Digital Media Production and Journalism students from the Fort Hays State University Department of Informatics secured seven first, four second and two honorable-mention awards at this year’s Kansas Association of Broadcasters annual spring competition. INF students and their advisors will travel to Lawrence on April 2n to receive the awards.
“It’s always great when our students are able to get the recognition they deserve not only in competitions against other state institutions, but also across the nation,” said Nick Schwien, director of FHSU’s converged student outlet, Tiger Media Network. “We pride ourselves on preparing students for the real world after graduation, and our students continue to excel with the hands-on learning approach we utilize. The students have been taking advantage of opportunities they are presented with to not only further their education, but also become desirable hires for future employers.”
Russell Heitmann, news and sports director with TMN, said: “Seeing firsthand how much time and dedication these students put into their work, it isn’t at all surprising to see this amount of recognition. These are the kids who know they want to tell stories and make a difference in the world after they graduate, and they are well on their way to doing just that. I am very proud of all of them and I am already chomping at the bit for even more of their work to be submitted next year.”
Students from Fort Hays State have a long history of competing in KAB radio, television, news, sports and documentary categories. The historical momentum is bolstered by Hammond Hall’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Faculty advisors Ron Rohlf and Ginger Loggins coordinate contest submissions and student field trips. They are pleased with this year’s showing, which includes a first-place award at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System. Rohlf said he is proud when dedicated and diligent students see their effort pay off at state and national competitions.
“It is a pleasure to work with all of them,” he said.
“It was pretty surreal being recognized in such a huge market and among so many people,” said Justin “Boomer” Sabata, station manager for KFHS Radio. “This wasn’t Wichita or anything like that; this was New York City. It’s pretty safe to say Boomer wouldn’t have even sniffed the Big Apple if it wasn’t for TMN.”
This year’s KAB and IBS awards:
Undergraduate Radio (KAB)
1st Place – Complete News Feature, “Bootcamp Nickname”: Nathan Johns, Oakley sophomore.
2nd Place – Documentary, “My Rock Bottom”:Dakota Rowlison, Salina junior.
Undergraduate Television (KAB)
1st Place – Station Website, Tiger Media Network, Lauryn Davis, Kensington sophomore and the TMN Staff.
1st Place – Complete News Feature, Long Faced Dogs Are Back, Sergio (Alex) Perez, Garden City senior.
1st Place – Entertainment Program, Live and Local (Episode 7), Michael Turner, Maize senior, Brooke Burton, Hill City senior, and the INF 349 Crew.
2nd Place – Public Affairs Program, Under The Radar (ep5), Haley Lenauer, Saint George senior.
Honorable Mention – Sportscast, FHSU Football vs Northeastern State – 11/10/18, Gabe Warrick, Larned senior, Paul Kirkwood, Garfield senior, and the TMN Crew.
2nd Place – Entertainment Program, Live and Local (Episode 4), Gabe Warrick, Andrew McGinnis, Hays senior, and the INF 349 Crew.
Honorable Mention – Documentary, Hays, America: The Music Within, Sergio (Alex) Perez, Garden City senior.
Graduate Radio (KAB)
1st Place – Entertainment Program, Losing Control (Audio Short Story), Caroline Rae Strickland, Jenks OK graduate.
2nd Place – Entertainment Program, The Millennials Manifesto (Podcast): End of the World, Caroline Rae Strickland, Jenks OK graduate.
Intern TV (KAB)
1st Place – :60 Commercial or PSA, Here at Sehnert’s Bakery we are one! Lexi Gross, McCook NE junior.
2nd Place – Promotional Audio or Video, Sehnert’s Bakery: No Substitute (October 2018), Lexi Gross.
Undergraduate Radio (IBS)
1st Place – Best Station Promo, Bring the Thunder, KFHS Radio, Justin Sabata.
Finalist – Best Use of Video in the Radio Studio, The Penalty Box Summer F3 — Episode 3, Justin Sabata.
Finalist – Best Documentary, Hays, America: The Music Within, Sergio (Alex) Perez.
Finalist – Best Video News Report, The Long Faced Dogs Are Back, Sergio (Alex) Perez.
Finalist – Best Website, KFHS/Tiger Media Network, Lauryn Davis.
Angela Walters, interim chair of the Department of Informatics, is pleased with the performance of FHSU’s digital media students.
“It’s great to see these students receiving recognition for the quality of their work,” she said. “Consistently, year in and year out, these students walk the talk. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn, interim dean of the Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is excited for the students.
“It’s powerful to have your quality validated as you build your portfolio of work,” she said. “Being able to produce what is recognized by industry and judged to be quality work is critical to the students in this field. We are especially fortunate to be able to support the entry fees and travel for this initiative because of donor support. By removing those cost barriers for students, more students are able to capitalize on these valuable, differentiating, experiences.”