The Arrow earned top honors across multiple categories, including investigative reporting, website design and multimedia packaging. The publication also stood out in the campus engagement category—a non-division event where all schools compete regardless of size—demonstrating its impact. In fact, The Arrow dominated this area, taking home three of the four available awards in campus engagement and promotions.

Tell me more about Mass Media 

A notable portion of the award-winning work originated from classroom assignments in courses taught by Dr. Tamara Buck, chair of the Department of Mass Media, and Instructor Michael Simmons. SEMO students use Arrow as a platform for real-world application, integrating student-created editorial and promotional content into the publication. Working as Arrow contributors provides students with experience meeting deadlines, interviewing, writing and content creation—giving students the opportunity to produce a professional-level portfolio before graduation.

“We’re incredibly proud that nearly a third of these awards came from assignments developed in our classrooms,” Buck said. “It speaks to the strength of our collaborative model—students are learning, innovating and producing content that stands out across Missouri.”

Awards Include:

• First place – Division 2 Best Overall Newspaper, Staff
• First place – Website, Molly Foust, southeastarrow.com
• First place – Multimedia Package, Staff, Election 2024 coverage
• First place – Special Section or Supplement, Staff, “Gen Z's political power: Will they turn the tide in the 2024 election?”
• First place – Campus Engagement/Promotion, Pat Buck Jr. and Hunter Caldwell, “What’s Up SEMO?”
• First place – Investigative Reporting, Lily Niebrugge, “Horticulture Professor's Abrupt Exit Creates Uncertainty Among Students"
• Second place – Investigative Reporting, Lily Niebrugge, “Concerns Rise Over Birth Control Access as SoutheastHEALTH Transitions to Mercy Hospital”
• Second place – Campus Engagement/Promotions, Staff, Eclipse Event
• Second place – In-Depth News Reporting, Staff, Coverage of parking changes
• Second place – Sports Photography, Nathan Gladden and Beto Vaca-Diez, “Lydia Webb's Journey to Becoming All-Around Record Breaker”
• Third place – Newspaper Division 2 Sweepstakes, Staff
• Third place – Special Section or Supplement, Staff, “A Celestial Spectacle”
• Third place – Feature Page, Emma Kratky, “SEMO Uncorks New Alcohol Policy”
• Third place – In-Depth News Reporting, Lizzy Stock and Koki Lynn, “In Order to Thrive, SEMO Students Must Afford to Live”
• Third place – Photo Page, Beto Vaca Diez, “SEMO Defeats SIU in War for the Wheel”
• Third place – Sports Writing, Dylan Neuner, “Nova Ojutkangas wins OVC Female Athlete of the Year After Winning Conference Meet”
• Third place – Story Illustration, Allie Murphree, “Gen Z Faces Political Crossroads: Will Their Votes Shape the 2024 Election?”
• Honorable Mention – Campus Engagement/Promotions, Pat Buck Jr. and Wesley Perez Vidal, “Monday Minute”
• Honorable Mention – Feature Writing, Alex Barton and Zach Huffman, “South Side Farms: Cultivating Hope and Nourishing the Community”
• Honorable Mention – Feature Writing, Neva Wodochek, “Kathy Hargrove from Dining Will End 20 Years of Service with Gratitude”
• Honorable Mention – Story Illustration, Emma Kratky, “Finding a Job Post-Graduation”

SEMO’s mass media program allows students to learn from award-winning professors and experience a professional newsroom culture to prepare students to compete and win at high levels. The consistent performance of the Arrow at both state and national levels demonstrates the program’s continued excellence in student journalism. To read the Arrow, visit southeastarrow.com. To learn more about mass media, visit semo.edu/massmedia.

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