BW’s student-run media earns regional and national recognition

Both The Exponent, BW's student newspaper, and WBWC 88.3 FM The STING, the nation's longest-standing, student-run college radio station, continue to earn national recognition.

The Exponent on a roll

BW's student newspaper garnered a number of awards this year, including regional and national recognition in the prestigious Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Awards, which honor the best of collegiate journalism within a calendar year.

Winners included Jesse Kucewicz '20, who won the best small college "Breaking News Photography" in the region and was named a national finalist for his photo "Lightning strikes Saylor Hall."

Charlie Egli '20 also claimed a regional first place and national finalist recognition for his story on the passing of Olympic gold medalist Harrison Dillard '49.

National Mark of Excellence award judges can select one national winner and up to two national finalists (runners-up) from the 12 regional winners in each category.

At the regional level, SPJ judges also named The Exponent one of the top three non-daily college newspapers in the four-state region (along with Ohio State and Ohio University).

Rocking national collegiate broadcaster awards

Meantime, at an awards ceremony that came just prior to the pandemic shutdown, staff at The STING took home honors at the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Systems Conference in New York City.

The STING won the award for "Best Station Contest, Promotional Event" for the Bold and Gold Concert they staged in October 2019.

Professor Joe Tarantowski, station general manager Emily Dowling '20 and WBWC student staffers Zoe Ryan-Hubbard, Emma Ciha, Kevin Ng and Marisa Nieves were also invited to present at the conference. The students led a panel discussion on "Why You Need Structure at Your Station."

WBWC has been broadcasting for 62 years.