Lamar University’s student media picked up 33 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention in San Marcos, April 11-13. Students who contribute to the University Press and LUTV represented LU at the convention.
In live on-site competition, Taylor Justice earned second place for TV News Package, and Brian Quijada and Carlos Viloria earned third place in Two-Person Photo Essay. On-site competitions involve students from two- and four-year schools across the state.
“Live competition is a great way for students to get a feel for what professionals face,” Andy Coughlan, director of student publications, said. “The students have to react to events and adapt on the fly. It is an invaluable experience and to pick up awards is a validation of our students’ professional skill sets.”
The convention also announced awards for work published in 2023. LU student media earned nine first-place awards.
UP photo editor Quijada earned a pair of first-place awards for Sports Action Photo and Sports Feature Photo. LUTV’s Justice earned two top awards for General News Video Story and Video Feature Reporting. Former UP sports editor Keagan Smith placed first in the Sports News Story category, Gage Gilliam, for Environmental Portrait, and LUTV’s Tre Sanchez in the Video Sports Reporting category also earned top honors. The UP staff earned a first for Sports Page Design.
Second place was awarded to UP editor Maddie Sims for General Column, LUTV’s Stephanie Adeniji for In-Depth Video News Reporting, Khalaya Coleman for General News Video Story, Quijada for Photo Story and Environmental Portrait, and Sanchez for Video Sportscast. The UP staff earned second places for Magazine Overall Design, Front Page Design and Website Overall Excellence.
Third places were awarded to UP contributor Jenna Garrison for Editorial Cartoon and Quijada for Photo Story. The LUTV team of Tommy Byers, Justice, Sanchez and Coleman placed third in the Video Program Production category. The UP staff earned third place for Newspaper Overall Excellence, Newspaper Sports Design and Static Ad Design.
The University Press earned honorable mention for on-site Best of Show Newspaper. Honorable mentions for previously published work went to Smith for both Sports Action Photo and Feature Story, as well as Quijada for Sports Feature. LUTV earned honorable mention for Video Newscast. UP staff was recognized with honorable mentions for Static Ad Design, Overall Web Design and Overall Excellence Magazine.
Sims also won the TIPA convention Social Media Challenge.
“I am proud of the work our students produce in student media,” Coughlan said. “I am especially excited that the awards were spread among several majors. Student media is open to all students on campus and we encourage any student to contribute.”
TIPA is the oldest collegiate journalism organization in the country and comprises both four- and two-year institutions. More than 350 students attended the convention with their advisers.