University of Central Arkansas School of Communication student journalists received 51
awards in the 2021 Arkansas College Media Association Contest, with 31 students representing
four media outlets being honored.
In General Excellence categories, ucanews.live, the website of The Echo, the student
newspaper, placed second. The Echo’s online editor is Mia Waddell. J. Wade Dykes, editor of
the Scroll, received second place in the Yearbook Editor of the Year competition.
ACMA is composed of student media outlets at public and private two-year and four-year
colleges and universities in Arkansas. The awards were announced virtually because of COVID-
19.
Other awards:
First place
The Echo online
- Audio Podcast — Lauren McLemore, Morgan Jenkins, Sarah Coleman, Elvira Toddy,
Delaney Van Wilpe, Ronak Patel, Megan Holder and Hannah Bender — Integration at UCA. - Personality Profile — Ashley Savage — People of UCA, Kaleigh Fletcher.
- Blogs — Lauren McLemore — Volunteers are fundamental for recycling industry.
- Arts and Entertainment — Daniel Adams — Muralist gives lecture on intersection of
social justice, art. - Spot News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway protest gallery.
- Niche/Specialty Site — Delaney Van Wilpe — Top 5 performances from the 2020 MTV
VMAs.
News 6 television
- Political Coverage — Morgan Jenkins — TikTok campaign.
- Pandemic Coverage — Ashley Luningham — Reynolds Performance Hall season and
COVID-19. - News Reporting — Macie Davis — Kacie Woody, never forgotten.
The Scroll yearbook
- Feature Layout — Ly-Lan Hunt — What we know about COVID-19.
- Special Features Writing — Samantha Bland — Bring back the ’90s.
- Art/Illustration — J. Wade Dykes — Opening page.
- Feature Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Mardi Gras madness.
- Sports Photo — Kaitlyn Gordon — Giving it your all.
- Academics Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Interruptive dance.
- Pandemic Coverage — Ly-Lan Hunt — What we know about COVID-19.
Second place
The Echo newspaper
- News Writing — Ronak Patel — Fraternity pledges found responsible for vandalism.
- News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway march.
- Feature Photo — Elvira Toddy — People of UCA: Carter Rideout.
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Ian Lyle — Statements on racial injustice by SGA and
UCA staff. - In-Depth Reporting — Ronak Patel — Sen. Gary Stubblefield directs ADHE to request curriculums from universities.
- Blogs — Daniel Adams — Make your wallet happy and take advantage of student discounts.
- Spot News Photo — Ian Lyle — Conway protest gallery.
News 6 television
- Feature — Connor Holmes — Baum Gallery’s new exhibit: Threads through Time.
- Political Coverage — Trevor Cook — Final day of early voting.
- Pandemic coverage — Ashley Luningham — COVID trick or treat.
The Scroll yearbook
- Academic Layout — Gabriela Vargas and Samuel Tucker — Art close to home.
- Layout-Organization/Greek — J. Wade Dykes — Showing off.
- Student Life Layout — J. Wade Dykes and Samuel Tucker — Part of the “Community.”
- Sports Layout — J. Wade Dykes, Jacob Smith, Kaitlyn Gordon and Travis Gupton —
Second SLC title in three years.
Third place
The Echo newspaper
- Review Writing — Sarah Coleman — “Ratched” uses perfect balance of horror and
mystery.
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Rob Davis — UCA breaks ground on the Windgate Center.
- Election/Political Coverage — Kaitlin Benight — 2020 presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen visits Little Rock to campaign.
News 6 television
- News Reporting — Tristen Hall — 9 p.m. routine.
- Feature — Chase Mauk — Flute fusion.
- Pandemic Coverage — Austin Ashley — UCA testing and tracing protocols.
The Scroll yearbook
- Cover — J. Wade Dykes and Ly-Lan Hunt —One of Many/Many from One.
- Portrait Layout — J. Wade Dykes and Ly-Lan Hunt — Freshmen/Sophomores.
- Typographic Presentation — Gabriela Vargas — Pride! Pride! Pride!
- Sports Photo — Will Mulloy — Creating a rivalry.
- Academics Photo — Travis Gupton — Experience culture.
Honorable Mention
The Echo online
- Meeting/Speech Coverage — Ronak Patel — UCA Board of Trustees approve pedestrian
bridge. - Blogs — Sadie Clark — At a university far, far from home.
- News Photo — Rob Davis — UCA breaks ground on Windgate Center.
News 6 television
- Feature — Thomas Gillette — Microforms a library resource.
The Scroll yearbook
- Layout-Organization/Greek — J. Wade Dykes and Samuel Tucker — 40 lost in the last
decade. - Student Life Layout — J. Wade Dykes — Bridge to a safer life/Afraid of heights.
- Feature Photo — Travis Gupton — Swinging for the fences.
- Student Life Photo — J. Wade Dykes — Showing off.
The contest covered student media content produced in 2020, and members of the
College Media Association from across the country judged the competition.