The College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press hosted its annual National College Media Convention in New Orleans this fall, uniting student journalists, advisers and world renowned journalists.
Kernel Media was up for 52 awards in total. Several former and current students received notable honors at the convention, including Christian Kantosky, Lily Foster, Rana Alsoufi and the student media adviser for the University of Kentucky, Ryan Craig.
Craig was one of the few advisors at the convention to receive the 2024 Distinguished Adviser Award.
“I was immensely honored to be nominated and to receive the award for distinguished advisor. There’s just a handful of them across the country every year,” Craig said.
The Distinguished Adviser Award has only been given to two other Kentucky Kernel advisers, one four-year UK media adviser and one four-year UK yearbook adviser, according to CMA’s list of past winners, making Craig the fifth UK adviser to receive the award.
According to the College Media Association (CMA) website, the Distinguished Adviser Award is given to a CMA member who has at least five years of college student media advising experience, distinguished service in a certain area and is an adviser at the time they were nominated.
“It’s a big deal for me career wise, but it also indicates how good and talented and impressive the students that I advise are, that people would take notice of what we’ve done here at the University of Kentucky, and it really makes my heart swell,” Craig said.
The 2023-2024 Kernel Editor-in-Chief Hannah Stanley, knew how much the award meant to Craig.
“Ryan is a dad to me. I was so ecstatic to see that he was able to receive his adviser award, because he has done so much for us, at least especially for me,” Stanley said. “It just really was rewarding for us to see that he was getting the recognition for how much time and effort he’s put toward the paper, as much as we have our own.”
Current Kernel Editor-in-Chief Abbey Cutrer, said Craig is a hands-on adviser who does “so much” for his student’s publication.
“If you send him a story to read, he will put edits on it immediately and give you feedback to make it better in the future. I’m grateful for all of the intentional time he pours into the Kernel, especially production nights where he reads over the print layout of our special sections, even if it’s 2 a.m.,” Cutrer said. “There’s no one more deserving of this award.”
Two pacemaker nominations were a part of the numerous awards Kernel Media was nominated for, according to Craig. According to ACP’s website, Pacemaker awards recognize “the best of the best” in collegiate media.
“I feel that the Kentucky Kernel and KRNL magazine were very competitive this year, and we are in the process of going through and finding the new way in the multimedia convergence,” Craig said. “I’m proud of how many entries that we had that were national finalists.”
The convention provided an opportunity for training, improvement and a way for Kernel Media to pave the future, according to Craig.
“We have had several people tell us that we seem to be on the cutting edge of finding kind of where media is going in the future with the way we’re doing our multimedia,” Craig said.
For the first time in Craig’s history with the Kernel, one of his former advisees, Alsoufi a 2024 graduate, was nominated for the Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile, for which she placed fourth.
According to the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation website, “The Ernie Pyle Human-Interest Profile Award recognizes the student work that best embodies the storytelling skills of the Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II correspondent.”
The award also comes with a monetary reward, with fourth place receiving $500.
“I’m very proud of Rana. It just shows that she’s a former national champion for a feature story, and it just shows how immensely talented she is. I really feel that one day, she’ll be running something in the magazine industry,” Craig said.
Alsoufi said it was an honor to be recognized in the remembrance of Pyle’s legacy
“He was known for telling the stories of people who, you know ordinary people, but who are doing really impactful work. And that’s pretty much exactly what I try to do with my writing. I love to kind of platform people who are doing really influential work for the communities,” Alsoufi said.
Alsoufi said the subject for her story, Emily Ridings, is such a talented, impactful and unique person located in Lexington, which left Alsoufi wanting to use her writing abilities to tell Riding’s story.
“I’m really grateful that she trusted me to do that, and I’m very proud of the fact that it was honored with the fourth place prize because it’s just very reaffirming and I feel very grateful knowing that the judges kind of saw my intention with my work and was able to recognize what I was trying to do,” Alsoufi said.
Alsoufi said It’s crucial for journalists to get support and reaffirmations to be confident in their work, especially when journalists are as needed as they are right now to push them to be the best they can be.
“It’s always great as a journalist young in your career, especially when you’re at college, to be recognized by these greater organizations for their work,” Alsoufi said. “I think it’s very important that we receive that kind of support from people on the outside and within the industry as well, so that we know that we’re in the right career.”
Kantosky, a photographer for the Kernel and sophomore studying economics and Spanish received first place in Best of Show for “Photojournalism News Feature Photo.”
Kantosky started shooting photos for the Kernel during the early months of this year.
The award was a complete shock to Kantosky, who was in Knoxville to shoot the Tennessee and Kentucky football game at the time, when he found out.
“I was completely shocked on it,” Kantosky said. “I didn’t even know they had submitted the photo, so when they called I was like, what?”
According to Kantosky, the photo hadn’t been published online.
“I didn’t think photo was going to be something I was looking toward long term,” Kantosky said. “I was even thinking about applying for the WilDCats at the capital program during the summer to do bipartisan policy advocacy, like economic or immigration, or just with economics and Spanish trying to see where I’m going from there.”
During Kantosky’s experience at the photojournalism workshop, Picture Kentucky this year, Kantosky switched his minor to journalism from photography. He currently has a photography internship with Lexington Sporting Club.
Foster, junior digital media design major and KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion magazine photo editor, won first place for CMA Pinnacles Best Portrait. Her photo came from this year’s spring issue, saying it was from “one of her favorite shoots ever.”
“It’s just cool to know that other artists and journalists agree with me,” Foster said. “Just being at this conference, I’m leaving super inspired about journalism. It was just cool to kind of see what other schools are doing in their publications. So I’m just taking inspiration. I’m feeling encouraged for what’s to come. I’m super excited about this upcoming issue with KRNL, I just feel very hopeful.”
Foster said after attending this conference, she feels like she can create stronger content and photos, with Cutrer saying she was proud of all the Kernel’s work from last year.
“We learned from other talented papers across the country, what they’re doing to cover certain issues and topics that I think we can carry into our newsroom as well,” Cutrer said.
During Cutrer’s time at the convention, she was able to hear and learn from Lexington Herald-Leader Editor-in-chief Rick Green about journalists being “guardians of quality and seekers of our audience.”
“I think those are the two things that we’ll be focusing on this year at the Kernel,” Cutrer said.
Stanley was happy for all the nominations, no matter what place they finished, and can already see the improvements Cutrer is making.
“She’s been able to already encompass bringing back that focus to ‘All right, now we’ve done well in this area, but we can’t forget about strong print reporting and making sure our photography and our video are just as high quality as everything else that we’re producing,’” Stanley said.
The entire list of Kernel placements this year is as follows:
Kernel Media Placements
CMA Pinnacles – Reporting Awards
- Best Arts and Entertainment Story Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel WRFL after dark: Student DJs navigate late-night airwaves and make connections in campus radio • Natalia Garcia- Third Place
- Best Coverage of Faith • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • A BROKEN LIGHTBULB: Samuel Greenhill’s Intersectional Journey as a Gay, Christian Artist• Natalia Garcia- Honorable Mention
- Best Feature Story• Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • Never Alone: How One Parent Scholar House Gives Single Parents a Helping Hand • Reaghan Chen- Honorable Mention
- Best Multimedia Breaking News Story • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Severe weather causes damage across Lexington • Staff- Third Place
- Best Multimedia Feature Story • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • ‘Like a time machine.’ UK researchers’ work leads to Herculaneum scroll discovery • Quezia Arruda Cunha, Giana Gallo- Third Place
- Best Social Media Reporting • Division I • University of Kentucky Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel • Social Media Reporting • Bryce Towle- Honorable Mention
Pinnacles – Advertising, Newsletter and Video/Audio Awards
- Best Ad Supplement/Special Section • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel Inside UK (Kentucky Kernel) • Staff- Third Place
- Best Multi-Media Ad Campaign • Division I and II • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel Calling all Wildcats! Free Big Mac alert! • Bryce Towle- First Place
- Best Rate Card/Media Kit • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel Media Kit • Hannah Stanley- Honorable Mention
- Best Recruitment Ad • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • How to join/connect with Kernel Media • Bree Cox- Honorable Mention
- General News Email Newsletter • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel General News Email Newsletter • Kaci McCarthy- Honorable Mention
- Sports Email Newsletter • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel Sports Email Newsletter • Kaci McCarthy- Third Place
- Best Audio Special Event Coverage • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Severe rainstorm, DEI editorial and the perfect day at Keeneland • Giana Gallo- Second Place
- Best Audio Sportscast • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kernel at the Buzzer: The Calipari Conversation • Colton Johnson, Cole Parke, Tyler Russell- First Place
- Best Audio Talk/Entertainment Program• All Divisions • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • POP! Goes the Kernel • Gray Greenwell, Gracie Moore- Second Place
- Best Video Special Event Coverage • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • UK catches brief glimpse of solar eclipse • Edward Smith- Third Place
- Best Video Sportscast • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Big Blue Nation welcomes home Mark Pope as the new head coach of Kentucky men’s basketball • Samantha Money- Second Place
CMA Pinnacles- Best of Collegiate Design Awards
- Best Feature/Entertainment/Literary Website Front Page • Division I and Two-Year Colleges • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • KRNL Website Front Page • Staff- Honorable Mention
- Best Magazine Contents Page/Spread • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • A Look Inside KRNL • Bree Cox – Honorable Mention
- Best Magazine Cover • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • KRNL Spring 2024 Cover • Karli Fee -Third Place
- Best Magazine News Page/Spread – Honorable Mention Karli Fee KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Death of State Street Story
- Best Magazine Sports Page/Spread • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • How Bekah Robinson Became the Queen of Sting • Ashton Payne – Third Place
- Best Newspaper Entertainment Page/Spread • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel Newspaper Entertainment Page/Spread • Hunter Grace Hayes – Honorable Mention
- Best Yearbook Division Page/Spread • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel Year in Photos Yearbook Division Page/Spread • Abbey Cutrer – Honorable Mention
- Best Yearbook Sports Page/Spread • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel Year in Photos Sports Page/Spread • Abbey Cutrer – Third Place
CMA Pinnacles – Photography and Sports
- Best Portrait • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • Beyond The Chair: An Homage to Black Beauty Spaces • Lily Foster – First Place
- Best Sports Feature Photo Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • We’re putting the band back together • Abbey Cutrer – Honorable Mention
- Best Sports Feature Photo Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • Gloves up, Guard Down: How Bekah Robinson Became the Queen of Sting • Sydney Turner – Second Place
- Best Multimedia Sports Story • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • Jayden McClain: Superstar seventh grader with six Division I basketball offers • Samantha Money – Third Place
MA Hall of Fame, Adviser Awards & Organization Pinnacles
Grand Ballroom D
- Ryan Craig – 2024 Distinguished Adviser Award
- Best College Media Group of the Year • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel Media Group of the Year entry • Staff – Honorable Mention
- Feature Magazine of the Year • Division I • University of Kentucky • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion • KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion Spring 2024 • Staff – Third Place
- Newspaper Website of the Year • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel Web site • Staff – Honorable Mention
- TV Station of the Year • Division I • University of Kentucky • Kentucky Kernel • Kentucky Kernel TV Station of the Year entries • Staff – Second Place
Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Pacemaker Finalists Awards
- Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile- Rana Alsoufi KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky Emily Ridings Weaves Her Own Story – Fourth Place
- Environmental Portrait Abbey Cutrer Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky One raptor at a time – Fourth Place
- Sydney Turner KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky Gloves up, Guard Down: How Bekah Robinson Became the Queen of Sting – Second Place
- Lily Foster KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky Beyond The Chair: An Homage to Black Beauty Spaces – Honorable Mention
- Broadcast Feature Story Bryce Towle Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky LeAndre Hayes: Business owner, skateboarder and husband – Honorable Mention
- Broadcast Commentary Giana Gallo, Owen Chesemore, Hannah Stanley Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky Catching up with the Kernel: Editorial on UK Swim Coach – third place
- Nate Lucas, Bryce Towle Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky Free Speech on Campus – Honorable Mention
- Multimedia News Story Staff Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky Severe weather causes damage across Lexington – Honorable Mention
- Alexandria Landgraf KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Southern Comfort the Sri Lankan Way: Sam Fore’s Fusion of Kentucky Staples With South Asian Flair – Honorable Mention
- Gracie Moore KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion, University of Kentucky
Behind the Seams: Unraveling the Mind of Lexington Fashion Designer Claire Pabst – Fourth Place 2:30 pm – 3:20 pm C
Best in Show
- Reporting Election 2024 Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky Tenth Place Amendment Two Broadcast, Edward Smith, Tenth Place
- Photojournalism Sports Photo Kentucky Kernel, University of Kentucky Matthew Mueller- Second Place Ole Miss Game
- Photojournalism News Feature Photo Christian Kantosky- First Place State Street Picture
- Design Yearbook Abbey Cutrer- Third Place Year in photos
- Design Newspaper/Newsmagazine Ashleigh Jones- Tenth Place KRNL “Class in Session.”
- Design Magazine Ashton Payne- First Place KRNL “Gloves Up, Guard Down.”
- Broadcast Sports Story Lauren Smiley Kentucky Kernel Fourth Place Big Blue Madness Package
- Broadcast News Story Edward Smith- Fifth Place Campus Safety Package
- Broadcast News Program Catching Up with the Kernel Deep Dive into DEI Podcast- Giana Gallo and Owen Chesemore- Eighth Place
