The staff of the Kentucky Kernel went home with a box of hardware after the 150^th anniversary Kentucky Press Association Convention celebrating the commonwealth’s newspapers. 

Most notably, the Kernel walked away with the KPA General Excellence Award recognizing the best student publication in the state.

This list of awards helped secure the Kernel the top honor at tonight’s awards ceremony:

• Best Editorial:

–       First Place – Kernel Staff

–       Second Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Breaking News Coverage:

–       Second Place – Rick Childress

• Best Feature Story:

–       First Place – Rick Childress

–       Second Place – Rick Childress

• Best Column:

–       Third Place – Jillian Jones

• Best Sports Column:

–       First Place – Chase Campbell

• Best Sports Story:

–       Third Place – Chase Campbell

• Best Sports Feature Story:

–       First Place – Rick Childress

–       Third Place – Curtis Franklin

• Best Investigative Story or Series:

–       Second Place – Rick Childress

• Best On-Going/Extended Coverage Story:

–       Second Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Business/Agribusiness Story:

–       First Place – Bailey Vandiver

–        Second Place – Jelyn Washington-Mays

–       Third Place – Rick Childress

• Best Use of Social Media:

–       Third Place – Kernel Staff

• Best General News Picture:

–       First Place – Jordan Prather

–       Third Place – Kaitlyn Gumm

• Best Sports Picture:

–       First Place – Arden Barnes

–       Second Place – Eddie Justice

–       Third Place – Michael Clubb

• Best Special Section:

–       First Place – Kernel Staff

–       Second Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Graphic:

–       First Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Sports Page/Section:

–       First Place – Kernel Staff

–       Third Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Lifestyle Page:

–       Second Place – Kernel Staff

–       Third Place- Kernel Staff

• Best Editorial Page:

–       First Place- Kernel Staff

• Best Front Page:

–       Third Place – Kernel Staff

• Best Headline:

–       First Place – Kernel Staff

Members of the Kernel Staff said that while these awards are important, it’s even more rewarding to be working with some their closest friends.

“I am so proud of this staff, who are some of the best journalists I know and are also my best friends,” said Kernel Editor-in-Chief Bailey Vandiver. “Every single day I appreciate how amazing they are, and I’m so thankful that this staff now has an award to reflect that. Now we’re going to celebrate and, of course, get back to work.”

The Kernel’s advising staff maintained that the Kernel’s staff would’ve been just fine without tonight’s recognition.

“We didn’t need the General Excellence award for me to know this is the best collegiate newsroom in the state, but confirmation is always nice,” Kernel Media Adviser Ryan Craig. “Our students work hard on a daily basis to report the University of Kentucky’s news in a professional and accurate manner. To the person, every one of them do a great job and have bright futures.”

But tonight’s ceremony wasn’t just a win for the Kernel. It was a win for all of Kentucky’s student journalists.

As his last official business as outgoing KPA President, Peter Baniak named the commonwealth’s student journalists as the KPA Most Valuable Member of the Year.