Lamar University’s student media picked up 33 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention in San Marcos, April 10-12, including being named best overall magazine for UPbeat magazine.
University Press staff writer Rayna Cristy was elected student body secretary for the statewide organization for 2025-26.
“I’m very excited to represent not only the TIPA student body but also Lamar University’s student media,” Christy said. “I will be involved in planning next year’s convention, so I am open to any ideas from students about student media. This is an important time to let people know the value of media on all levels, not just on campuses.”
In on-site competition, UP sports editor Brian Quijada earned second place for Live News Photo, while photo editor Carlos Viloria placed second in the Sports Action Photo category. UP staff writer and LUTV contributor Kami Greene earned honorable mention for on-site TV Announcing. On-site competitions involve students from schools across the state among the more than 430 attendees at the convention.
“Live competition is one of the most important reasons to take students to TIPA,” Andy Coughlan, director of student publications, said. “The students get to replicate a real-world environment with the fast turnarounds and strict deadlines. The experience really helps the students’ progression.”
TIPA also handed out awards for work published during the 2024 calendar year. Quijada and Viloria placed first in the General News Photo category. UP editor Maddie Sims and staffers Aaron Saenz and Hailey Waobikeze shared first place in the Headline Writing category.
LUTV staffers Tre Sanchez, Javon Doyle and Errol White shared first place for Video Sportscast.
Second place awards went to UP staffers Luis Lemmen for In-Depth Reporting, E.J. McMillen for General News Photo and Luis Figueroa for Environmental Portrait. Quijada placed second in the Sports Feature Photo and Sports News Story categories, and Sims placed second in the Newspaper Design category.
LUTV’s Isaac Duerksen and Sanchez shared second place for Video Documentary, and LUTV’s Taylor Justice earned second for General News Video Story.
Third place awards went to the UP staff for Overall Newspaper Design and Overall Web Design.
UP staffers earning third-place awards went to Aaron Saenz for Newspaper Sports Page Design, Josiah Boyd for Breaking News, Quijada for Sports News Story and Viloria for Sports Action Photo. Justice placed third in the Breaking News Photo for her contribution to the UP.
Justice also placed third in General News Video Story and Video Feature Reporting. Sanchez earned third for Video Sports Reporting and LUTV’s Stephanie Adeniji, Willier Carrierre, Justice and Sanchez shared third for In-Depth Video News Reporting.
Honorable mentions went to the UP staff in the Website and Newspaper categories. Honorable mentions went to Sims for In-Depth Reporting and Photo Illustration, Quijada for Newspaper Sports Page Design and Sports Game Story, and Saenz for Newspaper Feature Page Design.
“The most exciting thing is that the awards were spread among 18 students, and that doesn’t include the staff awards that are dependent on the who team,” Coughlan said. “As we rebound from COVID, we are building a solid program that represents the whole university.
“It is important to remember that student media is not limited to communication majors. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to write, take photos, make art, make TV or create podcasts.”
TIPA is the oldest collegiate journalism organization in the country, and currently has 49 member schools representing 59 campuses, both four- and two-year institutions.
