A decorated combat photojournalist, Stacy L. Pearsall has dedicated her life to documenting service and has been an instrumental advocate for The Citadel’s photography program from its beginning. Pearsall has served as a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Humanities and is a charter member of the Friends of Fine Arts at The Citadel. She developed this award to recognize and encourage the work of merit she saw in the cadet photography courses and continues to serve as a mentor for the Fine Arts program.
Pearsall got her start as an Air Force photographer at the age of 17. During her time in service, she traveled to over 41 countries, and attended the Military Photojournalism Program at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University from which she is a 50 Forward distinguished graduate. During three combat tours, she earned the Bronze Star Medal and Air Force Commendation with Valor for combat actions in Iraq. Though combat disabled and retired from military service, Pearsall has not let her disabilities hold her back. With her service animal America’s VetDogs Charlie by her side, she continues to work worldwide as an independent photographer and is an author, educator, military consultant, BRAVO748 public speaker and founder of the Veterans Portrait Project.
Now in its second season, Pearsall has hosted and produced After Action, a PBS television series that reveals the experiences of 21 diverse veterans from across the country through candid conversations about what life is like before, during, and after action. Pearsall’s own struggles to reconnect with society challenges her fellow veterans to probe deeper into their stories, helping to provide a better appreciation for those who’ve served.
Pearsall is a Nikon, Manfrotto and Spider Holster Ambassador as well as an Ilford Master. Her work has been exhibited at The Woodruff Arts Center, The Pentagon, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum among numerous other galleries and venues. She is one of only three women to win National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Military Photographer of the Year competition, and the first woman to earn it twice. She’s authored two books – Shooter: Combat from Behind the Camera and A Photojournalist’s Field Guide: In the Trenches with Stacy Pearsall – both of which have earned international acclaim.
She’s been presented with the Jefferson Award and Hill Vets 100 Artist of the Year, honored with the Daughters of the American Revolution Margaret Cochran Corbin Award and the Girl Scout’s Woman of Distinction Award, lauded by President Barack Obama as a White House as a Champion of Change, and she holds an honorary doctoral degree in journalism from The Citadel. Pearsall has served as a nominating juror for the Pulitzer Prize and held a presidential-appointed board member position for the NPPA.
Fall 2023
Hsaio-Wen Chen, First Place
Samuel Simmons, Second Place
Kenneth Pierce, Third Place
Spring 2023
Alec Samsel, First Place
Chandler Messer, Second Place
Clayton Ballog, Third Place
Fall 2022
Kenyaz Boston, First Place
Natalie Stewart, Second Place
Tyler Hughes, Third Place
Spring 2022
Michael Santopadre, First Place
Preston Kerlegrand, Second Place
Fall 2021
Photography
Jackson Connor, First Place
C. B. Johnson, Second Place
Cort Hanellin, Honorable Mention
Photojournalism
Claire Thomas, First Place
Alexandra Daley, Second Place
Spring 2021
Mellanie King
Jeffrey Wood
Emilie Miller
Charles Chapman
Fall 2020
Spring 2020
Fall 2019
Shiloh Brooks, First Place
Isaac Graves, Second Place
Gabe Mueller, Honorable Mention
Spring 2019
Fall 2018
Alexander Wallace, First Place
Clayton Burke, Second Place
Patrick Keefe, Honorable Mention
Spring 2018
Carla Bruce, First Place
James Hardee, Second Place
Cameron Joyner, Honorable Mention
Fall 2017
Huston Hall, First Place
Ty’rhonza Harris, Second Place
Kyle Neira, Honorable Mention
Spring 2017
Tony Ellis
Fall 2016
Spring 2016
Fall 2015
Matthew Watson
Spring 2015
Fall 2014
Spring 2014
Chase Lovins, First Place
Corbin Braunheim, Honorable Mention
Sam Gibbons, Honorable Mention
Fall 2013
Steven Smith, First Place
Allyson Latsch, Honorable Mention
Erica Pellegrini, Honorable Mention
Curtis Jefferson, Honorable Mention
Spring 2013
Norris Evans, First Place
Andy Chiu, Second Place
Greg Philipkosky, Third Place
Fall 2012
Steven Weippert, First Place
Greg Cagle, Second Place
Spring 2012
Kurt Lichtenstein
Fall 2011
Pei-Hsuan Tsou
Spring 2011
Diana Bonete, Inaugural Recipient