BY PHILLIP LEE
LIBERAL Kan. – The Seward County Community College student website Crusader News cleaned up at the Kansas Collegiate Media Conference by winning over 70 awards, including the All-Kansas award for a two-year school. The awards were handed out in April.
It was the fourth straight year that Crusader News won the All-Kansas award for best website.
“It’s crazy to think that SCCC has been named All-Kansas website four years in a row,” said Sue Sprenkle, advisor for Crusader News. “Crusader News comes out of a storied program of state and national titles but four years in a row is a standard the staff takes pride in.”
The Crusader News won 72 awards including a Gold Award for Best Social Media Presence. Other notable awards went to Laura Gillespie, editor-in-chief, and Megan Berg, features editor, for finishing as first and second runner-ups, respectively, for Journalist of the Year.
Students also won first place awards in the categories of breaking news, profiles, photography, infographics, multimedia audio feature, video and social media.
The awards that Crusader News earned were from Spring and Fall of 2021. The Crusader spring and fall 2021 staff members are Brooke Katen, Dani Arellano, Victoria Martins, Ruby Thornton, Megan Berg, Kylie Regier, Reece Hay, William Swanson and Mauricio Gonzalez. Not pictured: Saskia Vogelzang, Mary Ramirez, Ana Brangioni, Gracie Gillespie, Brianna Rich, Andrea Espinoza, Monalisa Chakraborty, Maddie Garrison, Raven Staten, Maria Coronado, Destiny Vasquez, Logan Scruggs, Krisi Anderson and Brooklynn Bauer.
Overall 2-year website:
All Kansas and Gold award – Crusader News
Overall 2-year social media presence:
Gold Award – Crusader News
2-year Journalist of the Year:
First Runner-Up: Laura Gillespie
Second Runner-Up: Megan Berg
Audio Feature:
First: Dani Arellano, Reece Hay, Brooke Katen – Podcast: Discover tips, survive your finals
Second: Dani Arellano, Victoria Martins – Podcast: Putting a ring on it
Third: Raven Staten, Krisi Anderson – Will summer 2021 smash social, emotional after-effects of COVID
Video:
First: Reece Hay – Shark Week
Second: Destiny Vasquez, Maria Coronado, Raven Staten – Style at no cost
Third: Video: Mary Ramirez – Spray Paint Art
Honorable Mention: Raven Staten, Destiny Vasquez – Saints on Skates
Honorable Mention: Mary Ramirez, Krisi Anderson – Nursing students help community
Profile Writing:
First: Ana Brangioni – A Barbie on campus
Honorable Mention: Dani Arellano – Quintero hope to make an impact
Feature Writing:
Second: Megan Berg – Inside the artist’s mind
Third: Dani Arellano – Aqua aerobics is more than a class
Honorable Mention: Megan Berg – All ink tells a story
Breaking News Writing:
First: Ana Brangioni, Mauricio Juan Gonzalez – SCCC cafeteria offers self-service options; first time since COVID
Honorable Mention: Ana Brangioni, Dani Arellano – SCCC encourages to follow current COVID protocols
Spot/Event News Writing:
First: Brooke Katen – Campus goes maskless
Second: Maria Coronado – American Dream, Promise Act sparks hope for DACA recipients
Honorable Mention: Laura Gillespie
Honorable Mention: Maria Coronado, Raven Staten – Black history month sparks conversations about advocacy, BLM
Column Writing:
Third: Raven Staten – Healthy Mindset = Healthy Semester
Honorable Mention: Juan Mauricio Gonzalez – Don’t let Black Friday terrorize you like it did me
Editorial Writing:
Honorable Mention: Krisi Anderson, Crusader Staff – Opinion: Remote learning ruins snow days
Review Writing:
Second: Maria Coronado – Godzilla vs Kong
Third: Crusader Staff – Nutrition Cave
Honorable Mention: Destiny Vasquez – Reviewing the Revue
Sports News/Game Writing:
Honorable Mention: William Swanson – Men’s basketball gets 3 game suspension
Photography – News/Event:
Second Place: Dani Arellano – Winter Vocal Concert
Third Place: Brianna Rich – Open Mic Night
Honorable Mention: Victoria Martins – CNA Classes
Honorable Mention: Victoria Martins – Ice Skating
Photography – Gallery/Essay:
First: Lois Magner – Photo Essay: A day in the life of a dementia patient
Second: Brooklyn Bauer: Photo Gallery – Pioneer Days’ PRCA rodeo brings in stars
Third: Lois Magner, Zane McCargish, Brooke Wasoski – Reviewing the Revue
Honorable Mention: Megan Berg – Hays takes the heat two years in a row
Honorable Mention: Brianna Rich – Students move into the SLC, settle into college life
Photography – Portrait:
First: Brianna Rich – Up Close: Abel Ochoa
Third: Mary Ramirez – Thanksgiving: Rubalcaba
Photography – Feature:
First: Brooklynn Bauer – Homework stress
Second: Brianna Rich – Baker Arts Center
Third: Juan Mauricio Gonzalez – Pool Tournament
Honorable Mention: Maria Coronado – Spooky
Honorable Mention: Brianna Rich – Ripping Mask Sign
Photography – Sports:
First: Saskia Vogelzang – Saints basketball beats Beavers
Honorable Mention: Brooklyn Bauer – Pioneer Days: Bronc Busting
Infographics:
First: Laura Gillespie – Taco Truck Map
Second: Laura Gillespie, Saskia Vogelzang, Mary Ramirez – COVID timeline
Third: Saskia Vogelzang -What’s your waste stream?
Honorable Mention: Andrea Espinoza – How to transfer
Social Media Reporting Series:
First: Reece Hay: Shark Week
Second: Crusader Staff – Finals Week Parodies- TikTok
Third: Destiny Vasquez – Grad Confessions
Honorable Mention: Juan Mauricio Gonzalez: New president SCCC
Social Media Single Post:
Third: Krisi Anderson, Destiny Vasquez – Did you know?
Honorable Mention: Megan Berg – Open Mic Night
Multimedia News Story:
First: Brooke Katen, Brianna Rich, Laura Gillespie – Campus goes maskless
Second: Krisi Anderson, Mary Ramirez, Destiny Vasquez – Nursing students help community
Third: Destiny Vasquez, Crusader Staff – Saints on Skates
Honorable Mention: Brianna Rich, Megan Berg, Laura Gillespie – Artists share personal identity through performance
Honorable Mention: Laura Gillespie, Juan Mauricio Gonzalez, Brianna Rich – SCCC welcomes 12th president
Multimedia Feature Story:
First: Laura Gillespie, Crusader Staff: Taco Truck Tour
Second: Brianna Rich, Megan Berg – Gross! Or is it?
Third: Destiny Vasquez, Crusader Staff – Style at no cost
Honorable Mention: Monalisa Chakraborty, Destiny Vasquez – International students beam, glow at SCCC
Honorable Mention: Megan Berg – Art display shows student work
Multimedia Sports Story:
First: Brooke Katen, Juan Mauricio Gonzalez, Laura Gillespie – SCCC protects student-athletes in high heat conditions
Second: William Swanson, Logan Scruggs, Mary Ramirez – Men’s basketball gets 3 game suspension
