailey Ready
- 3rd – Anna Kvasnik
Media Production
Photography
- 1st – Elijah Givens
- 2nd – Grace Swinefurth
- 3rd – Emma Hendrix
Podcasting
- 1st – Sylvia Vanderburgh
Video Production
- 1st – Elijah Givens
- 2nd – Emma Hendrix
Visual Arts
2D Art
- 1st – John Harley
- 2nd – Allie Miller
3D Art
- 1st – Alexa Stierwalt
- 2nd – Allie Miller
Graphic Design
- 1st – Alexa McKinley
Theater
Acting
- 1st – Hailey Ready
- 2nd – Bethany Worrell
- 3rd – Mikayla Jette
Technical Theatre & Design
- 1st – Mikayla Jette
Music
Instrumental Performance
- 1st – Sylvia Vanderburgh
- 2nd – Grace Swinefurth
Vocal Performance
- 1st – Peter Waning
- 2nd – Elena Hicks
- 3rd – Mikayla Jette