Broadcast students with KZLX and KNWT, pictured above during Northwest's annual Homecoming parade, claimed seven awards this spring in the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association College Media Competition. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

Student broadcasters at Northwest Missouri State University claimed seven awards in this year’s Missouri Broadcast Educators Association (MBEA) College Media Competition.

Honorees were announced March 18, and the awards will be presented April 9 in conjunction with the Missouri College Media Association (MCMA) Conference in St. Joseph, Missouri.

A total of 171 entries filled this year’s contest across 34 categories. Sixty-nine winners representing 11 schools were selected by 18 judges, all of whom are professionals working in the media industry or teaching. Entries must have been produced during the 2021 calendar year.

At Northwest, student broadcasters gain profession-based experience in the University’s School of Communication and Mass Media and through varied roles with radio station KZLX and television station KNWT.

“The faculty, staff and students in the School of Communication and Mass Media take great pride in the many accomplishments of our student media producers, and we congratulate them for being recognized for their excellence among their peers in the state,” said Alex Kirt, an assistant professor of mass media who serves as the faculty advisor for KZLX.

All of the Northwest honorees, who are listed below, are seniors majoring in mass media with a broadcast production emphasis.

• Abigail Starr, of Blue Springs, Missouri, received first place in audio air check for “Talk Set” and second place in audio station promo for “KZLX Station Promo” on KZLX.
• Preston Webb, of Keytesville, Missouri, received first place in audio show promo for “Revive Promo” on KZLX.
• Ben Whitney, of Lenexa, Kansas, and Siddharth Chaundhary, of Frederick, Maryland, received an honorable mention in video commercial for “Creative Services Commercial” on KNWT.
• Kaylin Byland, of Maryville,and Sydney Garner, of Grandview, Missouri, received first place in video multicamera live event for “Student-Directed One-Act Plays” on KNWT.
• Austin Claypool, of Smithville, Missouri, received first place in video special programs for “Gentoo” on KNWT.
• Paige Jennings, of Fulton, Missouri, received third place in video special programs for “Nerd Central” on KNWT.

KZLX, a student-managed lower-power radio station, serves the Maryville area on 106.7 FM. The radio station plays the most up-to-date and popular music artists while providing fun, upbeat and quality entertainment to the community. The station is a two-time winner of the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award, recognizing it among top college radio stations in the nation.

KNWT is a student-produced television station with original programming on Channel 8. Under the faculty advisement of Will Murphy, the television station has been named multiple times as a finalist for the College Media Association’s Pinnacle Award, recognizing it as one of the top college television stations in the nation.

“We celebrate their victories and share in their excitement,” Kirt said. “We have many excellent students in Northwest Student Media, and we believe that they have bright futures ahead in their careers.”