Vaqueros rope 53 journalism state awards in Cowtown

On March 26, UTRGV Student Media and Gallery Magazine received 53 awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention for on-site contests and previously published/broadcast content.

This year, the event took place in Fort Worth and was in-person for the first time since March 2019. Previously, TIPA was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TIPA is the oldest state collegiate press association in the nation and has grown into one of the largest and most respected collegiate groups in the country, according to its website.

About 300 students and advisers from 35 Texas colleges and universities gathered in the Hilton Fort Worth hotel for the convention, which took place from March 23 to 26.

Students competed in live contests, including TV sports writing, newspaper design, Spanish news writing and radio advertising.

Student Media

Advertising Sales Manager Alexis Ramos and former Marketing Specialist Monica Llanas placed second in the previously published Advertising Campaign category. Llanas also placed second in Static Ad Design.

The Rider

In the on-site contests, The Rider won three awards. Editor-in-Chief Verilu Infante placed third in Newspaper Design; Sports Reporter Omar E. Zapata earned third in Sports Action Photo and Spanish Editor Fatima Gamez Lopez received an honorable mention in Spanish News Writing.

Additionally, The Rider also garnered nine awards in the previously published/broadcast competition. Lopez won first and second place in both Spanish News Story and Spanish Feature story. Editorial Cartoonist Ariael Ortiz received second place in Editorial Cartoon. Social Media Editor Danielle Perez placed second in Best Use of Social Media-Breaking News. Former Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Peraza received third in Multimedia Slideshow. Zapata placed third in Sports Feature Photo. Infante received an honorable mention in Breaking News.

Vaquero Radio

Vaquero Radio received two awards in the on-site contests. Reporter Felix Balderas placed second in Radio Announcing and Assistant Station Manager Jan Luis Trejo received an honorable mention in Radio Advertising.

The station received 13 awards for previously published/broadcast content, including first place in Overall Design-Web and third in Program Production-Audio. Vaquero Radio also received an honorable mention in Program Production-Audio.

Former Sports Reporter Luis Rubio received first and second place in Sports Reporting-Audio, second in Sports News Story and an honorable mention in Sportscast Audio.

Former Station Manager Victor Ramirez placed second in Advertising/PSA/Promo-Audio, and third in Advertising/PSA/Promo-Video. Ramirez also earned third place in In-Depth News Reporting-Audio.

Former reporter Justin Elizalde placed second in In-Depth News Reporting-Audio and third in General News Multimedia Story. Former reporter William Bennet received third in Feature Reporting-Audio.

Students from different universities and colleges across the state, including Rider Copy Editor Alejandra Yañez (middle), compete in the Copy Editing on-site contest March 24 in the Hilton Fort Worth Hotel during the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention.

KVAQ-TV

In the on-site contests, KVAQ-TV garnered five awards. Reporter Jessica Amaya placed first in TV Sports Writing and received an honorable mention in Live Video News. Reporter Amada Baldovinos placed second in TV Announcing and received an honorable mention in Spanish TV Announcing. Reporter Karen Lucero received an honorable mention in PR Crisis Management.

The staff won 10 awards for previously published/broadcast content. The station placed third in Newscast Video; third, Overall Excellence-News Production Video; and honorable mention, Newscast Video.

Former reporter Rolando Avila placed first in Sports Reporting-Video, second in Sportscast Video and received an honorable mention in Sportscast Video.

Former reporter Adam Cardona placed second in In-Depth News Reporting-Video, third place in Feature Reporting-Video, and honorable mentions in General News Video Story and In-Depth News Reporting-Video.

Pulse magazine

Pulse magazine received one award in the on-site contests. Graphics Editor Andres Mazzei received an honorable mention in Editorial Cartoon.

Pulse placed first in Overall Design-General in the previously published competition.

Section Editor Bianca Ramirez-Vale placed third in Sports Column and former photographer Michael Gonzalez earned second in Photo Story.

KVAQ-TV Station Manager Yanelli Hernandez records an interview during the on-site news competition March 24 at the Arlington Fire Department. The live contest was one of 30 on-site competions held at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention.

Gallery Magazine

Gallery Magazine received one award in the on-site contests. Gallery Marketing Director Jessi Mata won third place in Yearbook Design.

Additionally, Gallery also received four awards for previously published content. Contributor Adeeba Ahmad placed first in Illustration. In the Cartoon Strip/Panel contest, Ortiz finished third and contributor Karina Torres received an honorable mention. Former Editor-in-Chief Samantha Cortez received an honorable mention in Cover Design-Literary Magazine.

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