Crusader keeps winning

Crusader earns All Kansas for the fourth year in a row

Melvin Le, Copy Editor|April 13, 2022

For the fourth year in a row Crusader receives the All-Kansas award for spring and fall of 2021. Pictured left to right are Laura Gillespie, Brianna Rich, Jessica Madrigal, Dani Arellano and Seyun Park.

The annual Kansas Collegiate Media Awards are back in-person after being online via Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions. Each year, Crusader takes home numerous awards and accolades in various categories such as photography, news story and even videography.

The event took place in the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview located in Wichita. Every community college in Kansas is eligible to compete in the competition. Only three colleges, including Seward County Community College, were awarded “Gold” by receiving a score higher than 90. Kansas State University and Wichita State University also received similar rankings.

Reporter Jessica Madrigal had a really great experience. This was her first time attending the event, as well as her first semester in Crusader.

“I was not disappointed at all. I think it was a really good experience and I think anyone, including Melvin, should go next time,” Madrigal said.

Editor Laura Gillespie also had a great experience. She recalled her favorite moment at the event with Madrigal.

“My favorite moment was sitting with Jessica and anxiously waiting to see if we won the All-Kansas for 2-Year Newspaper award,” Gillespie said.

The Crusader Staff won All-Kansas, which Gillespie explained: “it’s basically like our state championship”. The event only gives out the award to a handful of schools each year.

All of the awards that Crusader News earned was from Spring and Fall of 2021. The Crusader spring and fall 2021 staff members are Brooke Katen, Dani Arellano, Victoria Martins, Ruby Thornton, Megan Berg, Kylie Regier, Reece Hay, William Swanson and Mauricio Gonzalez. Not pictured: Saskia Vogelzang, Mary Ramirez, Ana Brangioni, Gracie Gillespie, Brianna Rich, Andrea Espinoza, Monalisa Chakraborty, Maddie Garrison, Raven Staten, Maria Coronado, Destiny Vasquez, Logan Scruggs, Krisi Anderson and Brooklynn Bauer. (Photo Courtesy of Sue Sprenkle)

Both Gillespie and Megan Berg, the Crusader feature editor, were placed under the “Journalist of the Year” for two-year colleges. Berg was the second runner up and Gillespie was the first runner up.

Not only was the event about presenting awards but there were many activities that students could participate in. Brianna Rich, the photo editor for Crusader, had a fun time with the Photo Scavenger Hunt.

“There were two sessions for photographers. Not only did I get to meet a person from K-State, but I also got to take pictures of stuff I like. I got to edit them and receive advice on what I could do better on my pictures,” Rich said.

The second part of the Photo Scavenger Hunt was on Monday. The students went over their pictures, which included a photo of a stranger, lines, lights and shadows. Rich tied for third place with another student.

Crusader provides an opportunity for students to develop and improve their journalism skills. The Kansas Collegiate Media event allowed the hard work of the students to be recognized by other community colleges.

“Whenever you hear the awards, and especially if you enter your work, it’s a great feeling to sit there and wait anxiously. As soon as they call your name, you get to walk up to the podium and hold the award yourself. That’s a great feeling because, throughout this semester, I was doubting myself as a photographer but being able to hear how many awards I actually won, reassured me that I am not a terrible photographer,” Rich said.

The Crusader Staff continues to make their mark with a total of 72 individual awards. The news organization has won All-Kansas four straight years in a row. All of the awards earned by the Crusader Staff are listed and are based on content produced during the 2021 calendar year.

Overall 2-year news team:

All Kansas and Gold award – Crusader News

Overall 2-year social media:

Gold Award – Crusader News

2-year Journalist of the Year:

First Runner Up: Laura Gillespie

Second Runner Up: Megan Berg

Audio Feature:

First: Dani Arellano, Reece Hay, Brooke Katen – Podcast Discover tips, survive your finals

Second: Dani Arellano, Victoria Martins – Podcast: Putting a ring on it

Third: Raven Staten, Krisi Anderson – Will summer 2021 smash social, emotional after-effects of COVID

Video: