Herald wins 17th Pacemaker Award at national college media convention

(L to R): Herald news reporter Nicole Ziege; Herald editor-in-chief Evan Heichelbech; former Herald editor-in-chief Andrew Henderson; Herald design editor Brandon Edwards; Herald features editor Laurel Deppen; Herald digital managing editor Mason Davis; Talisman and Cherry Creative adviser Sam Oldenburg; Herald features reporter Julie Sisler; Talisman magazine writing editor Olivia Mohr; and Talisman editor-in-chief Hannah Good.

Rebekah Alvey

The College Heights Herald and Talisman received numerous awards at the 2018 ACP/CMA National College Media Convention held in Louisville Oct. 25-28.

The Herald was named a winner of the 2018 Newspaper Pacemaker, the highest honor for a college newspaper. This is the 17th Pacemaker for the Herald.

Additionally, former Editor-in-Chief Andrew Henderson and senior Nicole Ziege placed fifth for News Story of the Year with their story “Fearing for My Life,” in which former Student Government Association president Andi Dahmer told about her harassment experience as president in SGA. 

Current Herald Editor-in-Chief, senior Evan Heichelbech, received an honorable mention for sports story of the year with “For Life,” a profile of Roger Osborne, a lifelong WKU basketball fan with terminal cancer. 

Junior photographer Nic Huey and alumna Brook Joyner received an honorable mention for Illustration of the year with “Side of Fees.”

The Herald and Talisman were also named finalists for 2018 Online Pacemakers. Pacemakers are awarded to student publications across the country to signify excellence in journalism.

The Talisman also brought in several individual awards. Talisman Editor-in-Chief, senior Hannah Good won second place for Reporter of the Year.

Phi Chu won third place for feature story of the year with “Reaching Redemption” and junior Haley Robb won fifth place for sports story of the year with “Game, set, unmatched.” Alumna Emily Johns placed third for Yearbook/magazine spread design of the year.

In the multimedia story of the year category, sophomore Chloe Cooper, junior Lillie Eastham and sophomore Chris Kohley placed third for sports with “Backwards and in roller skates,” while junior Michelle Hanks, junior Hannah Leboeuf and junior Grace Pritchett received an honorable mention with “Sights and Faces of Fight Night 2018.” Junior Lydia Schweickart received an honorable mention for photo slideshow with “Faces of BG Pride.”

Cooper also received an honorable mention for sports photo of the year.