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Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô and its affiliated media outlets earned recognition across journalism, broadcasting, digital media, marketing and public relations categories at the 2026 Excellence in Media Awards Gala on Friday, June 12.

The annual competition recognizes outstanding achievement across media and communications fields throughout Southeast Texas. It draws hundreds of entries each year from professional and student media organizations, with winners selected by out-of-area judges and honored at the Press Club’s annual awards gala.

Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô organizations, including KVLU 91.3, LUTV News and Media Online, the , Cardinal Cadence Magazine and the university’s Marketing Communications team, collectively earned more than 50 awards.

First-Place Awards

• KVLU 91.3 — Best Individual Episode: Bayoulands: Episode 9.5 (Shannon Harris, Andy Coughlan, Daniel Chand, Jordan Williams, Tom Helms)
• KVLU 91.3 — Music/Humor/Entertainment Show: The Good Time Cafe (Willie Carrierre)
• Wrinkle-Ford Creative Arts — News Story: Detective Tina Lewallan and Shera "The Gene Hunter" Lapoint (Dr. Jon Buck Ford, Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford, Judge Brad Burnett)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Public Affairs Program: LU Moment: LU Partners to Implement Community Flood Watch Program (John Rollins)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Sports: LU Moment: LU Softball Swings Into Action (John Rollins)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Marketing Communications — Best Use of Social Media by an Organization
• LUTV News and Media Online — Digital Sports Story: Big Red Radio (Felipe Borjas)
• Cardinal Cadence Magazine — Feature Story: Partners in Harmony (Sarah Parker)
• University Press — Magazine Photography: Spinning Grooves (Maria Rodriguez)
• University Press — News Story: Slowing Fast Fashion (Rayna Christy)
• University Press — Overall Excellence: UPbeat Summer and Winter 2025
• University Press — Personal Profile/Interview: Radio Mann (Heather Harmon)
• University Press — News Photo: A Smashing Good Time (Carlos Viloria)
• University Press — Page Design/Layout: Material Legacy: Menil Collection Unfurls Rauschenberg Fabric Show(Rayna Christy, Regina Ruiz)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Fine Arts Reviews/Critiques: LD’s Nerd Corner – Game of the Year (Landin Doucet, Travis Reed)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Cardinal View Promotion: Bed of Nails Video (Jacob Breaux)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Posters and Fliers: Patience Opera Flyer (Cameron Uresti)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Marketing Communications — Public Relations Program: Red Day – Raise the Red

Second-Place Awards

• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Digital News Story: Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Launches Early Bird Admission Program for High School Juniors (April Thompson)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Internet Video: InFocus – The Best of Beaumont (Chris Love)
• University Press — Feature Story: Fruit City to Big Apple (Kami Greene)
• University Press — Magazine Layout: Moon Dancers (Sydney Vo, Maddie Sims)
• College of Fine Arts and Communication — Overall Excellence: Sights and Sounds 2025 (Tabitha Holcomb)
• Cardinal Cadence Magazine — Personal Profile/Interview: From Climbing Mountains to Building Dreams (Sarah Parker)
• University Press — Feature Story: Finding Joy in Creation (Maddie Sims)
• University Press — Newspaper Overall Excellence
• University Press — Page Design/Layout: Hamil-TEN (Rayna Christy, Regina Ruiz)
• University Press — Sports News: LU Ropes in New Rodeo Team (Rayna Christy)
• University Press — OpEd (Regina Ruiz)
• KVLU 91.3 — PSA: KVLU Arts Calendar (Shannon Harris)
• Cardinal Cadence Magazine — Sports Feature: For the Love of the Game (Sarah Parker)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Marketing Communications — Internal Campaign: Great College to Work For
• LUTV News and Media Online — Sports Story: Brooks: Blazing a Trail (Cam Sanderson)

Third-Place Awards

• KVLU 91.3 — Music/Humor/Entertainment Show: All That Jazz (Elizabeth French)
• KVLU 91.3 — Overall Excellence: Bayoulands Podcast
• KVLU 91.3 — Public Affairs Program: LU Innovations
• KVLU 91.3 — Sports: Athletics at Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô: Commissioner’s Cup
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Digital Feature Story: German Native Discovers Texas Through Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô (April Thompson)
• University Press — Business Story: Students’ Business Is All in the Details (Kami Greene)
• KVLU 91.3 — Documentary: Bayoulands: Episode 9.3
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Feature Writing Portfolio (April Thompson)
• Cardinal Cadence Magazine — Headline: Partners in Harmony (Sarah Parker)
• LUTV News and Media Online — OpEd: Red Beak Reel Rant (Evan Wolford)
• University Press — Photo Essay: 8 Seconds! (Rayna Christy, Regina Ruiz)
• University Press — Travel Writing: Beauty in the Rough (Aaron Saenz)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Video Storytelling: A Day in the Life of Dr. Taylor (Jacob Breaux, Amanda Toups, Julia Barton)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô Marketing Communications — Internal Campaign: Wear Red Campaign
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Posters and Fliers: Visit Dates Card (Michelle Lancaster)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Best Anchor: Cam Sanderson
• LUTV News and Media Online — Best Newscast

Honorable Mentions

• KVLU 91.3 — Music/Humor/Entertainment Show: The Good Time Cafe (Willie Carrierre)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Podcast: LU Moment: Julian Stevens’ Journey From LU to New York Fashion Week (John Rollins)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Internet Video: InFocus – All the Details (Kami Greene)
• University Press — Page Design/Layout: Hoops Page (Aaron Saenz)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Column: The Regina Report (Regina Ruiz)
• LUTV News and Media Online — Fine Arts Critique: Red Beak Reel Rant – Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Evan Wolford)
• University Press — Headline: True Crime, False Truths (Rayna Christy)
• Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô — Corporate Video: Board of Regents Video (Jacob Breaux)

The recognition adds to a growing record of regional success for Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô media programs, which continue to expand opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in journalism, broadcasting and strategic communication.

Funds raised from the event benefit the Press Club Memorial Scholarship and the Gordon Baxter Scholarship, which are awarded annually to a Â鶹ӳ»­Ó°Òô student. The club also sponsors annual $500 scholarships for students at Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Orange, and Lamar State College Port Arthur, and one $500 scholarship for a Southeast Texas high school senior.

This year’s deserving recipients are: Callie Danielle Wright – High School Scholarship, Ameona Carey – Two-Year College Scholarship, Maria Regina Ruiz – Four-Year University Scholarship, and Brynn Aileen Courts – Four-Year University Scholarship.