Student media groups at UT Dallas earned numerous awards at a recent statewide convention. Members of the groups are (first row, from left) Bharat Arimilli, Pablo Juarez, Sravya Boppuri, Saher Aqeel and Bryar Bennett; and (second row) Miriam Percival, Cara Santucci, Aasya Peera, Andrew Gallegos, Hamid Shah and Deja Rollins, assistant director of student media; and (third row) Zachary Boullt, Matthew Carpenter, Elyse Mack and Esteban Bustillos.
UT Dallas student media groups took home 32 awards at the 2016 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention held March 31 through April 2 in Dallas.
The University’s student newspaper, The Mercury, earned a first-place award for overall excellence in Division 2, which includes a mix of daily and nondaily publications, and also won its division sweepstakes.
The newspaper earned first place for breaking news package, news feature story, page one design, single subject design, sports action photo and sports feature story. The Mercury also took seven second-place spots, two third-place awards and seven honorable mentions.
Esteban Bustillos, editor-in-chief of The Mercury, was named Editor of the Year, the third year in a row the award went to a UT Dallas student. Mercury editors Sheila Dang and Miguel Perez had received the honor previously. Since 2012, The Mercury has competed in Division 2 for nondaily newspapers from four-year institutions.
“It was incredibly rewarding and humbling to see the work that the team has put in over the course of the past year be recognized as some of the best in the state. As I've said before, I firmly believe we have one of the best staffs in college journalism, and our performance at TIPA solidifies that,” Bustillos said.
“Our students are collaborating on projects and developing partnerships between their print and broadcast organizations at an amazing rate, which really sets them apart from many of their counterparts at other colleges and universities.”
Chad Thomas,
director of student media
Chad Thomas, director of student media, praised the unique collaboration between student media groups at UT Dallas, which resulted for the first time in awards for several multimedia convergent projects. Leaders of the University’s four student media groups also discussed their convergence strategy during a workshop at the convention.
“Four or five years ago, I couldn't have imagined the workplace climate we have now. Our students are collaborating on projects and developing partnerships between their print and broadcast organizations at an amazing rate, which really sets them apart from many of their counterparts at other colleges and universities," Thomas said.
“Our students continue to produce high-quality programs and publications that receive positive feedback at the state and national level,” Thomas said. “While the recognition is exciting for the students, I think they're even more driven by the opportunity to inform and engage the student body, which is a role they take seriously.”
The University’s student opinion magazine, A Modest Proposal (AMP), earned a first-place award for on-site editorial writing, as well as a second-place award, two third-place spots and an honorable mention.
Meanwhile, UTD TV received second place for spot commercial/public service announcement and an honorable mention.
Deja Rollins, assistant director of student media, said UTD TV has worked toward becoming a more credible news source on campus.
“Being recognized for producing quality work is proof that the students are on the right track,” Rollins said.