Madeleine McCormick and BVU Media Students Receive National Awards

2017 May 22

Buena Vista University's (BVU) media students and organizations recently received several awards in the annual Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) national media contest.

Madeleine McCormick , a junior digital media major from Huxley , and other students took home a total of 33 awards in numerous categories. SCJ's national contest entries are judged by professionals in the media industry. The organization currently has more than 100 chapters across the nation, and all active members are eligible to enter original works in the contest. Each chapter may submit up to three entries per category, with more than 50 categories covering all media formats. The national contest does not distinguish divisions by the size of the school or chapter.

Dr. Andrea Frantz, professor of digital media at BVU and executive board president of SCJ, chartered BVU's chapter in the fall of 2012 and is proud of the number and level of achievements that BVU's chapter members and organizations have received over the years.

"This year's results are especially exciting because they recognize a number of our graduating seniors' work right alongside innovative risk-takers among our underclassmen," said Frantz.

In overall awards, The Tack Online placed third in the overall online news website excellence category. Additionally, BVU was honored with nine first place awards across online, television and radio.

"Our student media leaders at BVU consistently demonstrate a drive to tell vital, memorable digital stories, and the national contest this year reflects that their hard work has paid off," added Frantz.

McCormick was awarded:

Multimedia News Story: Second place for The Tack Online, "We are SLHS: Diversity"

Multimedia Feature Story: Second place for The Tack Online, "Rigged or Righteous: Freedom of the Press"

Multimedia Feature Story: Honorable mention for The Tack Online, "Stranger is a Strange Land"

Continuing Coverage: Third place for The Tack Online, "Racial Discrimination Incident Reported"

Radio News Package: Second place for KBVU, "DYKN Media Minute Public Affairs Commentary"

Radio Feature Package: First place for KBVU, "The Storm Lake Bakery Celebrates 100 Years of Business"