Delaney Connell is an editor-in-chief of the photojournalism staff and a member of the Class of 2026. Her favorite part of photojournalism is taking fun environmental portraits and sports photos. Outside of photojournalism, Delaney enjoys playing soccer, volunteering and hanging out with her friends.
Awards:
2026 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, photo gallery or slideshow (with Lila Coyne, Juliana Daugherty, Ari Novak, Lucy Shirrell, Caroline Skelly, Declan Smith, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Noah Gunning, Bryce Kenny, Devyn Moubayed, Eli Raikhel, Simon Vaang, Calder Wong), Gallery: Moments of Intensity
2026 Illinois Journalism Education Association: First place, photo story (with Lila Coyne, Maya Gauhar, Simon Vaang, Davis Dyson, Sacha Twemlow, Estelle Levinson), Vol. 101, Issue 8, Page 7, 24 Hours of Art
2026 Illinois Journalism Education Association: Honorable mention, multimedia story package (with Declan Smith, Sohana Schneider, Ari Novak, Elspeth LaCroix-Birdthistle, Calder Wong, Simon Vaang), Lab community participates in one of the largest ‘No Kings’ protests
2025 Journalism Education Association National Student Media Contests, Nashville convention: Honorable mention, photography portfolio
2025 National Scholastic Press Association Digital Story of the Year, Photo Slideshow: First place (with Lila Coyne, Juliana Daugherty, Bryce Kenny, Ari Novak, Lucy Shirrell, Caroline Skelly, Declan Smith, Ryan Burke-Stevenson, Ellis Calleri, Noah Gunning, Devyn Moubayed, Eli Raikhel, Simon Vaang, and Calder Wong), Moments of Intensity
2025 National Scholastic Press Association Photo of the Year, Environmental Portrait: honorable mention, Totally Hooked (Mia Lane)
2025 National Scholastic Press Association Portfolio of the Year, Photojournalist of the Year: fourth place