campus building vector background art
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Northwest Missouri State University student media is a finalist for 26 national awards

Panoramic view of wall panels of Northwest Missouri State University's four student media organizations.
Bill Oliver/Bearcat Public Media
Panoramic view of wall panels of Northwest Missouri State University's four student media organizations.

You may have heard last week during KXCV-KRNW's fall pledge drive that Northwest Missouri State media students are in the running for 26 national awards.

Those awards will be presented in Kansas City during the combined convention of the College Media Association and Associated College Press that starts November 4th.

KZLX Radio, the Northwest Missourian newspaper, and Tower yearbook are finalists for best media outlet in their respective categories.

Students from those media groups, along with students at KNWT television, will be accompanied by faculty and staff.

The director of student media at Northwest Steven Chappell, is a co-director of the joint convention.

News release from Northwest Missouri State University:

Student media outlets and their staff members at Northwest Missouri State University have been named as finalists for 26 national awards that will be given during the College Media Association (CMA) and Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Fall National Media Convention Nov. 4-7 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Northwest Missourian student newspaper and Tower yearbook are finalists for nine awards each. KZLX student radio is a finalist for five awards, and KNWT student television is a finalist for three awards.

The totals include honors the Northwest Missourian, KZLX and Tower received as finalists for Best Media Outlet in their respective categories for newspaper, radio and yearbook.

“Our students are among the best in the country,” Steven Chappell, the director of student media at Northwest and a co-director of the Kansas City convention, said. “The fact we are finalists in categories that include schools like UCLA, Michigan State and Kansas State just speaks volumes about the quality of work we produce here at Northwest. I can’t wait to see the students’ reactions at the awards ceremonies next month.”

Chappell, who is the only active media adviser in both the CMA and ACP adviser halls of fame, also said the quality of Northwest’s media program and its faculty are a huge part of Northwest’s success.

“I’ve advised at seven different colleges in my 35 years of advising, and regardless of the school’s size, I’ve never worked with a more talented, experienced faculty and access to quality resources,” Chappell said. “Our students excel because they are taught by extremely talented faculty and staff. And our resources – studios, labs, TV truck and equipment – are the envy of many schools across the country.”

Chappell will take 12 students to the conference in Kansas City, where Northwest faculty and staff will present sessions in their areas of expertise.

A complete list of Northwest’s finalist entries is provided below.

View all ACP award finalists by clicking here.

View all CMA finalists by clicking here.

KNWT

  • Audio Advertisement (CMA): “Major Perspectives,” Noah Ferguson and Malary Scaggs
  • Short Documentary (CMA): “A Creative Services Documentary,” Kelly Sharp
  • Video Entertainment Program (CMA): “New Game Plus,” Logan Hill and Gabe Chadwick

KZLX

  • Audio Advertisement (CMA): “Yuletide Feast,” Malary Scaggs, Grayson Langer and Khale Knox
  • Audio/Video Live Sportscast (CMA): “Northwest Men’s Basketball,” Wiley Ray
  • Best DJ Personality (CMA): “Khale Knox Air Check,” Khale Knox
  • Podcast (CMA): “Move-In Day / Would You Rather,” Tru Bilharz and Khale Knox
  • Audio Outlet of the Year (CMA)

Northwest Missourian

  • Advertising Special Section (CMA): “Cats Guide Map,” Missourian staff
  • Coverage of Faith (CMA): “Northwest cross country runner, Division II Champion Aziz Mohammad finds passion for sport through faith and community,” Leah Cox
  • Editorial Cartoon (CMA): “Political Violence,” Caden Willmann
  • Investigative Sports Story (CMA): “Northwest athletes make do without locker rooms as funding for new facilities lags,” Leah Cox
  • Rate Card/Media Kit (CMA): “Read It, Watch It, Click It, Hear It,” Missourian staff
  • Special Event Coverage (audio/video) (CMA): “9/11 Stair Climb,” Clevi Johnson
  • Sports Feature Photo (CMA): “NW MBB GAMER 2 Jan. 31 vs MOWEST,” Nathan Noda
  • News/Breaking News Photo (ACP): “Charlie Kirk Vigil,” Nathan Noda
  • Periodic Newspaper of the Year (CMA)

Tower

  • Coverage of Diversity (CMA): “Excellence at Work; Pride Here, Pride There; Que Dogs Setting it OWT,” Jasmine Ford and Alora Bucey
  • Headline (CMA): “Tended by Paws and Claws,” Lanie Nehl
  • Sports Feature (print/web) (CMA): “A Succulent Season,” Jasmine  Ford
  • Yearbook Cover (ACP and CMA): “Flourish,” Alora Bucey
  • Yearbook Division Page (CMA): “Winter,” Aaron Hare
  • Yearbook Spread (CMA): “Finding their Footing,” Sasum Giri, Emily Rudisill and Sarah Bourland
  • Yearbook Page/Spread (ACP): “Ambassadors Take the Stage,” Allison Verhulst
  • Yearbook of the Year (CMA)
Bill Oliver has returned to his alma mater as News Director for KXCV/KRNW after leading award winning news operations as part of a career that has also included sports, operations, management, and sales at public and commercial radio stations in Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska.

A 1981 Northwest Missouri State University graduate, Oliver was deeply involved with KXCV and KDLX as a student, hosting music and news programs, calling sports broadcasts, and helping keep the station on the air after the 1979 Administration Building fire.

Oliver says his return is motivated by a desire to be closer to family and to give back to the university and the mentors who helped shape his broadcasting career.