Student media capture 75 awards at national, state contests

Northwest Missouri State University student media representatives claimed dozens of honors this spring in state and national contests.

The 2023 Tower, which recently received its third consecutive Pacemaker Award as one of last year’s best college yearbooks, placed first in all eight yearbook categories this month at the Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, in addition to sweeping the feature writing and sports photography categories.

“Receiving the awards this year meant the world to us,” Cassie Ford, the editor-in-chief of the 2024 Tower yearbook and a sophomore broadcast production major from Kansas City, said. “While winning the awards is not our main point of why we do what we do, it is the time where all the hard work done by everyone throughout the year is acknowledged. It is the time we as a staff get to show everyone that we love what we do, we’re great at what we do, and that what we do is important.”

The Northwest Missourian student newspaper captured 30 awards – more than any other school in the state – at the MCMA convention, including the coveted Sweepstakes Award for the second consecutive year. Additionally, The Missourian earned two first-place Apple Awards March 17 at the College Media Association (CMA) Spring National Media Convention in New York City.

“Each week, The Northwest Missourian staff puts so much effort into the content they make,” Sidney Lowry, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief and a senior broadcast production major from Liberty, Missouri, said. “Being able to have 12 people on staff take home individual and multiple other awards from the collaboration of staff members is all because of the work everyone puts in each week.”

KZLX 106.7 LP-FM, Northwest’s student-run radio station, captured six awards April 8 at the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association (MBEA) awards presentation, including a first-place honor for dramatic audio. 

“These awards are important to us because it gives a view into how well we are doing and where we are succeeding and ways that we can improve,” Kenzee Peterman, the radio station’s general manager and a senior broadcast production major from Blue Springs, Missouri, said. “It’s also a bit of a cool reward for the effort the students in practicum are putting in every week for the station.”

KNWT, the student-run television station at Northwest, nabbed seven honors at the MBEA convention, including two first-place awards. KNWT also shared a first-place Apple award with The Missourian for multimedia journalism.

“The awards we’ve won have been a great way to see how our hard work has paid off,” Blake Rizner, KNWT’s general manager and a senior broadcast production major from Jefferson City, Missouri, said. “My hope is to continue improving our content and everyone’s individual skills as broadcasters.”

Finally, Northwest’s Student Media advertising team won six awards, including second place for Vanessa Weiler for Best Advertising Manager in the College Media Business and Advertising contest. The advertising team also earned its first Business and Advertising Pacemaker Finalist award. Advertising awards, unlike in other contests, are not divided by enrollment, so all schools compete against each other, regardless of their size.

“The hands-on learning The Northwest Missourian and the School of Communication and Mass Media provide to students is irreplaceable,” Lowry said. “These awards solidify the importance of giving students the opportunity to learn in a professional environment. These students are now able to take home awards and put them on their resume to showcase skills they’ve learned throughout their college career.”

A complete listing of student media awards Northwest organizations received this spring is provided below.

College Media Business and Advertising Managers Awards

• Best Sales Manager: Vanessa Weiler, second place

Missouri Broadcast Educator Awards

• Video Sports Show: “Bearcat Update,” Killian Beck, first place
• Audio Dramatic:
  • “The Hitchhiker,” Chloe Petersen, first place
  • “X Minus One,” Coffin Cure, Gavin Jones and Zach Greiner, second place
• Video Special Programs: “Gentoo,” Lauren Liberty, first place
• Audio Documentary/Public Affairs:
  • “The Beatles’ Last Song,” Tyrell Childress, second place
  • “Internet Friendships,” Caitlyn Miller, third place
• Audio AirCheck: “Rock the Clock,” Tanner DeHaven, second place
• Video Multicamera Live Event: “Homecoming Parade,” Gabe Chadwick, second place
• Video News Show (Recurring): “Channel 8 News,” Tristynn Clark, second place
• Video Sports Package: “Bearcat Update – Channel 8 News,” Skyler Stamps, second place
• Audio Show Promo: “Student Media Day – Winter Wonderland,” Tru Bilharz, third place
• Video Feature News Story: Beyond Gameday, Jason Holland, third place
• Video Multicamera Live Sports Event: “NCAA basketball Northwest vs. Southern Nazarene,” Blake Rizner and Kaylin Byland, honorable mention

Missouri College Media Association Awards

Advertising awards

• Advertising Design:
  • “Baker Chiropractic,” Grace Lohman, second place
  • “Gray’s Restaurant and Truck Stop,” Sydney Cook, honorable mention
• Campus Engagement/Promotions: “NCAA Bracket,” Vanessa Weiler, Jerilynn Hoover, Sydney Cook and Grace Lohman, third place.

Newspaper awards

• Best Overall Newspaper: The Northwest Missourian, third place
• Column:
  • “Extending support to loved ones who battle addiction is essential,” Sidney Lowry, first place
  • “Women’s reproductive rights should not be in the hands of the government,” Makayla Polak, honorable mention
  • “It’s OK to not feel like a survivor at first,” Hannah Claywell, honorable mention
• Editorial Writing:
  • “People shouldn’t be desensitized to mass shootings, reform is needed,” Editorial Board, second place
  • “Students are the last priority to Northwest in the 2023 commencement ceremony,” Editorial Board, third place
  • “Sexualization starts young, but doesn’t end there,” Editorial Board, honorable mention
• Editorial/Op-Ed Page:
  • How many more deaths?” Sidney Lowry, first place
  • “Distraction” Makayla Polak, second place
• Feature Page:
  • “Artist,” Sydney Cook, honorable mention
  • “Inclusivity,” Makayla Polak, honorable mention
• Feature Writing:
  • “Northwest instructor talks supernatural experiences, dedication to writing,” Dakota Oswalt, honorable mention
  • “Bearcats in Blazers: students become local celebrities,” River Boyd, honorable mention
• Information Graphic
  • “Ballot Business” Makayla Polak, first place
  • “Dining Delays,” Savannah Athy-Sedbrook, honorable mention
• News Writing: “Scams, fraud continue to increase in severity,” Hannah Claywell, honorable mention
• Page One Design:
  • “Mental Health,” Julianna Lawrence, first place
  • “Broken Pipes,” Julianna Lawrence and Savannah Athy-Sedbrook, honorable mention
  • “Highlighting Heritage,” Sydney Cook, honorable mention
• Photo Page:
  • “Homecoming,” Reese Servi, second place
  • “9/11 Stair climb,” Delanie Dykes, honorable mention
• Special Section or Supplement: “Mental Health,” Missourian staff, first place,
• Sports Page:
  • “Upset,” Makayla Polak, first place
  • “A New Era,” Savannah Athy-Sedbrook, second place
• Sports Photography: “Northwest Football Chris Ruhnke 9/23,” Aaron Hare, first place
• Sports Writing: “Ten years later, members of 2013 Northwest football team reflect on national championship,” Wesley Miller, first place
• Sports Writing: “Northwest men’s basketball secures 10th consecutive MIAA regular season title in rematch with Central Oklahoma,” Wesley Miller, third place
• Story Illustration: “Broken Pipes,” Julianna Lawrence and Savannah Athy-Sedbrook, first place
• Website: Missourian staff, second place
• Sweepstakes: Missourian staff, first place

Yearbook awards

• Overall Theme Development: Tower, Emily Kunkel, first place
• Feature Photography: “Let’s Talk,” Cassie Ford, first place
• Feature Writing:
  • “For the Purr of It,” Emily Kunkel and Addalynn Bradbury, first place
  • “White Fragility,” Caitlyn Colter, second place
  • “Bias in America,” Emily Kunkel and Addalynn Bradbury, third place
  • “Faces of Debt,” Caitlyn Colter, honorable mention
• Personality Sketch:
  • “For What It’s Worth,” Addalynn Bradbury, first place
  • “Under the Surface,” Cassie Ford, third place
• Portrait Design: “Puppy Portraits,” Emily Kunkel, first place
• Sports Design: “Northwest to NFL,” Nicole Dietzenbach, first place
• Sports Photography:
  • “Full Send,” Matthew Rapp, first place
  • “Hear Me Cheer,” Addalynn Bradbury, second place
  • “Remember Me,” Addalynn Bradbury, third place
• Student Life Design:
  • “Dancing Cats,” Nicole Dietzenbach, first place
  • “Faces of Debt,” Elizabeth Brightwell, second place
• Student Life Design:
  • “BSA Bonded,” Emily Kunkel and Addalynn Bradbury, honorable mention
  • “Northwest by the Numbers,” Cassie Ford, honorable mention

College Media Association Apple Awards

• Best Editorial: The Missourian, first place
• Best Multimedia Package: The Missourian/KNWT, first place
• Best Opinion Column: The Missourian, honorable mention
• Best Yearbook Cover: Tower, third place
• Best Yearbook Spread: Tower, first place

Associated College Press Awards

• Business Pacemaker: Student Media, finalist
• Yearbook Pacemaker: Tower
• Best in Show, Advertising Media Kit: Northwest Student Media, seventh place
• Best in Show, Newspaper/Newsmagazine, 15,000 or fewer students: The Northwest Missourian, fourth place
• Best in Show, Website, 15,000 or fewer students: The Northwest Missourian, third place
• Best in Show, Yearbook: Tower, second place