UNC Asheville students win 11 statewide media awards
The Blue Banner, UNC Asheville’s student news outlet, earned seven awards at the annual statewide College Media Association’s conference on February 22 at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
received the following awards for 2024:
- Third place in News Writing: Emily Koscinski,
- Honorable mention in Cartoons: Samantha Adams,
- Honorable mention in Digital Storytelling: Abigail Cutler,
- Honorable mention in Digital Storytelling: Evannes Edmonson,
- Honorable mention in Feature Writing, Emily Moosbrugger,
- Honorable mention in Sports Writing, Jacob Brown,
- A Best of Show in Online News:
Also recognized with three awards was the UNC Asheville literary and creative arts journal Headwaters:
- Third place in Single/Two-Page Spread: Atticus Mason and Sedona Murdock, “Growing Up”
- Honorable mention in Fiction: Riley Johnson, “Appetite”
- Honorable mention in Nonfiction: Gabrille Paluzzi, “Jerry”
And, at the 2025 Boone Docs Film Festival, won Best Student Film. The film focuses on Aarionna Clackler’s family and their tradition as Appalachian ballad singers. Clacker also worked on the film as director along with Ryan Cromer, camera and editing; Jonah Levy, sound and production assistant; and Robert Sutcliffe, sound and graphics.
For more information, contact the Banner’s faculty advisor Micheal Gouge, a senior lecturer of mass communication, 828-232-2423 or mgouge@unca.edu or Anne Slatton, faculty advisor for “A Nest of Singing Birds,” at aslatton@unca.edu.
About the N.C. College Media Association
, sponsored by the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ϲ-Chapel Hill, offers a one-day conference on a different campus each year to hold educational workshops and recognize outstanding work from the state’s student newspapers, yearbooks, and online news organizations.
About the Boone Docs Festival
film festival, held by Appalachian Theatre with support from many Appalachian State University departments and local businesses, presents a series of short form documentary films that share and celebrate life in Appalachia.
Ready for What's Next?
At the ϲ, you’ll experience an unparalleled liberal arts and sciences education. Take the next step and apply to become a Bulldog!