CSC Release | CSC Awards History

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Saint John's University athletic communications office earned 25 awards when the results of the College Sports Communicators' (CSC) Creative & Digital Design Contest were announced at the annual CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Convention June 7-10 in Las Vegas. 

SJU trailed only Carthage (Wis.) for most honors in Division III and was one of 10 schools of any division to eclipse 20 total awards. Saint John's led Division III with awards in 11 different categories and was the only MIAC institution with double-digit accolades. St. Olaf (9) and Bethel (3) also received recognition.

NCAA Division II Carson-Newman (Tenn.) led all participating schools with 46 total awards, followed by Division II Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) and Carthage with 32 each. Montana Tech led NAIA institutions with 31 and Oklahoma topped Division I with 30.

Six individuals working in or with the SJU athletic communications office were recognized for a variety of photography, videography and graphic design projects during the 2025-26 academic year. SJU claimed "Best in the Nation" honors twice and "Best in Division III" honors four times.

Assistant director of athletic communications Jordan Modjeski was selected as a portfolio finalist for the third time in four years. She finished as the Division III Photographer of the Year for the second-consecutive year and was fourth in Division III in the Graphic Designer of the Year category. Her photo portfolio was third in the nation overall.

Modjeski and SJU director of athletic communications Ryan Klinkner '04 earned Best in the Nation and Best in Division III in the game notes category for the design and composition of the Johnnie football team's NCAA game notes vs. Wisconsin-River Falls. 

Modjeski's photo of junior swimmer Trevor Barton in the MIAC Championships' 500-yard freestyle was also awarded Best in the Nation and Best in Division III honors. 

Student photographer Josh Johnston '26 also placed in the Photographer of the Year category, finishing fourth in Division III and fourth in student workers for his season-end portfolio. 

The team of Klinkner, Modjeski and CSB+SJU graphic designer Scotia MacNeil were honored for excellence in game programs, earning fourth in the nation (second in Division III) for the Johnnie football program vs. Augsburg and fifth in the nation (third in Division III) for the hockey season program.

Modjeski, CSB+SJU videographer Ryan Unger and art director Dominic Maas were awarded fourth in the nation and Best in Division III for their video feature on football All-American  Zach Frank '25. They were also honored for the flag football videos that connected with the long-standing history of SJU football to launch the CSB flag football program (13th/nation, 7th/DIII). The flag football jamboree video, which featured a voiceover from assistant linebacker coach Alex Sais '20, was named 18th in the nation and eighth in Division III. 



Five of Modjeski's graphics from the season were honored individually with six awards. Her schedule images for the 2026 and 2025 football seasons were honored as second and third-best in Division III in the poster category, respectively, while her graphics for the Gagliardi Trophy received recognition in special projects, ranking sixth in the nation and second in Division III. 

Finally, Modjeski's All-American graphic for wide receiver Dylan Wheeler '26 (9th/DIII) and her SJU football 700-win graphic (15th/DIII) were placed in the awards graphics categories.  

Throughout the course of his 20-year career, Klinkner has been honored with a design award 44 times dating back to 2007. He has received recognition from CSC 46 times, all while at SJU. 

Klinkner was also honored with the 2014 Rising Star Award, presented to a member with 10 years of service or less whose work at their institution and service, dedication, energy and enthusiasm to the profession make that individual a "rising star" in sports information. 

Klinkner is a current member of the CSC Academic All-America committee and served as vice chair of CSC's Goodwill and Wellness Committee for many years, where he created the annual CSC community service project, 5K Fun Run and the Volunteer 15 Program with Gallaudet's (D.C.) Sam Atkinson, who was inducted into the CSC Hall of Fame June 8.

Modjeski has received 52 creative and writing awards from CSC and has been honored 55 times in her four-year career between SJU and Gustavus Adolphus. She was selected as a member of the 2024 CSC "30 Under 30" class, which recognizes emerging athletics communications professionals at all levels of college sports in strategic, creative and digital spaces. She was named the vice chair of the CSC Young Professionals Committee ahead of this year's convention.