From the Nominator

On Dec. 6, 2023, a gunman entered a campus building, killed three faculty members and seriously injured another before two University of Nevada, Las Vegas officers confronted and killed him. The campus remained in lockdown for hours until the threat was cleared at 7:30 that evening. The “Rebel Recovery” effort began to ensure campus safety, honor the victims, protect and enhance the UNLV brand, respond to (follow-up) media requests, and help restore campus operations. As communicators, we immediately had three stories to tell: memorial profiles of the victims who lost their lives that day. These were stories designed to help the UNLV and Vegas communities grieve, and to preserve their bravery and legacy for posterity. The original versions were written within days of the shooting and then expanded upon. Months later, the fourth shooting victim, who survived 10 gunshot wounds, wanted to share his gratitude with the campus. The two UNLV police officers who confronted the shooter also were ready to share their story: "this is what the job is." The UNLV communications team wrote dozens of stories about the shooting and recovery; however, these five were the most personal to the team. They emotionally convey the tremendous impact that a professor can have on individual lives while demonstrating the care we have to each other as a community.

From the Judges

UNLV's collection covering the tragic 2023 campus shooting is the best of the best—exceptionally written, powerful, and sensitive. Braiding the events of the day with the background story of the officers provides a break from the intensity of the event narrative and gives the reader perspective on the officers themselves. Together, these stories beautifully captured the enduring strength, compassion, and love these individuals have for UNLV, even in the face of such unimaginable loss.