The All State earns 6 national awards at media convention
The All State student newspaper at Austin Peay State University earned six national awards during the 2018 Fall National College Media Convention held in Louisville, Kentucky, Oct. 25-28. Students and advisers from colleges/universities across North America attended the national conference.
The student newspaper earned the following awards:
ACP Individual Awards
- Second Place: Shania Green, junior and senior graphic designer
Cartoon of the Year for Editorial Cartoon - Fifth Place: Shania Green, junior and senior graphic designer
Design of the Year for Illustration
ACP Best of Show Awards
- Fourth Place: Multimedia Package
- Tenth Place: Website (schools with more than 10,000 students)
CMA Pinnacle Awards, Best of Collegiate Design
- Second Place: Celeste Malone, graduate student and former editor-in-chief
Best Newspaper Nameplate - Third Place: Celeste Malone, graduate student and former editor-in-chief
Best Newspaper Front Page
The ACP Individual Awards had more than 2,500 entries and spanned across 29 individual award categories. Roughly 11 percent — 281 entries — were selected as finalists. The CMA Pinnacle Awards set a record this year with 408 total organizational entries from 294 colleges/universities, and 2,608 total individual category entries from 320 colleges/universities. Middle Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University were the only other Tennessee schools to earn national awards at the conference. Attending the conference from The All State student staff were Joann Morales, junior and photo editor; Maisie Williams, freshman and staff writer; Courtney McCormick, junior and chief copy editor; and Green.
Green earned her two national awards from the same editorial cartoon. After the mass shooting in Las Vegas, she created an illustration connecting two opinions in the Perspective’s section on gun control and terrorism. “It was such a great honor to be presented with something so prestigious,” she said. “It's definitely something I'll always remember.” In February of this year, Green was ranked 1st for Best News-Editorial Artist/Illustrator from the regional Southeast Journalism Conference.
Malone earned her two national awards for an illustration using zombie hands, and a front-page layout using a student newspaper photograph and story about a #MeToo movement event on campus. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to represent APSU and The All State,” she said. “This organization is more than just a job, it is a teaching tool to help students reach their fullest potential.” Malone currently serves on the APSU Board of Trustees as the student representative.
“I couldn’t get the smile off my face as I heard about each award announcement,” said Ashley Thompson, editor-in-chief. “We are lucky to have such talented writers and graphic designers on our team. I am very proud of all the work our staff puts into the paper,” Thompson said. “These awards are all well-earned.”
“I felt like the conference aided me in many different ways,” McCormick said. “I am definitely thankful to have had that opportunity to attend workshops and network.” McCormick and Williams spent a lot of time working on a multimedia package related to former Gov. Phil Bredesen’s Senate campaign visit to APSU. “What I did not expect [during the conference] was that I would gain the greatest insights from hands on experience with my fellow staff members,” Williams said. “Through working in direct partnership with Courtney on both the editing and implementation of multimedia aspects to the Bredesen article, we were able to not only attain 4th place in Best of Show, but also to create an incredible article which would not have existed otherwise.”
The conference was co-sponsored by the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association with more than 275 sessions offered on various topics.
Highlights from the 2017-18 Student Affairs Annual Review
The All State earned 22 awards from the following contests:
STATE: Tennessee AP Broadcasters & Media Editors College Awards
- First Place for Online Sports Coverage/Program
- Second Place for College Photojournalist
- Second Place for Online Sports Reporting
REGIONAL: Best of the South Awards
- Ranked First for Best News-Editorial Artist/Illustrator
- Ranked First for On-site Op-Ed Writing
- Ranked Second for Best Newspaper Page Layout Designer
- Ranked Third for Best Press Photographer
- Ranked Third for On-site Arts & Entertainment Writing
- Ranked Fourth for Best News Graphic Designer
- Ranked Fifth for Best College Magazine
- Ranked Fifth for Best Feature Writer
- Ranked Fifth for Best Press Photographer
- Ranked Eighth for Best Press Photographer
There were 412 entries from 30 colleges and universities across the southeast in this
year’s Best of the South competition. The On-Site competition had 170 entries across
15 categories. Out of 28 entries, three photographers earned 3rd, 5th and 8th, respectively
for Best Press Photographer. This was also the most entries a school could enter in
the same category and the only school to have three wins in a category.
NATIONAL: American Scholastic Press Association
- Scholastic Newspaper Award: First Place
NATIONAL: College Media Association Pinnacle Awards, Best of Collegiate Design
- Third place for Best Newspaper Feature Page/Spread
- Honorable Mention for Best Newspaper Sports Page/Spread
- Honorable Mention for Best Editorial Illustration
- Honorable Mention for Best Social Media Main Page
NATIONAL: Associated Collegiate Press Best of Show
- Sixth place for Newspaper Four-Year Weekly
- Ninth place for Website Large School
NATIONAL: Associated Collegiate Press Individual Awards
- Honorable Mention for Design of the Year in Newspaper Page/Spread
- Honorable Mention for Story of the Year in Editorial/Opinion
Student Publications and The All State created an Archive Gallery on the first floor of the Morgan University Center. Front pages were selected from
the Woodward Library digital collections of The All State student newspaper and were printed at Printing Services. The images will be updated
over time to 
correlate with events on campus and to continually showcase the impact and history
of The All State.
A new photo gallery was created on the third floor of the Morgan University Center to celebrate and display the photographic work of The All State student photographers. The gallery was launched by Student Publications with space provided by University Facilities.
Student Publications and The All State staff provided journalism training for fifth and sixth grade yearbook students from KIPP Academy in Nashville. The department and newspaper staff also provided journalism training for fifth-graders who produce a newspaper from North Stewart Elementary School in Stewart County. Topics discussed were photography, interviewing, plagiarism, writing process and the importance of the First Amendment. These experiences introduced elementary students to APSU and to skills that can be incorporated across their educational development.
More than 300 students attended a First Floor Open House in the Morgan University Center. The open house was a collaboration to increase awareness
of the services and opportunities offered by the Adult, Nontraditional & Transfer
Student Center; Student Publications; Auxiliary Services; Military Student 
Center; Office of Disability Services; APSU Post Office and Student Government Association.
Student Publications and The All State photographers provided photography services for Grad Gala events and at a LinkedIn booth for the spring Career Fair. In total 274 portraits were provided for students. Grad Gala events are coordinated by the Office of the Registrar.
Student Affairs Programs partnered with Student Life & Engagement at the annual Student Affairs Holiday Reception where 250 students signed cards delivered to senior citizens living in Clarksville assisted living facilities. Student Publications also hosted a holiday-themed photo booth for students to take and share fun photos at the event.
Patrick Armstrong, coordinator of Student Publications and Marketing, was named to both the National College Media Association’s Fundraising and Finance Committees.
About Us
Student Publications is home to APSU's award-winning student newspaper and online news source, The All State. In addition to The All State, the department collaborates with other areas of campus to develop marketing and promotion materials as well as producing and distributing the New Student Guide and Student Handbook & Calendar each year.
Our staff is among the most diverse on campus. We have students of every major, hometown and background. We offer a wealth of opportunities to learn, get valuable experience in many different fields, meet other APSU students and learn by doing what you enjoy. Whether it's graphic design, news writing, photography, advertising, public relations, social media, multimedia, video or leadership, Student Publications has an opportunity for you.
All of our staff are paid in scholarships. The Editor-in-Chief receives tuition benefits for their work over the course of one academic year.
Don't wait! Get the experience that will set you apart! Visit MUC 111 today to apply or click the link on the left of this page for staff and photography applications.
About Our Students
- College Media Mega Workshop
- Fall Staff Training Week
- Associated Press Managing Editors NewsTrain
- Fall National College Media Convention
- Spring Staff Training Week
- Southeast Journalism Conference
- Spring National College Media Convention
- Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editor College Awards
- Associated Collegiate Press
- Southeast Journalism Conference
- College Media Association
- Associated Press
- Tennessee Associated Collegiate Press
- Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors (TAPME)
- Panhellenic Recruitment
- InterFraternal Council Recruitment
- Greek Life
- Honors Program
- Service Learning
- Various on-campus student worker positions
- AP Day
- Grad Finale
- Student Organization Involvement Fair
- Govs R.O.W.
- Commencement
- G.H.O.S.T.
- Family Weekend
- Homecoming
- Several student organizations