CPOY History

Most of the 600-plus students from over 170 educational institutions from at least 50 countries who enter the College Photographer of the Year competition hope to win an award and to have their photographs recognized. But CPOY's greatest value is educational: it encourages photographers to evaluate their work and assemble the best of it to show to peers and the working professionals who donate their time to judge the contest.

College Photographers of the Year have gone on to become outstanding professional photographers and leaders in the field of photojournalism - the list of alumni is long and prestigious.

The College Photographer of the Year Competition was founded by Cliff and Vi Edom in 1945. The Missouri School of Journalism administers the contest with continuing support from its co-sponsor, Nikon Inc., whose generosity allows CPOY to offer free entry to college students worldwide.

CPOY has a long history was prestigious and generous sponsors who help support student photojournalists. In 2024, Reuters, the leading global provider of business, financial and world news, started to offer a paid, 12-week internship for the College Photographer of the Year (winner of Portfolio). 

The National Press Photographers Foundation (NPPF) administers the Colonel William J. Lookadoo and the Milton Freier Memorial Awards in conjunction with CPOY. The College Photographer of the Year, Runner-up College Photographer of the Year and winners in the Sports Portfolio, Documentary Photographic Story, Domestic Picture Story, Multimedia: Group Story or Essay Standalone, Multimedia: Documentary Short, Multimedia: Individual Story or Essay Standalone categories are awarded equipment and additional educational opportunities provided by Nikon Inc., MediaStorm, True/False Film Fest, both Mountain Workshops and Missouri Photo Workshops and a fellowship in honor of Greg Dorsett / The Muskegon Chronicle. For many decades, National Geographic Magazine was a contributing sponsor, offering and internship to the Gold winner in the Portfolio category.