Kent State University students of the School of Media and Journalism (MDJ) are not afraid to use their platforms to document current issues of diversity at the university and beyond - and their work is gaining attention.
By sharing personal stories of immigration, family history and the experiences of people of color at Kent State, MDJ student journalists have put a spotlight on some of the most important issues facing American society today.
Valerie Royzman, B.S. ‘19, was recognized as this year’s winner of the Robert G. McGruder Student Award for Diversity. The winning essay, “I Spin Birdsong Into Story,” which Royzman created alongside student designer Maryrose Ceccarelli, depicts Royzman’s family history as immigrants from Ukraine.
“I had never freely written something like that before about my life, my identity and my family’s journey as immigrants,” Royzman said. “This essay was me trying to get closer to my history and honor my parents.”
During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement over the summer, student journalists at Kent State were inspired by the #BlackAt campaign on Twitter, where students of color shared stories of their experiences at primarily white institutions.
The group was recognized for their visual story, #BlackAtKentState, which highlights the personal experiences of the Black community at Kent State. The team of students included Tramaine Burton, Sara Crawford, Maria McGinnis and Connor Steffen.
“What I want people to take away from the video is no matter what your ideology on race is, for a second, just stop and listen to these people and their experiences at Kent State,” Steffen said. “A lot of people just see the national headlines, but this is what’s happening on our campus, and I hope the video can give people a new, better perspective.”
To hear from the students and learn more about the Robert G. McGruder and the Student Award for Diversity winners, visit https://www.kent.edu/mdj/news/media-and-journalism-students-alumni-recognized-diversity-award