From the Nominator

Howard University is the only historically Black college and university (HBCU) with a Division I swimming and diving team. Swimming as a sport is dominated by white athletes. Statistically, African Americans have a higher rate of drowning incidents. But that doesn't mean there aren't elite Black swimmers. 

The Howard team is aware that its role is three-fold: to be good athletes, role models for other aspiring African American swimmers, and reach out to communities where swimming pools and lessons are inaccessible to help reduce drowning among minorities. It is now the lone pipeline of high-caliber competitive Black swimmers who also want to attend an HBCU. We recognized that top Black swimmers are far and few, but they exist, and a cover is the best place to situate a role model for aspiring young Black swimmers. We wanted to show something that is not typically seen on magazine covers, and in this case, a powerhouse Black swimmer racing her way to the finish. 

The reaction from our readers was as we imagined. People said they loved seeing something they never see on the cover and their children in swim lessons now had a new dream to follow because someone who looked like them was achieving it.

From the Judges

Representation matters. The decision to feature a top Black swimming athlete on the cover of Howard Magazine immediately draws the reader in. The photograph has a strong centered focal point and has the depth of field and composition that makes you feel you are in the water with the athlete as well. And it should make you feel like you are in the pool, because the photographer was in the pool when shooting this photo! The overlaying text is high contrasting with the photography, the masthead and red cubed brandmark anchor the cover: you know this is a magazine cover from the thoughtful layout. Attention was taken to pull out the color in a minimal but effective way: the colors in the swimmer’s cap are in the title and match the brand in a deft design decision. I am cheering on the swimmer and Howard University for this strong cover: great job!