University of Montana journalism alumna Maddie McCuddy won the top portfolio prize in the 2026 College Photographer of the Year competition, becoming the first UM graduate to receive the honor.
McCuddy, 23, also won the National Photojournalism Championship in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program earlier in the year. Her portfolio included photographs from Missoula and a summer journalism residency at Boyd’s Station in Kentucky, documenting everyday moments and personal stories.
McCuddy, 23, from La Center, Washington, received the top award in the College Photographer of the Year portfolio competition. It was the first time a University of Montana graduate had claimed the honor.
The award followed her June victory in the Hearst National Photojournalism Championship, another major national competition for college journalists. Former UM professor and mentor Dr. Lisa Krantz said winning both events was an extraordinary achievement.
“She won the two biggest awards in collegiate journalism,” Krantz said. She credited McCuddy’s commitment to assignments, attention to her subjects and ability to develop personal stories through images.
McCuddy’s winning portfolio combined work from her time at the University of Montana with photographs taken during a summer residency at Boyd’s Station in rural Kentucky.
The images included an aging chess grandmaster in Missoula, a busy backyard childcare scene and a 74-year-old Kentucky resident relaxing with stray cats. The work emphasizes personal moments and the lives of people outside the spotlight.
“I love getting super intimate work,” McCuddy said. She explained that photography allows her to show how broad social questions and public policy affect specific people and families.
During the Kentucky residency, she spent time with residents of Harrison County and built relationships that allowed her to document ordinary routines and experiences. Krantz said moving physically and emotionally closer to subjects helped deepen her work.
McCuddy also received a 2026 Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, which supports young photographers pursuing documentary projects. The award provides additional resources to develop a substantial story.
“The UM J-School pushed me constantly,” McCuddy said. She credited university courses and mentors with helping her learn to make ambitious documentary photographs and develop a professional career.
Former professor and mentor Lisa Krantz praised McCuddy’s dedication and intimate approach to photography. McCuddy also received a 2026 Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant to support documentary work. “Getting gold in the portfolio category was shocking,” she said, crediting UM’s journalism classes and mentors for helping develop her craft.