Student Media Learns from the Best and Receives National Awards at ACP Mega Workshop

Leaders from four Student Media publications and the Student Media business office traveled to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities for the Associated College Press College Media Mega Workshop, where they received four national awards and participated in three distinct learning tracks at the workshop. It also gave them a chance to meet and network with other student media leaders from around the country.

Emma Scott, editor-in-chief of the yearbook Agromeck, participated in the Specialty Publications track along with Layney Keesee, promotions director for the lifestyle magazine Roundabout, and Josie Headley, editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Windhover.

“I believe that this track was incredibly beneficial, it really helped me to feel confident in my publication and the work that we will do this coming year,” Scott said.

The track was taught by Sam Oldenburg of Western Kentucky University and Linda Putney, formerly of Kansas State University. Students learned about the magazine and yearbook creation processes from start to finish, participated in joint sessions with leaders in design and photography and traveled across Minneapolis to cover the Minnehaha Falls Art Fair on Saturday, July 20.

“I learned a lot about the magazine-creation process as a whole, which will help me to broaden my horizons” Keesee said.

Both Agromeck and Windhover brought home Best of Show awards, and Windhover additionally received a People’s Choice Award among all publications submitted.

Kate Denning, editor-in-chief of Technician, along with Justin Welch, managing editor at the same publication, participated in the Leadership track. Taught by the student media advisors at Pepperdine University and Western Kentucky University, Denning and Welch gained insight on how to better bring together staff, motivate their teams, and set Technician’s next volume up for success.

“I gathered a lot of ideas I want to implement and was already thinking of doing that I now have more of a plan for,” Denning said.

Participating in the Business and Advertising Track with Kathy Simon of Central Michigan University, Allie Gervase, assistant general manager of the business office, worked with other consultants nationwide to collaborate on ideas to energize their respective business offices.

“I was able to learn so much from everyone that attended and I am excited to implement what I learned back at Student Media,” Gervase said.

Gervase received the second place award for Pitch-Off, highlighting her skills as a marketing and sales professional.

Keynote speeches from Ailsa Chang of NPR’s All Things Considered and New York Times national politics reporter Astead Herndon were an example of the diverse and thoughtful presentations available at the workshop. The team also got to spend time bonding and explore Minneapolis, traveling to Target Field for a Minnesota Twins game on Saturday evening.