žžÀ² State students and Student Media won multiple awards and scholarships this spring across a range of different awarding bodies. Winners and finalists were selected from a wide range of formats, media types and genres of writing. Students were honored by media associations, professional associations and press clubs.
Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 Mark of Excellence Competition
The Society of Professional Journalists recognizes the best collegiate journalism every year with their Mark of Excellence awards. Region 4 consists of Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. žžÀ² State students won a number of awards this year including:
Radio News Reporting
Winner: . Can midwives help? — by Jenna Bal, Ideastream Public Media, žžÀ²
Radio In-Depth Reporting
Winner: — by Grace Springer, Sophia Lucente, Collaborative News Lab, žžÀ²
Best Ongoing Student Magazine
Winner: — by Staff, The Burr, žžÀ²
Television In-Depth Reporting
Winner: — by Alexandra Manthey, žžÀ²Wired.com/TV2, žžÀ²
Best All-Around Television Newscast
Winner: News for Dec. 7, 2023 — by Staff, žžÀ²Wired.com/TV2, žžÀ²
Editorial/Opinion Writing
Finalist: , žžÀ²Wired.com/The žžÀ² Stater, žžÀ²
Science/Environment/Climate Reporting
Finalist: — by Alton Northup, The žžÀ² Stater/žžÀ²Wired, žžÀ²
Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition
The Ohio News Media Association & Ohio News Media Foundation established the annual Ohio Collegiate Newspaper and Website Competition to recognize the achievements of Ohio’s college and university newspapers. This year žžÀ² State Student Media were finalists for four awards, winning two.
- Best Website (Finalist): žžÀ²wired.com
- In-Depth Reporting (Finalist): Izzy Schreck
- News Coverage (2nd Place): The žžÀ² Stater, Staff of the žžÀ² Stater
- Opinion Writing (2nd Place): Virginia Doherty
Akron Press Club Scholarships
This year was an exciting one for žžÀ² State students for the Akron Press Club Scholarships. Of the 10 scholarships awarded, seven went to žžÀ² State students, a testament to the quality of the education provided in MDJ and the quality of students that populate our classrooms and newsrooms.
John S. Knight Scholarship
Named for former the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, John S. Knight, each of these scholarships are for $5,000 and went to four žžÀ² State students.
- Mariah Alanskas
- Alton Northup
- Tanner Poe
- Isabella Schreck
Russ Pry Scholarship
The Press Club also awards the Russ Pry scholarship in honor of the Summit County executive who supported the Press Club and who died in 2016.The Russ Pry scholar is žžÀ² State student Aden Graves.
Louis Gitsin Thong Scholarship
Through the generosity of Aileen Thong, a retired U.S. Army physician, in tribute to her father, the late Louis Gitsin Thong, the Akron Press Club awarded two more scholarships. The Thong scholars are:
- Destiny Tores
- Chloe Wilson-Henline
Elizabeth Bartz Scholarship
Made possible by Elizabeth Bartz, president and chief executive of State and Federal Communications. The Bartz scholar is Macy Rosen.