The Arrow, the student newspaper at Southeast Missouri State University, is now a finalist for three 2018-2019 College Media Association (CMA) Pinnacle awards.For the second year in a row, the Arrow has been named a finalist in the Four Year Less-Than-Weekly Newspaper of the Year category. With this latest announcement, the Arrow is now a finalist for three Pinnacle awards with the other two being in advertising and design categories.This is our second recognition as a finalist in the organizational pinnacle award category, said Dr. Tamara Zellars Buck, advisor to the Arrow, multimedia journalism coordinator and professor of mass media. The CMA looks at all aspects of our production. We had to send in several full publications for the judges to look at. They rated us on style of writing and overall appeal, said Buck. I get excited as both an Arrow alum and a faculty member because this nomination means we are being evaluated and deemed excellent. Last year we won a 3^rd place award in this category and Im hoping to see us move up. The competition is steep, so to win would be amazing.The College Media Association, the umbrella organization for student media, works to share information, share resources and expand the learning process for student media, she said.Buck says she is honored to have the Arrow recognized among the countrys best. The winner of the award will be announced at the National College Media Convention at theACP/CMAFallNational College Media Convention,scheduled for Oct. 31Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Buck will be attending the convention, along with several Arrow students.This is a great opportunity for students to be exposed to other student media editors and be inspired by them, said Buck, who will be inducted as an officer in the national organization at this years convention.Arrow students are as excited as their advisor is about the nomination. Zach Tate, Arrow editor-in-chief, said he is proud of the work his team has done to earn this latest nomination.To be named as a finalist means so much because it shows how great the individual parts of our organization are, he said. From our sports section to our marketing team to our videographers, its really a culmination of everyone's efforts over the last few years to put out the best product possible, and this award shows that. It shows that we have set and maintained a standard of excellence as an organization.A double major in multimedia journalism and public relations with a minor in military science, Tate has worked hard to make the Arrow what it is today. As editor, he has helped modernize the Arrow by publishing news content on the Arrows website, which was analyzed by CMA judges who chose the award nominees. He restructured staff positions to prioritize video and photo content that viewers want to see included in Arrow coverage.The Arrow has provided a lot of experience to my education that you can't get at other institutions, he said. Whether its a 4 a.m. production night, a quick turnaround story on a record-breaking night from one of our athletes, or providing fair edits on stories, the Arrow has been crucial in turning me into the writer that I am today. You get out what you put into it.Winners will be announced at #collegemedia19, theACP/CMAFallNational College Media Convention,scheduled for Oct. 31Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C.A list of the Organizational Pinnacle finalists is availablehere.