The College Heights Herald placed second in general excellence among college newspapers at the 2018 Kentucky Press Association awards and won first place for general excellence in advertising.

The Herald placed in 18 categories in the news contest, winning first in seven categories.

Assistant news editor Emily DeLetter won best general news story for her story last February on student dining fees increasing up to $350 under the new contract with Aramark. Former Herald photographers Brook Joyner and Nic Huey placed third for their graphic that ran with the story. Former Herald Editor-in-Chief Andrew Henderson and former Managing Editor Monica Kast placed third in general news for their story “Funds & Roses,” which also won Henderson second place for headline writing.

Editor-in-Chief Evan Heichelbech’s story “For Life” won best sports story and second place in the sports feature category. Heichelbech and sports writer Tyler Eaton won second place for sports story with their story published last January about possible cuts to the athletics budget. Digital managing editor Jeremy Chisenhall won second place in sports columns for “The Walkthrough.”

Reporter Nicole Ziege and Henderson won best investigative story for their article on former Student Government Association President Andi Dahmer’s experience of harassment in the organization. Ziege placed third in the same category for her story on mold in campus residence halls.

Former Herald news editor Emma Collins placed third in best enterprise or analytical story for her piece on Parking and Transportation’s permit oversell last spring.

Photographer Fahad Alotaibi placed first for breaking news picture for his photo of children playing basketball in Wilmington, North Carolina, in front of a community center wrecked by Hurricane Florence. Silas Walker won second and third in the same category for his photo of teachers protesting at the state capitol building in April and his photo of Cage the Elephant, respectively.

The Herald also swept the best picture essay category with Michael Blackshire placing first for “Lost to the Streets,” Walker and Mike Clark placing second for “Cage on Stage” and Ebony Cox placing third for “Support Role.”

Photographer Grace Pritchett won second place in the feature picture category for her photo of bid day. Walker placed third in the same category. Walker also won first for sports picture essay with Chris Kohley and Shaban Athuman. Walker and Athuman also placed second.

Herald staff also placed in the following categories: best lifestyle page, best editorial page, best editorial, creative use of multimedia, best sports special section and best sports page.

All Kentucky student journalists were named KPA Member of the Year for their work covering important stories and fighting for open records and meetings at universities and colleges across the state. 

Engagement Editor Emma Austin can be reached at [email protected] and 270-745-0655. Follow her on Twitter @emmacaustin.