This spring, communication students placed first in all nine main categories and in 18 out of 36 sub-categories.
casperoa@lopers.unk.edu
UNK students saw major success at the 2021-22 Golden Leaf Awards. Students placed first in all nine main categories and in 18 out of 36 sub-categories.
This contest gives the students in the Department of Communication a chance to compete against six other colleges: Peru State, Wayne State, Chadron State and Doane University.
“For a school our size, I knew the students needed competition,” said Rob Breeding, journalism senior lecturer and faculty adviser of The Antelope. “Competition helps keep students sharp and striving to be better.”
The goal of the Northern Plains Collegiate Media Association Golden Leaf Awards is to recognize the work of students in their student media.
Video, radio and newswriting are the most well-rounded areas at UNK. Out of the 18 subcategory wins, 14 were given in those topics.
One of the largest accomplishments to come out of the Golden Leaf Awards was The Antelope winning best overall newspaper.
“As the adviser here, I have phenomenal students and they deserve all the credit,” Breeding said. “I am just their adviser, not their boss, all the credit goes to them.”
The Golden Leaf Awards were paused the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Breeding and students like Grace McDonald, worked hard to keep it alive, and now it has the opportunity to grow.
“It’s so rewarding to see a program that was almost dead when I came to UNK be fully thriving,” McDonald said. “We have people in the newsroom every day who come to just hang out or work.”
This contest is meant to help students create better journalism within a competition, instead of turning in projects for a grade.
Although UNK had successful results from the last competition, Breeding is still hungry for more competitive opportunities for his students.
“I am very excited that we won awards at the Golden Leaf,” Breeding said. “But we want to keep moving forward in the direction to competing nationally.”
WinnerWriter or PhotographerStudent Media NameClass1st PlaceGrace McDonaldAntelope NewsBest Video News Story1st PlaceOlivia CasperAntelope NewsBest Video Public Service Announcement1st PlaceDouglas McCueKLPRBest Audio Public Service Announcement1st PlaceAlex HammekeKLPRBest Audio Feature Story1st PlaceAlex Hammeke, Canon Rath, Jon WillisKLPRBest Audio Sports pregrame or post-game show1st PlaceStaffKLPRBest Audio Sports Story1st PlaceJon WillisKLPRBest Audio Promotional Announcement1st PlaceJesus MarfilenoAntelope NewsBest Sports Feature1st PlaceMariah WatsonAntelope NewsBest House Ad1st PlaceMackenzie KrumlandAntelope NewsBest Newspaper Front Page1st PlaceMitchell LiermanAntelope NewsBest Arts and Entertainment Story1st PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest in Depth Reporting1st PlaceMitchell LiermanAntelope NewsBest Editorial1st PlaceGrace McDonaldAntelope NewsBest Breaking News Story1st PlaceGrace McDonald, Cassie Brown, Jiyoon KimAntelope NewsBest Multimedia News Story1st PlaceKosuke YoshiiAntelope NewsBest Breaking News Photo1st PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest Social Media Presence1st PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBEST OVERALL NEWSPAPER2nd PlaceGrace McDonaldAntelope NewsBest Video News Story2nd PlaceCourtni HeckertAntelope NewsBest Video Public Service Announcement2nd PlaceDouglas McCueKLPRBest Audio Feature Story2nd PlaceJon Willis, Alex HammekeKLPRBest Audio Sports Play-by-Play Announcing2nd PlaceStaffKLPRBest Audio Sports Story2nd PlaceStaffKLPRBest Podcast2nd PlaceJon Willis, Alex HammekeKLPRBest Audio Promotional Announcement2nd PlaceGrant TigheAntelope NewsBest Sports Game Story2nd PlaceLeah SmithAntelope NewsBest House Ad2nd PlaceGrant TigheAntelope NewsBest Sports Feature2nd PlaceMackenzie KrumlandAntelope NewsBest Newspaper Spread2nd PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest Overall Design2nd PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest in Depth Reporting2nd PlaceMitchell LiermanAntelope NewsBest Breaking News Story2nd PlaceMitchell LiermanAntelope NewsBest Editorial 2nd PlaceGrace McDonald, Ryan RangeAntelope NewsBest Multimedia News Story2nd PlaceKosuke YoshiiAntelope NewsBreaking News Photo2nd PlaceRyan RangeAntelope NewsBest General News Photo2nd PlaceJiyoon KimAntelope NewsBest Feature Photo2nd PlaceOwen Bridges, Avery DuttonAntelope NewsBEST OVERALL WEBSITE3rd PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest Video News Story3rd PlaceKristen WetovickAntelope NewsBest Video Public Service Announcement3rd PlaceAlexis SanderKLPRBest Audio Feature Story3rd PlaceStaffKLPRBest Audio Sports Story3rd PlaceCanon RathAntelope NewsBest Sports Game Story3rd PlaceMariah WatsonAntelope NewsBest House Ad3rd PlaceJose RomeroAntelope NewsBest Display Ad3rd PlaceCanon RathAntelope NewsBest Sports Column3rd PlaceJiyoon KimAntelope NewsBest Sports Game Photo3rd PlaceStaffAntelope NewsBest in Depth Reporting3rd PlaceRyan RangeAntelope NewsBest Editorial3rd PlaceHannah Lofshult, Jiyoon Kim, Ryan RangeAntelope NewsBest Multimedia News Story3rd PlaceGrace McDonaldAntelope NewsBest Breaking News Photo