MARTIN, Tenn. – WUTM 90.3 FM “The Hawk” – the student-run radio station on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Martin – claimed its eighth consecutive Platinum Award from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System during the organization’s annual conference March 2-4 in New York City, New York. This is the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s highest peer-reviewed distinction for college radio stations.
The station was also recognized as a national finalist in four categories: best college radio station for schools with under 10,000 student enrollment, best station facilities, best documentary and best use of video in the radio studio.
Station staff members also performed well in the “best of” competitions across a variety of categories. Students enrolled during the 2016-17 academic year were eligible to submit material for consideration.
Natalie King, a 2017 graduate from Paducah, and Shane Wofford, a senior from Trenton, both received national awards for best program director and best event promotion, respectively. King and Wofford were chosen from a national pool of competitors and recognized as the “best of the best” in their chosen categories.
Several students were recognized as national finalists in their respective competitions, which means they placed in the top-five nationally.
King was a finalist in the competitions for best newscast, best community news coverage and best on-air personality. John Thornton, a sophomore from Atoka, was a finalist for best overall sports coverage and best sports interview. Kait Scott, a junior from Martin, was a finalist in both the best press release and best promotions director categories.
Two staff teams placed in the competition for best sports play-by-play. WUTM alumni Kayla Harmon, of Lewisburg, and Jared Peckenpaugh, of Finley, both 2016 UT Martin graduates, were finalists for coverage of a Skyhawk women’s basketball game; and Olivia Johnston, a senior from Hampshire, and Tanna Norman, a senior from Williamsport, were recognized for UT Martin rodeo coverage.
Emma Bruner, a junior from South Fulton, and Ashley Shores, a senior from Martin, were also finalists in the best business director and best celebrity interview categories, respectively.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Robinson, associate professor of communications and WUTM faculty adviser, at 731-881-7555 or rrobins@utm.edu.
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PHOTO ID: WUTM staff members Olivia Johnston (left), news director; Ashley Shores (center, left), program director; and Kait Scott (right), support and development director, are pictured with Dr. Richard Robinson (center, right), associate professor of communications and WUTM faculty adviser, after accepting the station’s eighth Platinum Award from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System during the organization’s annual conference March 2-4 in New York City, New York.
