Kent State students and Student Media won multiple awards and scholarships this spring across a range of different awarding bodies. Winners and finalists were selected from a wide range of formats, media types and genres of writing. Students were honored by media associations, professional associations and press clubs.
Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence Competition
The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism every year with their Mark of Excellence awards. Region 4 consists of Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Kent State students won a number of awards this year including:
Radio News Reporting
Winner: . Can midwives help? — by Jenna Bal, Ideastream Public Media, Â鶹´«Ã½
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: — by Grace Springer, Sophia Lucente, Collaborative News Lab, Â鶹´«Ã½
Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: — by Staff, The Burr, Â鶹´«Ã½
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: — by Alexandra Manthey, KentWired.com/TV2, Â鶹´«Ã½
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: News for Dec. 7, 2023 — by Staff, KentWired.com/TV2, Â鶹´«Ã½
Editorial/Opinion Writing
Finalist: , KentWired.com/The Kent Stater, Â鶹´«Ã½
Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Finalist: — by Alton Northup, The Kent Stater/KentWired, Â鶹´«Ã½
Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition
The Ohio News Media Association & Ohio News Media Foundation established the annual Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition to recognize the achievements of Ohio’s college and university newspapers. This year Kent State Student Media were finalists for four awards, winning two.
- Best Website (Finalist): Kentwired.com
- In-Depth Reporting (Finalist): Izzy Schreck
- News Coverage (2nd Place): The Kent Stater, Staff of the Kent Stater
- Opinion Writing (2nd Place): Virginia Doherty
Akron Press Club Scholarships
This year was an exciting one for Kent State students for the Akron Press Club Scholarships. Of the 10 scholarships awarded, seven went to Kent State students, a testament to the quality of the education provided in MDJ and the quality of students that populate our classrooms and newsrooms.
John S. Knight Scholarship
Named for former the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, John S. Knight, each of these scholarships are for $5,000 and went to four Kent State students.
- Mariah Alanskas
- Alton Northup
- Tanner Poe
- Isabella Schreck
Russ Pry Scholarship
The Press Club also awards the Russ Pry scholarship in honor of the Summit County executive who supported the Press Club and who died in 2016.The Russ Pry scholar is Kent State student Aden Graves.
Louis Gitsin Thong Scholarship
Through the generosity of Aileen Thong, a retired U.S. Army physician, in tribute to her father, the late Louis Gitsin Thong, the Akron Press Club awarded two more scholarships. The Thong scholars are:
- Destiny Tores
- Chloe Wilson-Henline
Elizabeth Bartz Scholarship
Made possible by Elizabeth Bartz, president and chief executive of State and Federal Communications. The Bartz scholar is Macy Rosen.