mcma – The Hilltop Monitor

The Hilltop Monitor comes out on top at MCMA award ceremony

Christina Kirk — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:36:02 +0000

The Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) held its annual award ceremony April 9. The event was held virtually due to COVID-19, with the pre-recorded ceremony being posted on the organization’s Facebook.

The Hilltop Monitor, William Jewell College’s student newspaper, came out on top in its division, winning first place in the Sweepstakes category, along with 21 awards in various individual categories. This is the third year in a row The Hilltop Monitor has taken home a win in the Sweepstakes category.

The awards given by MCMA honor the best work published by college newspapers across Missouri in the calendar year of 2020.

The Hilltop Monitor competed in Division 3, which consists of publications from small four-year colleges and universities across Missouri. Included in this division along with Jewell are Avila University, Culver-Stockton College, Drury University, Evangel University, Missouri Valley College and Park University.

A list of the awards granted to The Hilltop Monitor staff are listed below:

Sweepstakes

The Hilltop Monitor Staff, first place

News Writing

Kyler Schardein, second place, “The Movement to Remove a Confederate Soldier Statue from Liberty”

Editorial Writing

Michaela Esau, first place, “The impact of community on learning”
The Hilltop Monitor Editorial Board, honorable mention, “Letter from the Editorial Board: Black lives matter”
Zachary Dube, honorable mention, “Opinion: Now is not the time for Amy Coney Barrett to join the Supreme Court”

Feature Writing

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, second place, “Volunteer programs in China cut short as coronavirus spreads”
Catherine Dema and Christina Kirk, honorable mention, “Students and alumni attend local protests in opposition to racism and police brutality”

Sports Writing

Savannah Hawley, first place, “Recap of the Current Athletic Season”
Hayley Michael, honorable mention, “Working Out While Making It Work”

In-Depth News Reporting

Catherine Dema, honorable mention, “Jewell overhauls orientation mentor program in radical inclusivity efforts, COVID-19 response”

Investigative Reporting

Christina Kirk, first place, “Jewell uses Intercultural Development Inventory to assess cultural competence”
Catherine Dema and Christina Kirk, second place, “Jewell cuts 2021-2022 tuition by 45% to increase price transparency”

Column

Agatha Gutierrez, second place, “Go Your Own Way: An Advice Piece”
Michaela Esau, third place, “How to be good when the world is bad”

Sports Column

Christina Kirk, first place, “Opinion: Enough with the looks-policing in women’s sports”

Entertainment Review

Krista Halstead, third place, “Movie Review: The Boys in the Band”

Feature Photography

Kari Tott, second place, “Appreciating What Earth Has to Offer”

Nonpolitical/Entertainment Cartoon

Minnie Goodbody, first place, “Cartoon: 2020’s New College Reality”
Kitt Wilhelm, second place, “Kitt’s Toons #30”

Information Graphic

Christina Kirk, second place, “Intentions for Re-Opening: National Statistics”
Claire Henry, third place, “Do I need to wash my mask?”

Website Design

Christina Kirk and Savannah Hawley, third place

Hilltop Monitor wins 25 awards at MCMA annual conference

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:00:14 +0000

Christina Kirk, Cassie Hays, and Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe accepting awards at the MCMA conference in 2019. All three received awards at this year’s ceremony. Photo courtesy of the Hilltop Monitor.

After having to cancel their annual conference due to the stay-at-home order in place, representatives from the Missouri College Media Association announced the 2020 awards for student journalists and publications statewide through a Facebook video livestream April 7. For the second year running, The Hilltop Monitor dominated the ceremony, winning 25 total awards and being recognized as the best small college newspaper in the state with its categories’ “Sweepstakes” award.

These awards are considered to be among the most prestigious available to student journalists and are granted by the state branch of the College Media Association, the official organization recognizing collegiate newspapers nationwide.

Divisions for this contest are determined by the number of students enrolled at the institute at the time of judging. This year the Monitor was placed in division three up against Avila University, Culver-Stockton College, Evangel University, Missouri Valley College and Park University.

A list of awards won by The Hilltop Monitor can be found below:

Sweepstakes

The Hilltop Monitor Staff, first place

News writing

Archer Wright, third place, “William Jewell College sells air waves for the creation of a 24-hour classical music station”

Maddie McCormick, second place, “New Partnership with Liberty Hospital means better care for injured athletes”

Tavarus Pennington, first place, “Free bus fare for Kansas City residents weighs access vs. affordability”

Editorial Writing

Kenton Fox, third place, “A case for radical inclusivity”

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe and Christina Kirk, second place, “Letter from the Editors: Press freedom and the importance of distinguishing opinions from facts”

Sports Writing

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, honorable mention, “Jewell announces addition of powerlifting and CrossFit programs beginning 2020”

In-Depth News Reporting

Kyler Schardein, third place, “National Emergency sparks controversy”

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, first place, “Atypical financial approach increases Jewell’s financial flexibility in the long run”

Investigative Reporting

Maddie McCormick, second place, “Students raise concerns about on-campus housing policy”

Christina Kirk, Madison Carroll and Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, first place, “An in-depth look at sexual assault at Jewell in light of recent allegations”

Column

Jenna Hultgren, second place, “‘Bachelor’ franchise chooses yet another white lead”

Rachel Bell. first place, “OCD isn’t about organizing, and you probably don’t have it”

Sports Column

Robert Hemphill, honorable mention, “Not just a game: The rise of E-Sports”

Entertainment Review

Audrey Mapes, honorable mention, “‘Captain Marvel’ and empowerment by imperialism”

William Humphrey, third place, “Album Review: ‘Free Spirit’”

Tavarus Pennington, second place, “Hulu’s ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’”

News Photography

Hannah Koehler, honorable mention, “Collections: A visual journey of art through the eyes of Sherry Whetstone-McCall”

Hannah Koehler, honorable mention, “New policy brings pets to campus”

Feature Photography

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, first place, “24-Hour theatre festival wows audiences at Jewell“

Nonpolitical/Entertainment Cartoon

Kitt Wilhelm, third place, “Kitt’s Toons #15”

Kitt Wilhelm, second place, “Kitt’s Toons #13”

Kitt Wilhelm, first place, “Kitt’s Toons #17”

Information Graphic

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, first place, “Students raise concerns about on-campus housing policy”

Website Design
Cassie Hayes and Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, second place, “The Hilltop Monitor”

The Hilltop Monitor wins big at annual MCMA ceremony

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe and Christina Kirk — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 17:37:34 +0000

(Left to right) Christina Kirk, Cassie Hayes and Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe pose with The Hilltop Monitor’s 2019 MCMA awards. Image courtesy of Dr. Lori Wetmore

After coming out on top at the annual Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) awards ceremony, Hilltop Monitor Editors-in-Chief Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe and Christina Kirk were beaming despite the dismal weather.

The two chief editors attended the conference along with Social Media Manager Cassie Hayes, Lifestyle Page Editor Madison Carroll and Faculty Advisor Dr. Lori Wetmore in Springfield, MO, April 13.

The Monitor was granted 25 awards at the prestigious event, including the prize for the best small college newspaper in the state of Missouri.

Event divisions were established based on the number of students enrolled in the institute at the time of the ceremony. Up against the Monitor in division three was Evangel University, Southwest Baptist University, Park University, Harris-Stowe State University, Avila University, Fontbonne University, Hannibal-Lagrange University, Stephens College, Culver-Stockton College and Missouri Valley College.

Awards were granted by the state-branch of the College Media Association, the official organization recognizing collegiate newspapers nationwide. These awards are considered to be some of the most esteemed awards available for college publications, and this year, the Monitor stole the show.

Of the 29 total categories, The Hilltop Monitor submitted entries for 16 and won awards for at least one entry in every one of those. In total, the Monitor won 25 awards.

Each award was assigned a numerical points value – four for first place, three for second, two for third and one for honorable mention – and the sum total of the points won across every other category determined the publication which won the division’s Sweepstakes award, representative of Best Overall. The Monitor received this award for division three.

A list of the awards received by the Monitor can be found below:

Sweepstakes (Best Overall)

The Hilltop Monitor Staff, First Place

Website Design

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe & Christina Kirk, First Place

Editorial Writing

Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe & Christina Kirk, First Place: “Letter from the Editor: New Pronoun Policy”

Catherine Dema, Second Place: “Opinion: The government should keep its hands off my godd*mn internet”

Audrey Mapes, Honorable Mention: “Opinion: Yes, It Matters–Kindness in the Dark”

Column

Savannah Hawley, First Place: “To Be Honest…with Savannah Hawley”

In-Depth News Reporting