The University of Wisconsin-Superior campus newspaper The Promethean won seven awards in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s 2024 Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest. The campus newspaper won awards in the Division B category; two being in first, three in second, and two honorable mentions. The contest recognizes student excellence in journalism across the state of Wisconsin.
The Promethean won two first place awards in the Health Coverage and Public Affairs Reporting Category. The stories recognized for Health Coverage included, “Waiting for Beds” covered by Drew Kerner, “2024 Election Woes Weigh on Students” covered by Emmett Appleby, “Mindful Mondays and Pruitt Center Looks to Unplug Students from Technology” and “De-stress Days at UWS: A Practice of Self-care with the ICRC and GERC” covered by Sami Tough. In the judges’ comments, they specifically recognized the story, “Waiting for Beds,” and described it as, a “excellent blend of art and honesty about mental health needs and expressions.” Other staff members that contributed to Health Coverage were Hannah Hutton, Maddie Schaffer, Yvette Klauer, Norah Schmitz, and Isaiah Wiita.
The stories submitted for the Public Affairs category award were Drew Kerner’s, “Biden Announces More than $1 Billion Towards Twin Ports Infrastructure” and “Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Visits UWS, Part of Back-To-School Tour,” Emmett Appleby’s “2024 Election Woes Weigh on Students” and “Bridging the Divide: UWS Students Discuss Immigration in Third Civil Discourse Event,” Patrick Douglas’s commentary on “Covering High-Security Events as a First-Time Reporter,” Evan Ludwig’s story on “Minnesota Governor & VP Candidate Tim Walz Held Rally at UW-Superior, Targeting Swing States,” as well as the February and September editions of the Promethean Podcast, covered by Norah Schmitz, Lily Hanson, and Isaiah Wiita.
The second-place awards were for the categories, “Use of Multimedia”, “News Photography”, and “Arts and Entertainment” coverage. The judge for the multimedia award expressed that the “podcast is a good way to meet your readers where they are. Not everyone will pick up a paper or go to a news website. Very good production.”
In News Photography, the Promethean won second place with a photo of Governor Tim Walz taken by Jon Pearson for the story, “Minnesota Governor & VP Candidate Tim Walz Held Rally at UW-Superior, Targeting Swing States” covered by Evan Ludwig. Other staff members that contributed to the News Photography category were Patrick Douglas, Norah Schmitz, and Issaiah Wiita. The Promethean also won 2nd place in the Arts and Entertainment category with Emmet Appleby’s “Drag Show Dazzles UW-Superior,” in which the judge described as a, “Brave topic, the joy of the participants in the show shines through.”
Lastly, The Promethean had two honorable mentions, one for the stories on the Superior Choice Credit Union Stadium opening on campus in the 2024 academic year, and the other for Drew Kerner’s story, “KUWS Northern Regional Manager Paul Damberg Retires.” Staff members Drew Kerner, Isaiah Wiita, Evan Ludwig, Andrew Mathews, Norah Schmitz, Sky (Sama) Abdullayeva, and Issac Becket covered stories and contributed photos concerning the SCCU Stadium from funding, construction, grand opening, and the stadium being used.
For more information on the WNAF contest or to see the stories submitted for the contest, visit the WNA Foundation Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest at wnanews.com/wna-foundation/ college/.
