Joshua Tigges Recognized as BVU’s 2024 Senior of the Year
Digital media major earns the 2024 Senior the Year Award.
Joshua Tigges, a digital media major at Buena Vista University (BVU), has been awarded the 2024 Senior of the Year Award. The honor is presented to an outstanding senior on the Storm Lake campus who shows leadership and makes an impact during their time at BVU.
Throughout his four-year journey at BVU, Tigges took advantage of every opportunity he could to get involved. He participated in several clubs and organizations on campus ranging from being an Orientation leader to a member of the Esports Team. He held several leadership roles, including Station Manager of BVTV, Assistant Station Manager and Podcasting Director of KBVU, and President of the Society of Collegiate Journalists.
In addition to his leadership roles, Tigges was able to enhance his academic journey as a digital media major by immersing himself in photography and storytelling, both locally and internationally. Through his storytelling, Tigges shared his love for Buenafication Day, a cherished BVU tradition and annual day of service for the entire BVU community held in April. “Each Buenafication Day I’ve participated in, I’ve captured the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things,” said Tigges. “It's truly a heartwarming day.”
Whether Tigges is focused on an original project for his major or supporting one of his many passions, he always puts his all into it. “I’ve always taken the approach that the way you do one thing is the way you do everything,” says Tigges. “I push myself to put my best foot forward with every opportunity presented my way.”
Tigges hard work and dedication earned him over 35 national and 30 state media awards during his time at BVU. Among his notable achievements, Tigges earned a First Place Apple Award from the College Media Association in March, was named 2022 Student Journalist of the Year by the Iowa College Media Association, and received a Medal of Merit from the Society for Collegiate Journalists earlier this month, marking a significant milestone for BVU's digital media program.
Tigges humbly acknowledges his peers Jed Richards, Peter Roland, and Joshua Woolcott as equally deserving finalists for the Senior of the Year Award. Reflecting on the award, Tigges remarked, “To be named the 2024 Senior of the Year is truly a tremendous honor. All of the finalists were just as deserving of this award as I was, and it was special to share the stage with them.”
Tigges is excited to start enjoying his time as a BVU alum. His upcoming plans include traveling to Ireland during May Term, and following his trip, he plans to secure a full-time job and continue to work on the docuseries he created for his senior capstone project.
The Senior of the Year award, presented by the BVU Alumni Association since 1985, follows a rigorous selection process, including interviews with members of the BVU Alumni Association Board of Directors and University Advancement.