Published Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022
WSC student media outlets, including radio and newspaper, recently won awards at the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association's Golden Leaf event April 30 in Kearney, Neb.
Wayne State College student media outlets KWSC-FM 91.9 The Cat and the Wayne Stater student newspaper won multiple awards at the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association’s (NPCMA) Golden Leaf event on April 30 in Kearney, Neb. NPCMA holds the event each year to honor the best in collegiate journalism.
KWSC-FM 91.9 The Cat is an on-air educational experience for students. The fully equipped, student managed broadcast radio station is one of the oldest campus radio stations in Nebraska. The station plays college rock, along with specialty shows such as country, independent artists, news, sports, and talk programs. The station also broadcasts a full schedule of Wayne State home athletic events with student play-by-play announcers.
KWSC-FM awards:
- First place: Best Podcast for AgKnowledge, Agnes Kurtzhals of Coleridge, Neb., Clare Hornung of Raymond, Neb., and Whitney Winter of Sutton, Neb.
- First place: Best Audio Play by Play, Blake Hilkemeier of Atkinson, Neb., and Luke Stara of Ulysses, Neb.
- First place: Best Audio News Story, Nathan Reiland-Smith of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Griffin Presnell of Lincoln, Neb.
- Second place: Best Audio Public Service Announcement, Clare Hornung
- Second place: Best Audio Sports Pre/Post Game, Blake Hilkemeier and Luke Stara
- Second place: Best Audio News Story, Nathan Reiland-Smith and Griffin Presnell
- Second place: Best Social Media Presence, KWSC-FM Staff
- Third place: Best Podcast for CatTalk, Blake Hilkemeier and Luke Stara
- Third place: Best Audio Public Service Announcement, Blake Hilkemeier
- Third place: Best Audio Play by Play, Blake Hilkemeier and Luke Stara
- Third place: Best Audio Sports Pre/Post Game, Blake Hilkemeier and Luke Stara
“I’m so proud of my students and their work this year,” said Dr. Sean Ahern, advisor to the radio station and assistant professor in the Communication Arts Department. “We will learn about other regional and national contests we have submitted work to in the coming months. I’m humbled by my student’s dedication to KWSC-FM and excited for the future.”
The Wayne Stater student newspaper has served the campus since 1911. The weekly publication provides a learning laboratory for journalism students as well as a local news source for the college and community. The newspaper provides broad coverage of campus news, including sports, arts and culture, features, and editorial commentary.
Wayne Stater awards:
- First place: Best general news story – "Support Domestic Violence Awareness Month with Haven House" by Aubreanna Miller of Milford, Neb.
- Third place: Best sports feature story – “WSC Rugby Athletes from South Africa” by Kortney Fethkenher of Ponca, Neb.
- Third place: Best sports feature photo – "Backflip" by Elizabeth Hjelm of Viborg, S.D.
- Third place: Best overall website – The Wayne Stater
- Third place: Best overall newspaper – The Wayne Stater
“The Wayne Stater is a student-run publication helmed by dedicated and talented WSC students,” said Dr. Liz Viall, advisor to the Wayne Stater and assistant professor in the Communication Arts Department. “Acknowledgement of that talent at the Golden Leaf awards as well as awards at the Nebraska Press Association is encouraging to these journalism and communications students. It also encourages the future staff to strive to make our publications even better.”
In addition to the awards for student media outlets, WSC student Aubreanna Miller received a $2,000 Nebraska Press Association Foundation scholarship. Former WSC student journalist Austin Svehla, who graduated in December 2021, was named the Young Journalist of the Year runner-up by Nebraska Press Association. He works as a reporter for the Norfolk Daily News.
“We are very proud of the WSC students and faculty in Journalism and Electronic Media to have their work acknowledged at the 2022 Golden Leaf Awards,” said Dr. David Bohnert, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at WSC. “They are a progressive group of individuals who strive for excellence in everything they do. I’ve been impressed throughout the year with their commitment to produce high-quality material and I’m excited that they are being recognized for those efforts. The future is very bright in this department thanks to the hard work of the current students and faculty!”