Student Awards and Accolades
One measure of the strength of a school – and its student body – is competitive evaluation by practitioners and peers in award competitions.
By this measure, the School of Media and Journalism's performance is outstanding, as demonstrated by achievements in recent years. Our impressive standings in national and international competitions demonstrate our commitment to building media and communication leaders.
Journalism
Advertising and Public Relations
Digital Media Production
Journalism
Hearst Journalism Awards
Known as the "Pulitzer Prize of Collegiate Journalism," Kent State students have placed among the top 20 students in the nation across multiple categories
- 10th Place, Television Features - Gianna DaPra, '21
- 12th Place, Photo News & Features - Mikey Indriolo, '20
- Top 6 (Finalist), Photojournalism, Nathaniel Bailey, '20
College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press
Kent State Student Media earned national recognition across all categories in the 2019 competitions.
Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award (2019)
- The Kent Stater
Individual Associated Collegiate Press Awards (2019)
- Second Place, Sports Feature Story: MVP, 8-time all-star, almost Golden Flash by Henry Palattella, '19
- Fourth Place, Breaking News Photo: Carter Eugene Adams, '20
- Fourth Place, Magazine Cover: The Burr Magazine (Madeline Kidd, '19)
- Fourth Place, Advertising/Editorial Newspaper Supplement
- And more
College Media Association Awards (2019)
- First Place, TV Special Event Coverage: TV2 KSU
- Second Place, Breaking News Coverage: KentWired.com
- Second Place, House Ad: Kent State Student Media, Jaron Puszakowski, '19
- Third Place, Sports Game Story: Henry Palattella, '19
- And more
Society of Professional Journalists
First Place, National Mark of Excellence, 2019
- Sportswriting (BJ Duling: Meet the high-flying freshman with style on and off the court): Cameron Hoover, '19
Finalist, National Mark of Excellence, 2019
- Photo Illustration (Hazing): Dani Watts, '19
Ohio SPJ Awards, 2019
- First Place, Best College Non-Daily Newspaper (Kent Stater)
- First Place, Best College Opinion Writing ( The president needs a lesson: Compassion 101): Andrew Atkins, '18
- First Place, Best College Feature Writing (A mother reveals what it's like to live with a son addicted to heroin): Valerie Royzman, '20
- First Place, Best College News Writing (Portage County Sheriff's Office helps ICE deport unauthorized immigrants): Ben Orner, '18
- Second Place, Best College News Writing ( Kent State students call for inclusivity, diverse casting after ‘West Side Story’ cancellation): Anna Huntsman, '19
- First Place, Best College Sports Writing ( BJ Duling: Meet the high-flying freshman with style on and off the court): Cameron Hoover, '19
Photojournalism Honors
Ohio News Photographers Association (ONPA) College Photographer of the Year
- Nathaniel Bailey, '21
White House News Photographers Association
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Runner-Up, Student Photographer of the Year: Nathaniel Bailey, '21
Advertising and Public Relations
Bateman Case Study Competition
Second Place, 2018 and 2013; Honorable Mention, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014
In seven of the last eight years, Kent State public relations students have placed nationally in the Bateman Case Study Competition. The competition, sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), calls for teams of public relations students to research, develop, implement and evaluate a public relations campaign. This year’s competition charged students with creating a campaign that focused on diversity and inclusion in the communication profession.
- Read about the 2018 team's second place finish.
- Read about the students' work in the 2020 competition
Effie Collegiate Competition
Second Place, 2019, 2016
Advertising and Visual Communication Design students took second place nationwide in the Effie Collegiate Competition for their efforts in creating a marketing campaign to reinvent the car buying process for Millennials and Gen Z. The competition, modeled after the professional competition of the same name, partnered with Subaru to challenge the next generation of advertising, marketing, design and communication students to work on real business challenge. The second-place team was made up of: Ashley Heilman, ’19 (advertising), Noah Lewchenko, ’19 (advertising), Abby Peters, ’19 (advertising) and Kelsey Velemirovich, ’20 (visual communication design). Standing out among hundreds of entries, judges called their entry an “industry changer” and an idea that taps “into the already established behaviors of the target audience.”
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA Kent)
PRSSA Kent competes with more than 300 chapters nationwide for its awards. Read a story about the organization's most recent honors.
Organizational Honors
- Teahan Award for Outstanding Chapter (highest Chapter honor) - 2019 and 2014
- Star Chapter Award - 2012-2020
- Teahan Award for Professional Adviser (2020) and Faculty Adviser (2017)
- Tehan Award for Chapter Diversity - 2016
Individual Honors
- Gold Key Award (last five years): Highest individual honor from PRSSA
- 2020: Jill Golden
- 2019: Vanessa Gresley
- 2018: Natalie Meek, Samantha Ross, Hannah Wagner
- 2017: Charleah Trombitas
- 2016: Gabrielle Woodard
- National President's Citation (last five years): Special honor for individuals
- 2018: Natalie Meek
- 2017: Latisha Ellison
- 2016: Hanna Moore, Brenna Parker
Digital Media Production
Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
Award of Excellence
- "Forgive Me" - Senior Project by Alyssa Standen, '18
Film Festivals
Awards
- Bronze, Best Student Short, 2019 Independent Short Awards: "Forgive Me" - Senior Project by Alyssa Standen, '18
- Bronze, Best Cinematography, 2019 Independent Short Awards: "Forgive Me" - Senior Project by Dane Etto, '19
Selections
- "Forgive Me" - Senior Project by Alyssa Standen, '18: Lift-Off Global Network Series
- "To the Moon and Back" - Senior Project by Zoe Logston, '18: Sprrkle Collective Fest, Independent Talents International Fest, Direct Monthly Online Fest