Husker students, faculty member earn Eric Sevareid Awards

Thirty-eight students and a faculty member in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications earned 2023 Eric Sevareid Awards. Pictured are (from left) Jill Martin, assistant professor of practice; Ken Fischer, assistant professor of practice; Avery Lewis, junior broadcasting major (top); Hallie Gutzwiller, senior broadcasting major (bottom); Barney McCoy, professor; Kaci Richter, assistant professor of practice; Alaina Tomesh, junior broadcasting major; and Shari Veil, dean and professor.

Thirty-eight students and a faculty member in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications earned 2023 Eric Sevareid Awards for their exceptional work in broadcast journalism. The awards ceremony took place earlier this month in Minneapolis.

The competition, named after the legendary journalist who worked for CBS Radio and Television, celebrates excellence in journalism in the Midwest. The awards are presented annually by the Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association and judged by a panel of distinguished journalists and educators from outside the six-state region to ensure fairness.

“We are incredibly proud of our students and their hard work, dedication and talent,” said Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. “These awards are a testament to their commitment to storytelling and their ability to produce high-quality journalism. They’re also a reflection of the excellent education they receive at the college, where we nurture curious and creative minds to thrive in the ever-changing media and communication professions.”

Barney McCoy, professor of broadcasting at Nebraska, was awarded first place in the Soft Feature-Medium Market Radio category for “For Sale: A Blast From the Past That’s Built to Last” and an award of merit for “The Drought’s Effects on Nebraska’s 2022 Harvest” in the General Reporting-Medium Market Radio category.

Following is a list of Husker first-place and merit award winners, listed alphabetically by hometown (when applicable) with their year in school or year graduated, major(s), category or categories, and project name(s).

First place, Student Market Radio

Elm Creek: Hallie Gutzwiller, senior, broadcasting, General Reporting, “Wildfires’ Heavy Toll in Nebraska”; Newscast, “KRNU Newscast, Nov. 7, 2022”
Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Sports Reporting, “First Black Coach at Nebraska”

First place, Student Market Television

Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, “UNL vs. Houston Christian Women’s Hoops”
Skokie, Illinois: Matt McMaster, junior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, “UNL vs. Houston Christian Women’s Hoops”
Nebraska Nightly team: Cable Newscast, “Nebraska Nightly, Dec. 2, 2022” >
UNL election night team: Talk/Public Affairs, “Election 2022 Update (10 p.m.)” >>

Award of merit, Student Market Media

A five-person reporting team earned an Award of Merit in the Individual Multimedia Storytelling (News) category for “vulnerABLE,” a multimedia project exploring the value of vulnerability. Team members are listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school and major(s).

Bellevue: Madysen Early, junior, advertising and public relations
Elkhorn: Kate Cordes, junior, journalism, and sports media and communication
Omaha: Jen Maier, sophomore, advertising and public relations
Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Lexi Goeman, junior, journalism, and advertising and public relations
Tea, South Dakota: Brody Wilken, junior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication

Award of merit, Student Market Radio

Elm Creek: Hallie Gutzwiller, senior, broadcasting, Hard Feature, “Parental Consent or Censorship?”
Lexington: Erick Estrada, senior, journalism, and advertising and public relations, Soft Feature, “Paraeducators: Closing the Pay Gap”
Omaha: Grant Hansen, senior, sports media and communication, Reporting, “Rob Stone Profile”; Dillon Pelster, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, “UNL vs. Boston College Men’s Hoops”
Phoenix: Avery Lewis, junior, broadcasting, Soft Feature, “TikTok Teaching”
Lake Bluff, Illinois: Connor Clark, junior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication, Sports Play-by-Play, “UNL vs. Boston College Men’s Hoops”

> Nebraska Nightly team members

Listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school or year graduated, and major(s):

Nebraska City: Macy Neumeister, junior, journalism and broadcasting
Nickerson: Lance Vie, senior, broadcasting
Omaha: Sam Alessandro, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Olathe, Kansas: Emma Thurston, senior, broadcasting
Apple Valley, Minnesota: Jill Lamkins, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication

>> UNL election night team members

Listed alphabetically by hometown, with their year in school or year graduated, and major(s):

Bennet: Trystin Somers, junior, journalism
Clay Center: Ty Schweer, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Hebron: McKenzie Johnson, 2022 graduate, broadcasting
La Vista: Jackson Atwell, senior, broadcasting
Lincoln: Rex McKeeman, senior, broadcasting; Zach Wendling, senior, journalism and political science
Nebraska City: Macy Neumeister, junior, journalism and broadcasting
Omaha: Sam Alessandro, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Paul Heires, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Jolie Peal, senior, broadcasting and journalism; Olivia Ramaekers, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication; Jenna Reynolds, sophomore, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting; Turner Wittstruck, junior, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
Plattsmouth: Reed Greger, freshman, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting
Sidney: Alexah Fort, junior, emerging media arts
Gilbert, Arizona: Peyton Thomas, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, journalism, and sports media and communication
Jacksonville, Florida: Melanie Wieting, freshman, broadcasting
Merrill, Iowa: Madalyn Fox, sophomore, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Sibley, Iowa: Tanner Dykstra, senior, broadcasting and journalism
Olathe, Kansas: Emma Thurston, senior, broadcasting
Topsfield, Massachusetts: Thomas Baker, 2022 graduate, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Apple Valley, Minnesota: Jill Lamkins, senior, broadcasting, and sports media and communication
Arlington, Texas: Lilly Griffiths, sophomore, broadcasting and journalism
El Paso, Texas: Jay Quemado, junior, broadcasting and journalism
Justin, Texas: Sydney Thomas, freshman, meteorology-climatology
Rice Lake, Wisconsin: Alaina Tomesh, junior, broadcasting