Buena Vista University students and faculty attended the Iowa College Media Association (ICMA) conference on February 5 and brought home 27 statewide accolades, including a major award for First Amendment advocacy and Overall Audio Excellence for KBVU, the university’s radio station.

“We are always very proud when our students’ digital storytelling efforts are recognized with awards of excellence,” said Digital Media Professor Jerry Johnson.

Iowa colleges and universities with student media outlets annually participate in the ICMA student journalism contest, which is judged by newspaper, radio, and television professionals.

BVU students earned nine first-place awards throughout the evening in addition to the association’s major awards in First Amendment coverage and Overall Audio Excellence.  The First Amendment award is one of ICMA’s top honors and goes to the school that best reports on any or all of the five freedoms it guarantees. “According to an annual survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, less than a third (30%) of Americans can name the majority of the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment,” said Digital Media Professor, Dr. Andrea Frantz. “It’s gratifying to know our students are creating stories that advance community members’ understanding of its role in our daily lives.”

BVU shared the overall audio excellence award with Wartburg College due to a first-ever point tie for the contest.

Online/Multimedia

• First Place-Best Feature Reporting: Fernanda Japa
• First Place-Best Print Design: Lauren McCoy
• First Place-Best Multimedia Storytelling Package: Carter Soyer and Jaxon Van Pelt
• Second Place-Best Online Investigative Reporting: Jaxon Van Pelt
• Second Place-Best Multimedia Storytelling Package: Jacob Kriewald
• Honorable Mention-Best Opinion Column: Carter Soyer
• Honorable Mention-Best Photo Story/Essay: Jacob Kriewald
• Honorable Mention-Best Print Design: Lauren McCoy/Tack staff

Audio

• First Place-Best Audio Promo/PSA: Carter Soyer
• First Place-Best Show (Entertainment): Matthew Forristal
• First Place-Best Audio Feature Package: Lauren McCoy
• First Place-Best Long-form Audio Package: Carter Soyer
• First Place-Best Podcast: Carter Soyer, Matthew Forristal, Johnathan Maffucci, Aydan Guenther
• First Place-Best Creative Audio: Matthew Forristal
• Second Place-Best Audio Feature Package: Emelia Jacobs
• Second Place-Best Long-form Audio Package: Johnathan Maffucci
• Second Place-Best Creative Audio: Dee Merriman, Jacob Kriewald, Madison Savick, Jahir Monge
• Third Place-Best News Programming: Rachel Huisinga
• Third Place-Best Audio Feature Package: Rachel Huisinga
• Third Place-Best Creative Audio: Carter Soyer, Matthew Forristal, Johnathan Maffucci, Aydan Guenther
• Honorable Mention-Best Audio Promo/PSA: Matthew Forristal
• Honorable Mention-Best Podcast: Lauren McCoy

Television

• Second Place-Best Music/Comedy Video: Media Studio Video Class
• Third Place-Best Video Sportscasting: BVTV crew
• Third Place-Best Experimental Video: Carter Soyer

Overall Awards:

• First Amendment Award—Johnathan Maffucci
• Overall Audio Excellence KBVU