Zachary Schmidt Received Recognition in the Annual Society for Collegiate Journalists National Media Contest

2015 Apr 28

Buena Vista University's (BVU) media students and organizations received 15 awards in the annual Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) national media contest, including Zachary Schmidt, a senior digital media major from Northwood.

SCJ's national contest entries are judged by professionals in the media industry. The organization currently has more than 100 chapters across the United States, 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.

Dr. Andrea Frantz, associate 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.

"Notably, this is BVU's third year participating in the national contest," said Frantz. "In 2013, the first year BVU's new chapter participated, the school won two awards. Last year, BVU was recognized with seven awards. This year, the university won fifteen awards in eleven categories. This underscores the growth and leadership both in the BVU chapter and student media on campus."

The BVU entries that received 2014-15 Society for Collegiate Journalists awards include:

Online News Website Overall Excellence

• Second Place: The Tack

Multimedia News Story

• Honorable Mention: "Justice Daryl Hecht Speaks About Court on the Road Program" by Scott Locati, a senior digital media major from Omaha, Nebraska

Multimedia Feature Story

• First Place: "The Beat: The Story Behind the Heart" by Zachary Schmidt, a senior digital media major from Northwood, and Chelsey Goetz, a senior digital media major from Lakota
• Second Place: "Buenafication Day 2014" by The Tack Online, UCN, KBVU and Capture It!

Multimedia Sports Story

• Third Place: "Risk and Trust: A Cheerleader's Story" by Ariana Rodriguez, a senior graphic design and visual communication major from Storm Lake; Kiley Wellendorf, a junior digital media major from Carroll; and Bailey Hansen, a psychology major from Redwood Falls, Minnesota

Photo Slideshow

• First Place: "Campus Trick-or-Treating Creates Memorable Experiences" by Krystal Schulte, a senior graphic design and visual communication and digital media major from Carroll, and Justice Gage Kempf, a digital media and graphic design and visual communication major from Storm Lake
• Third Place: "BVU Event Tech Team" by Jairdin Engen, a junior digital media major from Cedar Rapids; Christopher Habermann, a sophomore digital media major from Sioux City; and Parker Lee, a senior communication and graphic design major from Denison

News Stories (excluding Sports)

• Honorable Mention: "Yik Yak Stirs Controversy on Campus" by Kiley Wellendorf

Column or Commentary

• Second Place: "Yik Yak Attack" by Lindsey Graham, a junior business-marketing concentration and corporate communication major from Swisher

Graphic Illustrations

• Second Place: Oscars Graphic by Cassie Forsyth, a senior graphic design and visual communication and digital media major from Griswold
• Third Place: Ebola Graphic by Justice Gage Kempf

Radio News Overall Excellence

• Second Place: "Did Ya Know? News Show 4-10" by Annie Reiva, a senior history major from Sioux City

Commercial, Promotion and Public Announcement

• First Place: "BVU Voices" by Demetrius Heard, a 2014 BVU graduate; Zachary Schmidt; Scott Locati; Cassie Forsyth and Annie Reiva

Television Feature Package

• First Place: Zombie Burger by Chelsey Goetz
• Third Place: White House 220 Cupcakery by Chelsey Goetz