Collegian Media Group students are national finalists in 16 media categories for 2021-2022; Ranks among top 100 Pacemaker award winners
Sept. 16, 2022
Both the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Association (CMA) organizations announced finalists for the 2021-2022 academic year. Students who work with the Collegian Media Group are finalists in 16 categories, including Alex Hurla for ACP’s newspaper Reporter of the Year.
“I’m so proud of Alex, the entire Collegian newspaper staff and all our winners,” Ira David Levy, director of the Collegian Media Group said. “Every piece of individual work is really part of a process that involves multiple students. So, when one student wins, all of CMG wins.”
Collegian reporters Landon Reinhardt and Claiborn Schmidt were named finalists for Best Multimedia Sports Feature for their story, “It’s not About Me, It’s About Us: Jerome Tang speaks to the media for the first time.” CMG’s advertising sales and marketing team are finalists in six categories including Best Print Advertisement, Best Digital Advertisement, Best Social Media Campaign; and, for Best Display Advertisement published in Manhappenin’ magazine.
“I’m thrilled to see that several of our students have received recognition for all their hard work,” CMG assistant director Daren Lee Lewis said.
CMG students publish the Manhappenin’ lifestyle magazine each semester. This year’s editor-in-chief, Maddie Fankhauser and staff members Sarah Onken and Julia Smith were named finalists for CMA’s Best Magazine Sports Spread Pinnacle Award.
Final award winners will be announced at the national 2022 MediaFest Convention in Washington, D.C., in late October. More than 2,500 students, their media advisers and industry professionals will attend. Four CMG students and Manhappenin’ magazine and Royal Purple Yearbook adviser, Hallie Everett, will represent CMG. Everett served as editor-in-chief of the Royal Purple yearbook for two years. Upon graduation, Levy hired her to advise the yearbook and magazine.
CMG will also be honored among ACP’s Top 100 schools for having won the most national Pacemaker Awards over a 100-year span. The Pacemaker is considered the Pulitzer of college journalism. Among the Top 100, the Collegian and Royal Purple are contenders for the Top 10 Pacemaker winners.
“I want every student on campus to know that you don’t need to be a journalism or communications major to be part of CMG and earn awards that round-out your portfolios upon graduation,” Levy said. “In fact, many of our staff members study agriculture, architecture, business and IT. We welcome everyone, we train everyone and help everyone to find their own path of personal and professional growth. Come join us."
Complete 16 Award Categories
Associated Collegiate Press
Reporter of the Year; Alex Hurla (the Collegian)
Print Advertisement of the Year; Dominique Fraenkel and Maggie James
Digital Advertisement of the Year; Maggie James (finalist twice for two separate entries) Best Media Kit; Dominique Fraenkel
Best Social Media Campaign; Dominque Fraenkel
Best Environmental Portrait; Dylan Connell (the Collegian)
Best Multimedia Sports Feature; Landon Reinhardt and Claiborn Schmidt (the Collegian) Best Social Media Reporting; Marshall Sunner and Alyssa Fullington
Best Yearbook Cover; Amanda Wollensen (Royal Purple)
College Media Association
Best Display Advertisement; Maggie James (Manhappenin’) Best House Advertisement; Maggie James (the Collegian)
Best Magazine Sports Spread; Sarah Onken, Maddie Fankhauser, Julia Smith (Manhappenin’) Best Yearbook Cover; Amanda Wollensen (Royal Purple)
Best Yearbook News Photo; Zachary Parr (Royal Purple)
Best General News Photo; Elizabeth Sandstrom (the Collegian) Best Sports Game Story; Joshua Read (the Collegian)
About Collegian Media Group
Collegian Media Group publishes the Collegian newspaper, Royal Purple yearbook and Manhappenin’ magazine. Students across all academic disciplines work on the publications to build portfolios and skill sets they can use in any workplace environment. They gain teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. CMG operates in Kedzie Hall, Room 103. Students can visit the office anytime to learn how to get involved. The organization operates as a 501(c)3 under IRS rules. Most of CMG’s revenue derives from student activity fees, advertising sales, yearbook sales, tuition from a summer workshop for high schools in Kansas, and other endeavors.