UC student newspaper wins second General Excellence award

For the second consecutive year, The Patriot, the student newspaper at the University of the Cumberlands, has been named the best in its class.

The staff of The Patriot, which is the University of the Cumberlands student newspaper, recently won the first place General Excellence award for their division.

The paper received 29 Excellence in Kentucky Newspaper Awards during the Kentucky Press Association’s annual awards banquet Friday, including a first place General Excellence award in the student publications class one category. This topped the newspaper’s total of 22 awards last year.

Faculty advisor Jeremiah Massengale said it was an honor to see his student staff receive so many awards from the Kentucky Press Association.

“We were thrilled to bring home a first-place award for best college newspaper in the state for the second year in a row. It’s encouraging for these talented student journalists and I’m happy they earned this recognition from KPA for their many hours of work at The Patriot,” Massengale said.

“These are especially challenging times for student-run media organizations across the country and I’m thankful to have the support of both the University of the Cumberlands and the Kentucky Press Association.”

The Patriot received a total of 11 first place awards, 13 second place awards, three third place awards and one certificate of merit.

“First and foremost, it was a team effort. The Patriot isn’t The Patriot without every member we have. Seeing how much potential we still have is a great feeling as editor, and I’m excited to see what my staff will do throughout this next year. I’m so proud of these people I get to call my colleagues and friends,” said Mike Krzyston, a UC senior and editor-in-chief of The Patriot.

Krzyston led the way with five awards.

Krzyston won first place awards for best sports column and best feature picture. He and Zane Ross shared a first place award for best graphic. Krzyston also won second place awards for best picture essay and best sports picture.

“This was a very interesting story because I had no idea that esports could get such status! And a scholarship, wow. I really like this story and loved, loved, loved the picture,” a judge wrote.

Zane Ross won first and second place awards for best business/agribusiness story.

“Great story about the power of food and community, told with great quotes. (Brussels sprouts? Ha!),” a judge wrote.

Ross also won a first place award for best general news picture and a third place award for best headline.

Tyler Kohn won first place awards for best column and best enterprise or analytical story.

“Good story, well written with great quotes from students about how to eat vegetarian on campus,” a judge wrote.

Leanne Gregory won a first place award for best general news story, and she and John McCoy shared a second place award in this category.

Rebecca Lewter received a first place award for best sports picture, and a certificate of merit for best sports picture essay.

Taylor Duke won second place awards for best breaking news coverage and best sports column, and a third place award for best general news picture.

Megan Willoughby won second place awards for best editorial and best enterprise or analytical story.

Eric Ford Edwards received a second place award for best feature picture, and a third place award for best editorial.

Nick Boys won a second place award for best sports story.

“Nicely weaves together the lessons of baseball and the experiences of flying,” a judge wrote.

The staff of The Patriot won first place awards for best special section and best front page. The staff also won second place awards for best use of social media, best graphic and best headline.

“Fantastic use of pop culture to carry a theme throughout a special section,” a judge wrote about the special section.