The Kentucky Kernel earned Kentucky collegiate journalism’s highest honor Friday.

The independent student newspaper won its seventh straight University division general excellence award at the Kentucky Press Association awards, presented Friday in Louisville.

In addition to winning general excellence, Kernel staffers won first place in these categories: best editorial, best spot news coverage, best enterprise or analytical story, best investigative story or series, best on-going/extended coverage story, best general news picture, best picture essay, best sports picture essay, special sections and best lifestyle page.

On Saturday, the Kernel also earned honors at the Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association Awards. Staffers won first place in these categories: news story, features, review, commentary, opinion pages, sports feature,  front page layout, sports page layout, best special section, best news headline, best feature headline, best sports headline, original illustrations, sports photo, photo essay and advertising art. The Kernel also placed first in the deadline writing competition, which was held in conjunction with KPA’s gubernatorial  forum.