Published on October 16, 2023 by Diamond Nunnally  
Samford News Network

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, the Department of Communication and Media awaited the Baptist Communication Association (BCA) Student Awards Competition results during a virtual ceremony. A record-setting 98 entries from six Baptist universities were submitted and considered. After everything was said and done, the department received 19 awards, including five first-place awards. 

The BCA student competition is "a tangible and practical way to invest in the next generation by encouraging students in their work and giving them advice that will help shape them into more effective Christian communicators, wherever the Lord may lead them."

The award winners are as follows: 

 Individual Awards
  • First place, Video Storytelling (less than one minute) – Caroline Spikes (Social News Network (SNN), senior)
  • First place, Video Special Effects – Wheat Bailey '23 (SNN)
  • First place, News Writing, Series or Package – Harper Harwell, Rebekah Crozier and Olivia Koepp (The Samford Crimson, all seniors)
  • Second place, Video Storytelling (more than 3 minutes) – Victor Roy '23, Donovahn Wyatt (senior) and Connor Loyd (senior; for a documentary made in film production)
  • Second place, News Writing, Single Article – Mackenzee Simms (The Samford Crimson, senior)
  • Second place, Magazine Spread Design – Claire Trammell (The Local, senior)
  • Third place, Video Storytelling (1-3 minutes) – Chris Todd (SNN, senior)
  • Third place, Single Photo – Harper Harwell (The Samford Crimson, senior)
  • Third place, Portrait Photo – Gabby Bass-Butler '22 (The Local)
  • Third place, News Opinion/Editorial – Rebekah Crozier (The Samford Crimson, senior)
  • Third place, Feature Writing, Single Story (tie) – Gabby Bass-Butler '22 (The Local)
 Outlet Awards
  • First place, Other Video category – SNN
  • First place, Newspaper Design, Single Issue – The Samford Crimson
  • Second place, Feature Writing Series or Package – The Samford Crimson
  • Second place, Overall Publication, Magazine (tie) – The Local
  • Second place, Newspaper Front Page Design – The Samford Crimson
  • Third place, Magazine Design, Single Issue – The Local
  • Third place, Magazine Cover Design – The Local
  • Third place, Overall Publication, Newspaper – The Samford Crimson
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.