UNK Students Take Top Awards in the Tom Allan Memorial Writing Competition

Tereca Diffenderfer
“The Antelope” adviser, 308.865.8269
 

UNK– Students from the University of Nebraska at Kearney recently took top awards in the Nebraska Press Association Tom Allan Memorial Writing Competition.
 
Participants in the competition wrote on the subject, “What is the future of print journalism as we know it today?” Students could not use the Internet or telephone to collect information. Instead, they had to collect information traditionally, through one-on-one interviews.
 
UNK student newspaper journalists Josh Moody, a sophomore from Orleans, won $500 for first place, and Jeremy Starzec, a junior from Maumelle, Ark., won $100 for second place. In addition, each student received a wooden clock as a trophy.
 
Other UNK participants in the competition included Sarah Mulder and Kylie Tielke, both of Kearney; Garrett Ritonya, Omaha; and Brian Osler, Kenesaw.  
 
“Nebraska Press was very gracious and appreciative of the students who competed, and generous with their acknowledgments to the winners after the awards luncheon,” said Tereca Diffenderfer, coordinator of “The Antelope” student newspaper.

During the Nebraska Press Association luncheon, UNK junior Sarah Mulder of Kearney received a $2,000 scholarship.
 
According to Diffenderfer, the students submitted a variety of journalistic pieces to the Nebraska Press Association college division of news writing and design competition. The works were submitted by students who took Department of Communication classes during the spring semester.
 
Competition winners include:

Sean Takahashi of Japan — first place in the Best Feature Story category for “The Prince of Tennis.”
Josh Moody of Orleans— second place in Column Writing for “Young Voters Growing in Numbers.”
 
Laura Schemeper of Almena, Kan. —  third place in Best News Photograph for her photo, “Sweet Competition.”
Leah Petersen of Kearney— third place in Best Feature Photograph for her photo, “Red Dress Poker Tournament.”
 
Nicholas Hauder of Crete — third place in Best Sports Photograph for his photo of UNK wrestling champion Keenan McCurdy.