The Patriot wins more than 30 awards at KPA banquet

The staff at University of the Cumberlands’ student newspaper The Patriot raked in 29 General Excellence awards, three Advertising Excellence awards and one 2018 Most Valuable Member award at the annual KPA (Kentucky Press Association) Banquet. This tops the 22 awards the paper won last year.

Yes – 55 statewide awards in just two years, earned by a staff of fewer than 10 people.

The honors included a first place General Excellence award in the student publications class one category and ranged from Best Sports Column to Best Feature Picture to Best Headline. In total, The Patriot received 11 first place awards, 13 second place awards, three third place awards and one certificate of merit, in addition to the advertising awards. Also at the awards banquet, outgoing KPA president Peter Baniak named all Kentucky student journalists as 2018’s Most Valuable Member, giving The Patriot yet another plaque to take home.

“Being on a staff this small that is so successful is an exciting and hopeful feeling,” said Mike Krzyston, editor-in-chief of The Patriot. “It’s exciting because it’s great to see our hard work pay off and how much we are able to achieve, and it’s hopeful because I know that, if we can do it, future Patriot staffs can do it as well.”

Award winners included:

“We were thrilled to bring home a first-place award for best college newspaper in the state for the second year in a row,” said Jeremiah Massengale, faculty advisor for The Patriot. “It’s encouraging for these talented student journalists, and I’m happy they earned this recognition from KPA for their many hours of work at The Patriot.”

“I don’t think we do anything special; if anything, our size is what makes us stand out,” said Krzyston. “We are one of the smallest college staffs in the state, and I think that is a good thing. Everyone knows their role and how to execute our goals every week. Everyone is equal in the office, and there are no bad ideas.”