No one expected the 2019-20 school year to end like it did, campus closed and classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world. The Crusader staff quickly figured out how to be journalists in the face of the virus and how to keep students informed about a constantly changing plan.
The year started off strong with a large staff and a trip to the National Collegiate Media Conference in Washington DC. Students toured the nation’s capitol and attended workshops. They also found out the previous year’s staff won a coveted Pinnacle award for two-year websites.
Crusader staff found their niche on campus with reporting news and getting student opinions. An investigative piece, followed with an editorial, even helped change a dorm policy that favored students.
Despite the spring conference being canceled due to COVID-19, the staff won 33 individual awards at the Kansas Collegiate Media contest. Seward County Community College also swept the two-year Journalist of the Year competition, coming home with all three places: Annette Meza, first; Cheyenne Miller, second and Calen Moore, third. Crusader News was named All-Kansas for two-year news publications.
Four projects were named national finalists in 2020 and came home with honors from the National Collegiate Media Convention. Fifth place for the Pacemaker Best Social Media Reporting was awarded to Preston Burrows, Annette Meza, Cheyenne Miller and Calen Moore. Fifth place for the Pacemaker Best Photo Slideshow went to AJ Gomez, Calen Moore and Daniela Phaton. Honorable mention for the Pacemaker Best Feature Story was awarded to Cheyenne Miller. In the Pinacle award category of Best Profile Story, Calen Moore came home with an honorable mention.
Click on the photos to view the full photo gallery from 2019-20:
Crusader class, aka staff meetings, switched to zoom when campus was closed due to COVID-19. This lasted the entire second half of the spring. semester ... even the end of the year game party was via zoom.
Maggie Ibarra, sophomore psychology major, adjust the light setup for a feature photo. The Garden City native has learned photography skills this spring semester.
A staff favorite game is "Tale Tell." New spring staff members, Elvis Polvon and Denise Perez, learn how to put a story in order using the story cards. Staff play this several rounds to get the hang of different styles of storytelling.
The Crusader News Spring staff includes: Elvis Polvon, Denise Perez, Annette Meza, Preston Burrows, Rebecca Irby and Maggie Ibarra.
Annette Meza, managing editor, helps Denis Perez, a new reporter, put her story in order. The two cut her notes apart and put the story together as if it were a puzzle.
The Crusader staff Fall 2019: Monica Gonzalez, Rebecca Irby and Maggie Ibarra. (back row) Calen Moore, Preston Burrows, Cheyenne Miller and Josh Swanson.
Crusader staff ran wild in the halls after the Fall 2019 semester ended as part of the "Santa Belly Bop." Rebecca Irby tries to get past Josh Swanson and keep her balloon from getting popped.
Calen Moore "pengiun walks" during a relay race. Cheyenne Miller loses her balloon and has to start over. The race was part of Crusader's annual "Reindeer Games" at the end of the Fall semester.
Monica Gonzalez blows up a balloon for her team during the annual Reindeer Games. The games are part of the Crusader Fall semester final.
Josh Swanson and Annette Meza stuff the legs of panty hose to form antlers on Preston Burrows' head. Their team won the Reindeer antler contest and were awarded Wendy's frosty gift certificates.
Rebecca Irby sings a parody written by Crusader staff for a special finals video. Cheyenne Miller waits for her part, which must be muffled behind a book.
Looking out the window of the tour bus, Preston Burrows "oohs and aaahs" over the sites in Washington DC. The Crusader staff attended a national collegiate media convention in the capitol. They took time to see the sites, even though it was raining.
Playing around with some recording equipment, Calen Moore and Kris Liggett create audio for a finals parody video.
Team building exercise involves trying to untie the human knot. Crusader staff work together to find a solution. It takes teamwork to put out a good news product.
Reading the fast scrolling script proved to be harder than Annette Meza thought. The sophomore co-editor tried her hand at standup reporting during a tour of the Newseum in Washington DC. Crusader attended the ACP/CMA National Collegiate Media conference Oct. 30-Nov.3.
Crusader visited the capitol as part of their trip to Washington DC for the 2019 ACP/CMA National Collegiate conference. Monica Gonzalez, Calen Moore, Josh Swanson, Cheyenne Miller, Preston Burrows and Kris Liggett spent the morning touring the capitol and watching a senate vote.
Going for "good luck," Preston Burrows pets the dog statue of Theodore Roosevelt. Legend has it that anyone who pets the dog will have good luck.
Crusader staff members are soaking wet and cold but still smile and pose in front of the Lincoln statue. Monica Gonzalez, Calen Moore, Josh Swanson and Kris Liggett braved a wet night to go on a Moonlight Monuments tour during the 2019 ACP/CMA National Collegiate Conference in Washington DC.
Crusader staff learn to storyboard during a lesson about structuring stories. Cheyenne Miller, sophomore copy editor, Calen Moore, sophomore co-editor, and Monica Gonzalez, sophomore social media director, team up to win the round with their story.
Crusader staff volunteer at the Five-State Fair in Liberal. They manned the college booth on the very first weekend of school.
Maggie Ibarra teams up with Rebecca Irby to come up with the best well-ordered story. The two freshman are in their first semester as Crusader reporters.
The Crusader staff really got into a group $5 food review project. Josh Swanson, freshman reporter, liked the corn from the hospital cafeteria lunch.
Preston Burrows works on an AP style quiz during Crusader class. The freshman from Rolla is in his first semester publishing for the student media website.
![The sophomores were recognized on the field instead of walking across the stage during their doubleheader. They received their diplomas and a picture of themselves playing during their career at Seward. [Pictured left to right are Dylan Day, Reed Thomas, Jase Schneider, Mason Martinez, Gannon Hardin, Brody Boisvert, and Zach Walker]](https://crusadernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/WEBDSC_0275-900x454.jpg)
![Marcos Montoya takes a break from working on his personal health from working at the gym. He says “That’s [the gym] my second home, basically. I’m there more than I am at my own house.”](https://crusadernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/web1UpCloseMarcos1-1200x800.jpg)
