The 2017 Royal Purple staff competed in the CSPA collegiate journalism contest and brought home several student awards:
- First Place, Feature Writing, Abby Cambiano
- First Place, Tara Magana, Sports Reporting
- Second Place, Feature Writing, Abby Cambiano
- Second Place, Academic Writing, Lynsey Akin
- Second Place, Student Life Spread, Tucker Love
- CM, Alternative Form, Tucker Love
- CM, Organization/Greek Writing, Tara Magana
- CM, Personality Profile, Savannah Rattanavong