UT Dallas' 2017 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Award Winners

UT Dallas Student Media representatives won 30 awards at the recent Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention. They include: (front row, from left): Saher Aqeel, Sravya Boppuri and Nidhi Gotgi. (middle row, from left): Summer LeBel, Ariana Hadden, Kelby Baca, Amanda Garza, Cara Santucci and Eunjee Chong. (third row, from left): Rudy Avila, Bharat Arimilli, Zachary Boullt, Nicholas Provenghi and Chad Austin.

Student media representatives from The University of Texas at Dallas garnered 30 awards at the 2017 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention.

The convention, held recently in Dallas, drew 520 attendees from 46 schools for competitions and workshops.

The student newspaper, The Mercury, won first place in overall excellence in its division, marking its fifth win in the category in six years and its third consecutive top finish. Staff picked up 21 awards for writing, design and photography.

“I’m so proud of UTD’s student media showing at TIPA. My peers are some of the most talented people I know, and I’m extremely happy that they were recognized at TIPA,” said Nidhi Gotgi, The Mercury’s editor-in-chief.

Sravya Boppuri, an accounting senior, was among the UT Dallas students who covered simulated news events as part of the recent Texas Intercollegiate Press Association competition in Dallas. If you don’t see the video, watch it on Vimeo.

The student opinion magazine, AMP, took home six awards, the most the publication has received from TIPA in a single year.

The campus television station, UTD TV, received three awards, including a first-place finish in the production category for its local food show, Taste of Dallas.  

Chad Thomas, director of student media, said Texas has become a “hotbed of college journalism” in recent years.

Watching our students receive recognition for their late nights in the studio and long editorial meetings reassures our team that their innovation and creativity have not gone unnoticed.

Deja Rollins, assistant director of student media

“We’re seeing Texas programs, including ours, earn some of the most prestigious honors from national media associations each year,” Thomas said. “For our students to put their work alongside the products of their in-state counterparts and come away with numerous awards means more than it ever has.”

Deja Rollins, assistant director of student media, said the University’s print and broadcast groups are including new elements into their publications and productions.

“Watching our students receive recognition for their late nights in the studio and long editorial meetings reassures our team that their innovation and creativity have not gone unnoticed,” Rollins said.