LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University’s student
newspaper, The Rambler, was again a big winner in the Kentucky Intercollegiate
Press Association (KIPA) awards competition. Current and former staffers picked
up four first-place awards and several second- and third-place honors at the
group’s annual conference in Louisville this past weekend.
The yearly competition for two- and four-year campus
newspapers features a variety of categories designed to showcase the talent of
student journalists throughout the state. The Rambler writers, photographers
and page designers competed in the division for schools with fewer than 5,000
students.
Among the top winners was sophomore Jake Hawkins, the
paper’s news editor. Hawkins won two first-place awards in news-one for his
story on Kentucky’s texting while driving law and the other for his work with
2010 graduate Kim Rodgers covering the university’s search for a new president.
News judges Kevin Kelly and Brenna Kelly of the
Cincinnati Enquirer had high praise for Hawkins and Rodgers in particular,
saying they “did a great job of chronicling the school’s search for a new
president. The paper covered the candidate forums with students, profiled each
candidate, then interviewed the winner.” The judges commented that
Hawkins and Rodgers were very thorough in their coverage.
Also bringing home a first-place award was photographer Ian
Gerard in the feature photo category. His photo of Transy students marching in
the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Freedom March in Lexington last year was
deemed “a nice moment from an annual event” by judges. The editorial staff, led
by senior Amanda Holt, also won first place for its editorial weighing
candidates for university president. Judges said the editorial “is filled with
facts, perspective and insight.”
Junior John Johnson took first-place honors in the
on-site copy editing test, besting students from both the large- and
small-school divisions. Other KIPA award winners included senior H.B. Elam and
juniors Erin Brock, Holly Brown and April York.
“Every year, the students who work on The Rambler staff
amaze me with their talents and their dedication. I’m so happy others are able
to see that as well,” said Terri McLean, student media adviser.
The Rambler, a student-run newspaper, is published weekly
on Thursdays during Transy’s fall and winter terms.