The Eastern Progress staff was awarded third place in General Excellence by the Kentucky Press Association, while multiple staff members received KPA awards.
The KPA news contest is conducted annually for all members of the Kentucky Press Association. The Eastern Progress competes against other student publications from around the state in multiple categories designated by KPA.
“It’s an honor and I’m so grateful. It shows how much hard work pays off and the Progress has been a blessing to me and helped me grow as a journalist,” sports editor Cherish Simpson said. “The hard work and hours working from home we’ve put in, has truly meant something. Working during a pandemic has been a challenge but as a staff we have overcome it.”
Eastern Progress staffers racked up 10 awards in categories such as best general news, best feature, best columnist, best sports feature, best on-going coverage, best graphic and best front page.
“This last year has taken so much away from our students — in-person classes, social gatherings, the ability to convene in the Progress newsroom and put together the paper while sharing pizza. But these awards recognizing their hard work and commitment to journalism is such a bright spot for all of us. I’m proud of the work they did then, and I’m proud of the work they’re doing now,” Eastern Progress adviser Tricia Fulks Kelley said.
Full list of KPA awards:
Best general news
2nd place – Seth Russell
Best feature
2nd place tie – Kaliyah Mayfield
Best columnist
1st and 2nd place – Blake Vickers
Best sports feature
2nd place – Cherish Simpson
3rd place – Joey Chapman
Best on-going coverage
2nd place – Zachery Combest
Best graphic
2nd place – Emma C. Garness
Best front page
1st place – Karina Parker
1st place – Zachery Combest
General Excellence Award
3rd place – Eastern Progress staff
For a full video of the 2020 KPA News Excellence in Kentucky Newspapers awards visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXjYO0vxJUw.