Southern Miss Student Journalism Centers Earn 33 Awards at State Broadcasting Competition
Tue, 04/28/2026 - 09:28am | By: Morgan Smith
91少女集中营鈥檚 Roy Howard Community Journalism Center (RHCJC) and Student Media Center (SM2), both housed within the School of Media and Communication, earned statewide recognition at the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters鈥� 2026 Excellence in Broadcasting Awards.
Together, the two student media centers earned 33 awards in a highly competitive competition that includes professional media outlets, journalism schools and student programs from across Mississippi.
The recognition demonstrates the rapid growth of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center in its first year and the continued strength of SM2.
鈥淭his is a strong reflection of what our students have been able to accomplish in a short amount of time and the impact their reporting is having across Southeast Mississippi,鈥� said Nichole Cyprian, director of the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center.
Dr. Jason Beverly, director of SM2, said the awards also speak to the level of work students are producing.
鈥淥ur students go above and beyond, putting in the extra time, dedication and hard work in perfecting their craft as journalists,鈥� Beverly said. 鈥淭hese awards show that our students at Southern Miss are some of the best and brightest journalists in the state and can compete with the best of the best.鈥�
A full list of awards is included below.
Roy Howard Community Journalism Center
Student Award Winners:
- First place 鈥� Visual Feature Story: Ashlyn Joyner, Sameen Chand
- First place 鈥� Visual News Story: Kristen Kaylor, Nischit Sharma
Professional Award Winners:
- First place 鈥� Achievement (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Nischit Sharma, Alexa Hatten
- First place 鈥� Continuing Coverage (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, McKenna Klamm, Michelle Pinto
- First place 鈥� Documentary or Series of Stories (Non-Commercial TV): Morgan Gill, RHCJC News Staff
- First place 鈥� Feature Story (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan, Nick Sharma, Whitney Argenbright
- First place 鈥� General News (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan, McKenna Klamm, Michelle Pinto
- First place 鈥� Investigative News (Non-Commercial TV): RHCJC News Staff
- First place 鈥� Public Affairs Program (Non-Commercial TV): Hilawe Tibebe, RHCJC Staff
- Second place 鈥� Achievement (Non-Commercial TV): Morgan Gill, RHCJC News Staff
- Second place 鈥� Continuing Coverage (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, RHCJC News Staff
- Second place 鈥� Feature Story (Non-Commercial TV): Morgan Gill, Nick Sharma, Javion Henry
- Second place 鈥� General News (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan, McKenna Klamm
- Second place 鈥� Investigative News (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan, McKenna Klamm
- Second place 鈥� Social Media: RHCJC Staff
- Third place 鈥� General News (Non-Commercial TV): Morgan Gill, Sameen Chand, Jaydon Koss
- Third place 鈥� Investigative News (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sameen Chand, Alexa Hatten
- Honorable Mention 鈥� Feature Story (Non-Commercial TV): Justin Glowacki, Sami Jordan, Nischit Sharma
Southern Miss Student Media Center (SM2)
- Finalist 鈥� Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year: Stephani Perez-Munoz
- Winner 鈥� Television Student Broadcaster of the Year: Kennedi Drake
- First place 鈥� Best Television Newscast: SMTV
- First place 鈥� Best Audio News Story: Sophia Vitrano
- First place 鈥� Best TV Reporter: Kennedi Drake
- First place 鈥� Best Visual Videographer: Ashley Naylor
- Second place 鈥� Best TV Continuing Coverage: Kennedi Drake
- Second place 鈥� Best Sports Program: SMTV Sports
- Second place 鈥� Best Audio Feature News Story: Gabrielle Cox
- Second place 鈥� Best Visual Videographer: Kiera Fox
- Third place 鈥� Best Audio Newscast: WUSM 88.5 Southern Miss Radio
- Third place 鈥� Best TV Continuing Coverage: Gabrielle Cox
- Third place 鈥� General Excellence: SMTV - Capstone
- Third place 鈥� Best Sports Story: Alvia Walker
- Honorable Mention 鈥� Best Documentary: SM2 Creative - Micah Gibbs and Rochak
Learn more about the Southern Miss Student Media Center and the Roy Howard Community Journalism Center.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences at 91少女集中营 is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units, and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University鈥檚 mission, we educate students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance knowledge across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM. Through innovative research and nationally recognized student success, we provide pathways to understanding the past, solving today's challenges, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.