Representing AC at the TIPA competition in Dallas were, from left, Mike Haynes (adviser), Nathan Rasmussen, Dakota Kessler, Salvador Gutierrez, Macey Gibaszek, Destiny Kranthoven, Denisha Kranthoven, Jenna Gibson, Libby Gibson, Christie Rankin, Alma Bustamante, Maggie Tinoco, Jill Gibson (adviser), and Frank Navarette.

Amarillo College mass media students were the recipients of 19 awards and a scholarship at the recognition breakfast Saturday, April 2 of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association in Dallas.

The awards included four first-place certificates, and in magazine-design competition, AC was judged ahead of such schools as University of Texas at El Paso and Baylor.

“The students’ performance in these contests validates that they are learning the skills needed to succeed in mass media and journalism careers,” said Jill Gibson, Matney Mass Media Program coordinator and associate dean of AC’s School of Creative Arts. 

Six of the awards were for on-site competition against students from 45 other two- and four-year schools from across Texas. AC’s Maggie Tinoco placed first in Spanish Radio Announcing, while Salvador Gutierrez took second in Radio Advertising and Nathan Rasmussen placed second in Television Sports Writing.

Also in on-site contests, Christie Rankin placed third in Live News Video while Alma Bustamante took third in Spanish News Writing and honorable mention in Spanish Television Announcing. 

Jenna Gibson received a Mike Warms Memorial Scholarship based on her classwork and her writing for AC’s student newspaper The Ranger.

Awards that AC’s Matney Mass Media students received for work done during the 2015 school year included a first place for Magazine Overall Design for the fall 2015 AC Current. Denisha Kranthoven was editor of the magazine, Bethany Zalman was assistant editor, and JP Bernal was art director.

“The design here is forward-thinking, clean and contemporary with a great use of color, though the color is not too overpowering,” wrote a TIPA judge about the AC magazine. “Exceptional graphics and excellent font selection.”

Bernal also placed first in Magazine Cover Design for the fall 2015 AC Current cover and second for the spring 2015 cover. The judge wrote, “Lovely cover. The artwork is fresh and well designed with effective complementary and contrasting color choices. It feels fun and modern.”

Cody McGehee also took first place for Radio Spot Commercial/PSA. Kranthoven placed second in Newspaper Feature Page Design.

Third-place awards went to Amanda Castro-Crist for Newspaper Sports Feature Photo, David Lovejoy for Television Production, Lily Gamble and Justin Beck for Best Online Multimedia Package and to the Broadcast News Class/FM90 for Radio Overall Excellence. Jill Gibson is the Broadcast News instructor.

AC students picking up honorable mention awards were Zalman for Magazine Illustration, Zalman for Newspaper Single Subject Page Design, Bustamante for Newspaper News Feature Story and Castro-Crist for Newspaper Information Graphic. 

An AC graduate, Brittney Richerson Hall, was a speaker at the convention for the second consecutive year. Hall, who was Ranger editor in 2011-12, gave a presentation on community journalism. After serving as publisher of the Aransas Pass Progress and the Ingleside Index newspapers, she recently became marketing and communications manager for the Austin Opera.
 
“Amarillo College students winning statewide journalism and media contests is nothing new,” said Mike Haynes, a student media adviser. “The Ranger and AC Current have been doing that for many decades, and now our students are adding awards for video, audio and online work.

“Even though journalism is changing, AC’s media program is on top of technological trends and has a promising future.”

Along with the on-site contests, the students attended workshops, presentations and critiques with media professionals and advisers from other colleges and institutions.

“The convention allows our students to exchange ideas with their peers, network with prospective employers and learn about university transfer options,” Gibson said. “These benefits, along with the hands-on experience using their skills in a competitive environment, makes this convention an invaluable experience.”

Attending the TIPA convention from AC were newspaper editor Alma Bustamante, magazine editor Denisha Kranthoven and student media members Macey Gibaszek, Jenna Gibson, Libby Gibson, Salvador Gutierrez, Dakota Kessler, Destiny Kranthoven, Frank Navarette, Christie Rankin, Nathan Rasmussen and Maggie Tinoco, along with advisers Jill Gibson and Mike Haynes.

April 4, 2016