Kentucky Kernel Shines at National College Media Convention with 52 Award Nominations and Prestigious Honors

New Orleans recently played host to the annual National College Media Convention, organized by the College Media Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The event, which took place in the fall, provided a platform for student journalists, advisers, and established professionals to connect and share insights. The Kentucky Kernel, the student-run media organization at the University of Kentucky, stood out with a total of 52 award nominations.

Among the notable honors, current and former students received recognition for their contributions. Ryan Craig, the student media adviser for the Kentucky Kernel, earned the prestigious 2024 Distinguished Adviser Award, a distinction given to only a handful of advisers nationwide each year. “I was immensely honored… it really makes my heart swell,” Craig stated upon receiving the award.

The 2023-2024 Kernel Editor-in-Chief, Hannah Stanley, expressed her excitement about the recognition. “Ryan is a dad to me… it just really was rewarding for us to see that he was getting the recognition for how much time and effort he’s put toward the paper,” she said. Abbey Cutrer, another Kernel Editor-in-Chief, noted Craig’s hands-on approach, stating, “There’s no one more deserving of this award.”

At the convention, Kernel Media also received two notable Pacemaker nominations, recognizing excellence in collegiate media. Craig spoke on the competitiveness of Kernel entries, emphasizing their focus on adapting to an evolving media landscape.

In addition to Craig’s accolade, former student Rana Alsoufi was nominated for the Ernie Pyle Human Interest Profile, finishing fourth. Alsoufi reflected on her achievement, stating, “I’m very proud… it’s just very reaffirming and I feel very grateful knowing that the judges kind of saw my intention with my work.”

Christian Kantosky, a sophomore, won first place in the Best of Show for a photojournalism feature. Kantosky expressed surprise at receiving the recognition while he was shooting a football game in Knoxville, saying, “I was completely shocked on it.” Junior Lily Foster, a photo editor for KRNL Lifestyle + Fashion magazine, also secured first place for CMA Pinnacles Best Portrait.

The convention provided invaluable training and a glimpse into the future of media, with Kernel Media garnering attention for its innovative multimedia approaches. Cutrer noted, “We learned from other talented papers… what they’re doing to cover certain issues and topics.” Overall, the convention highlighted the strengths and aspirations of the Kentucky Kernel, reaffirming its commitment to high-quality journalism.