The Reflector recently collected 38 awards from four student journalism contests.
In March, staff members attended the Mississippi Press Association O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference at the Mississippi Children’s Museum in Jackson. At the conference, state journalists spoke to the students and offered advice for writing careers.
The conference also hosted the Better Newspaper Contest Student Division, and The Reflector swept the competition, winning 27 awards. 12 were first-place awards.
Former editor-in-chief of The Reflector Hannah Blankenship received first place in Best Feature Story and third place in Best General News Story. 
“I’m so glad that I was able to kind of guide and steward such talent that we have,” Blankenship said about her year as editor-in-chief.
Current editor-in-chief Heather Harrison won first in Best General News Story and placed third in Best Feature Story and Best Graphic. The Reflector placed first and third in Best Front Page, both of which were designed by Harrison as news editor.
Managing editor Joshua Stewart received first place in Best Series or Investigative Package for his series on teacher salaries in Mississippi. He also won third place in Best Spot News Photo.
“To have that kind of statewide and regional recognition, that was a big deal for me,” Stewart said.
Sports writer and sophomore communication major Elizabeth Keen placed first and second in Best Sports News Story. Sports editor Tanner Marlar won first in Best Sports Column and Best Sports Feature; communication major Lydia Palmer placed third in Best Sports Feature. Tara Smith, a junior animal and dairy science major, placed second in Best Sports Column. 
“The staff is where it all starts … I’m so blessed to have a staff that not only cares about the sports world but the stories that lie within it,” junior communication major Marlar said. “And for them to be recognized for that was huge.” 
Opinion writer Aaron Waterson won first place in Best General Interest Column; opinion editor Luke Copley placed second in the same category and third in Best Editorials. 
Former graphics editor Savannah Bonds placed first and third in the Best Cartoon category; current graphics editor Dontae Ball won second place. 
John Griffin, a staff photographer, won first in Best Feature Photo; Adam Sullivan, former photography editor and senior communication major, placed second in Best Sports Photo.
” … That’s something that I think is really awesome about the sphere of photojournalism is that you’re not a one-trick pony; you have to have so many tools in your bag,” Sullivan said. 
Former marketing manager Brennan Weaver placed third in Best Advertisement. 
The Reflector won first place in Best Website, which online editor Joshua Britt worked toward, and second place in Best Use of Social Media.
“I designed the website to feel natural and very understandable for all users,” the sophomore information technology major said. “So, to hear the feedback back from them that says ‘Hey, yeah, you’re doing the right thing; you’re working toward the right goals’ … that’s great.”
Lastly, from MPA, The Reflector won the General Excellence Category, beating student newspapers from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Mississippi.
The Reflector was also a national finalist in the Best Website category at the National Undergraduate Student Electronic Media Competition.
Blankenship was crowned the College Journalist of the Year at the Southeastern Journalism Conference Best of the South contest, an honor that comes with a $1,500 prize.
“After four years of pretty dedicated service to The Reflector, it’s just a great culmination of the hard work that I’ve done,” Blankenship said.
The former editor-in-chief said she has aspired to win College Journalist of the Year since she was a freshman because, in 2019, The Reflector’s editor-in-chief Emmalyne Kwasny received the same honor.
“It just really kind of lit a fire in me. I was like, ‘I want that to be me one day,'” Blankenship said. “It’s just very gratifying, very full-circle that we’re here now.” 
Blankenship also placed second in Best News Writer and third in Best Magazine Writer.
Marlar was awarded fourth place in College Journalist of the year, also winning a cash prize.
“If it wasn’t for the people who allow me to tell their stories and share their experiences, I couldn’t do it,” Marlar said.
Managing editor Stewart won second place in Best Special Event Reporter; Sullivan placed seventh in Best Photographer.
“It helps to build confidence as well and motivate me on projects in my own career,” Sullivan said of his SEJC award.
Harrison, along with life & entertainment editor Kerrigan Clark, received first place in Public Service Journalism. 
Lastly, at SEJC, The Reflector won third place in Best Website.
“To know that we’re keeping up among current trends,” website designer Britt said, “and we’re staying relevant among current web design, that’s great.”
Sullivan, Blankenship and Harrison, along with Reflector faculty adviser Josh Foreman, attended the Society of Professional Journalists Adventures in Journalism Conference at DeGray Lake Resort in Arkansas last weekend.
At the conference, students roasted hot dogs—regular and vegetarian— listened to travel journalists, podcast experts and investigative journalists, kayaked on DeGray Lake and attended the Region 12 Mark of Excellence awards ceremony.
Blankenship was a finalist in Best General News Reporting for large colleges of over 10,000 students. Sullivan was a second-place finalist in Feature Photography.
“To be recognized for something I only considered as a hobby a few years ago is very, very fulfilling,” Sullivan said.

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Mary Georgia Hamilton | File Photo

Former editor-in-chief Hannah Blankenship.