Southeast Missouri State University’s Department of Mass Media Arrow students earned national recognition for their creativity, skill and storytelling excellence. The Arrow, SEMO’s award-winning, student-run newspaper, brought home multiple top honors at the 2025 College Media Association (CMA) Pinnacle Awards, one of the most prestigious competitions for collegiate media nationwide.
The Arrow earned awards across multiple categories, showcasing the program’s strength in multimedia journalism, design and production. SEMO students were recognized for the following winning projects:
First Place:
- Creative Pinnacles – Newspaper Spread: “TikTok on the Clock” by Allie Murphree, Lily Niebrugge and Neva Wodochek
Second Place:
- General Pinnacles – Series: “Gen Z Faces Political Crossroads: Will Their Votes Shape the 2024 Election?” by Staff
Third Place:
- News Pinnacles – Audio Newscast: “Arrow on the Air 2/24” by Alex Barton, Neva Wodochek and Ariangelis Ortiz
- Creative Pinnacles – Editorial Illustration: “TikTok Ban” design by Allie Murphree
- Creative Pinnacles – Video Entertainment Program: “What’s up SEMO – Who Ya Gonna Call (Feb. 26, 2025)” by Pat Buck Jr. and Kyler Messenger
Honorable Mentions:
- Creative Pinnacles – Newspaper Front Page: “TikTok on the Clock” by Allie Murphree, Lily Niebrugge and Neva Wodochek
- Creative Pinnacles – Vertical Short Video: “Monday Minute Jan. 13, 2025” by Pat Buck Jr. and Jordan Shields
- Sports Pinnacles – Sports Feature (Audio/Visual): “Senior Spotlight: Lexi McCully” by Beto Vaca Diez and Kyler Messenger
“This recognition shows how the mass media program prepares students for today’s convergent media landscape where journalists must work seamlessly across all platforms,” said Dr. Emmanuel Maduneme, assistant professor of mass media and faculty advisor for the Arrow. “This underscores the value of experiential learning in SEMO’s mass media curriculum, where classroom work translates directly into professional-caliber content that competes nationally.”
The CMA Pinnacle Awards recognize the top college media programs in the United States through peer-reviewed evaluation. This year’s winners were announced during the College Media Association Fall Student Media Convention in Washington, D.C.
“The recognized students represent concentrations in multimedia journalism, TV and film, advertising and media management,” said Maduneme. “Their work serves as both a community news source and a high-impact learning laboratory to prepare for careers in mass media.”
Learn more about SEMO’s Department of Mass Media and explore opportunities to turn your creative passion into professional success at semo.edu/massmedia.