Thirteen high school students from around the State of Arkansas were selected as winners in an inaugural competition program created by the Arkansas Tech University Department of Communication and Media Studies.
Prizes of $75 for first place and $50 for second place were available in each category. Entries were judged by a panel of students from the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies — Treasa Collins, Bri DeClue, Blane Freeman, DaShawn Gove, Madison Herring, Amber King and Sarah Pollock — in conjunction with ATU faculty and staff members Dr. David J. Eshelman, Dr. Virginia Jones, Christie Kellar, Tommy Mumert, Dr. Hanna Norton, Frances Roberson and Megan Toland.
The spring 2023 contest winners are:
Newspaper Article
First Place – Alli Flynt, Springdale Har-Ber High School, “Governor Signs Critical Race Theory Ban”
Second Place – Audrey Marvin, Springdale Har-Ber High School, “Student Rises Above Behavioral Struggles and Redefines Stereotypes”
Photograph
First Place – Haley Hanners, Piggott High School, “A Butterfly’s Story”
Second Place – Haylee Remus, Piggott High School, “The Uptown Café”
Short Film
First Place – Dominic Solis, Siloam Springs High School, “Listen to Me”
Second Place – Gautami Lohakare, Little Rock Central High School, “Petrichor”
Short Play
First Place – Sophia Bridgers, Batesville High School, “Conversations with Samuel”
Second Place – David “Vex” Hernandez, Batesville High School, “Cheaters”
Short Speech
First Place – Krista Atkins, Lamar High School, “My Hobby: Trap”
Television Package
First Place – Chelsea Jensen, Bryant High School, “AP Physics Science Lab”
Second Place – Connor Jenkins, Springdale Har-Ber High School, “WCSN–Coach Gragg”
Yearbook Spread
First Place – Kaley Osborne, Bauxite High School, “The Miner: Volume 55”
Second Place – Kennedy Barnes, Springdale Har-Ber High School, “Let’s Break It Down”
“I was very pleased with the response for this competition,” said Eshelman, head of the ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies. “We had entries from high schools around the state. This will become an annual event, in the fall. It is a good way for us to find out about the amazing things that Arkansas high schoolers are doing. It also lets them see what we have to offer at Arkansas Tech.”
The ATU Department of Communication and Media Studies offers programs in journalism, communication studies and theatre and film production. A new major in social media influencing is planned to debut in fall 2023. Also in 2023, the department will begin offering certificates in broadcast journalism, print journalism, public relations and technical communication.
The department houses the student newspaper, student television station, student radio station, theatre and film productions, debate team, Arkansas Radio Theatre and student groups in journalism and public relations.
For more information, visit www.atu.edu/cj or call (479) 964-0890.
