With all the kudos going to University of Miami student publications, heads could start to swell. And who could blame them?

Vying against some 12,000 entries from 450 institutions, The Miami Hurricane newspaper, Ibis yearbook, and Distraction magazine won a total of 62 individual awards at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s 26th annual Gold Circle Awards program held at Columbia University in March—a record number for UM publications. The 2008 Ibis snagged 25, including nine first places; Distraction received 19, including five first places; and The Miami Hurricane picked up 18, including three for first place.

The 82-year-old Ibis continues to impress: Its 2006 and 2007 volumes, under editors in chief Lori Todd, B.S.C. ’07, and Joanna Davila, B.S.C. ’07, respectively, earned the coveted Pacemaker, the highest honor for college publications by the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) for excellence in journalism. The 2007 Ibis—nearly 500 full-color pages created by a staff of almost 40—also won first place and a Pacemaker in the Design of the Year for Yearbook category. The award cited Ashley Norton, B.S.C. ’07, its design director. (The ACP Pacemaker yearbook awards fall a year behind because yearbook distribution dates vary.)

Last November, the ACP recognized newcomer Distraction, UM’s student-run lifestyle quarterly, as one of five Best of Show winners in its category. In the Story of the Year feature article category, then-junior Matt Mullin’s entry placed third.

Also generating buzz, themiamihurricane.com was a 2009 ACP Pacemaker finalist and Silver Crown winner in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s new online competition.