The 2021 Mark of Excellence award winners were announced at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 7 conference in Wichita, Kansas on Saturday, April 9. These awards recognize the best collegiate journalism in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska and the College of Journalism and Mass Communications is proud to announce the eight Husker first-place winners and eleven finalists.
Current Student Winners
Junior broadcasting, sports media and communication and business administration major Blake Aerni of Shawnee, Kansas won the Television Sports Reporting cateogory for his broadcast "Omaha North playoff run."
Senior broadcasting and sports media communication major Geoff Exstrom of Kearney, junior broadcasting major Anne Gallagher of Bellevue, junior journalism and english major Emma Krab of Ogallala and junior broadcasting and journalism major Jolie Peal of Omaha won the Podcast category for their entry "State of waste."
Junior broadcasting major Ty Hawkins of Yankton, South Dakota won the Television Feature Reporting category for his broadcast “Basement creators network.”
Senior journalism major Nick McConnell of Lincoln won the Feature category for his article "Being Black in Lincoln: Albert Maxey recalls his days walking the beat."
Junior broadcasting major Kloee Sander of Lincoln won the Television In-Depth Reporting category for her broadcast “2021 Nebraska Harvest.”
Senior journalism major Will Sleddens of Lincoln won the Food/Restaurant Journalism category for his broadcast “Restaurant staffing issues.”
Senior broadcasting major Alayna Verduyn of Clive, Iowa won the General News Reporting (Large) category for her broadcast “COVID curtains for musicals.”
Current Student Finalists
Sophomore broadcasting and sports media and communication major Grant Hansen of Omaha was a finalist in the Sports Writing category for his article "Kevin Kugler is the everywhere man."
Junior broadcasting and sports media and communication major Jillian Lamkins of Apple Valley, Minnesota was a finalist in the Arts/Fashion Journalism category for her broadcast “A song a day.”
Junior advertising and public relations and journalism major Luke Weidner of Norfolk was a finalist in the Radio In-Depth Reporting category for his broadcast “The Red Zone: Sexual assault at UNL.”
Programs
Nebraska Nightly, the broadcast news show produced by students in the Experience Lab was awarded Best All-Around Television Newscast.
The Climate Change Nebraska magazine was a finalist for Best Student Magazine.
The Nebraska News Service was a finalist for Best Affiliated Website. The Nebraska News Service staff was also a finalist in the Radio Feature category for their audio report "Battle of the Joshes: How an internet meme raised over $13,000 for the Children’s Hospital and Medical Center."
UNLimited Sports Magazine was a finalist for Best Independent Online Student Publication.
Alumni
Alumnus Nathan Bacon was a finalist in the Television General News Reporting category for his broadcast "Crescent Moon adapts following pandemic."
Alumna Abby Barmore was a finalist in the In-Depth Reporting category for her broadcast "If you can see it, you can be it: How volleyball in Nebraska created a cycle of greatness."
Alumnus Damon Barr was a finalist in the Radio News Reporting category for his audio recording "Nebraska bill seeks to raise minimum wage to $20."
Alumnae Samantha Hargens, Lena Nelson and Riley Tolan-Keig were finalists in the Best Use of Multimedia category for their piece "Wood River continues recovery from 2019 flooding."
The eight UNL regional winners are now eligible for the national competition against winners from the other 12 regions. National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at the MediaFest22 convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30.
