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Home > Featured Stories > Outside the Classroom > April 2009 > As Good as GoldAs Good as Gold
So often NC State is thought of solely as a rigorous engineering school, which it certainly is, but these awards help reflect the diversity of students - and their interests - on our campus.
Windhover editor-in-chief Joseph Wright
NC State's Agromeck and Windhover earned prestigious Gold Crown Awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. (Photo by Michele Chandler)
By Dave Pond, Web Communication
On a campus boasting no journalism major, the work produced by members of NC State Student Media continues to draw attention and accolades on the national level. Most recently, the Agromeck and Windhover – the university's yearbook and literary magazine, respectively – were awarded Gold Crown Awards by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, giving NC State the distinction of being the only university in the nation to win top honors for multiple publications.
Just 46 Gold Crown Awards were given by the CSPA this year, placing the Agromeck and Windhover squarely in the top 3% of 1,795 eligible scholastic publications from schools across the nation. Publications were judged on writing/editing, design, content, concept, photography, art and graphics.
NC State Student Media members log long hours throughout the year, not only to see their work in print, but also to document campus happenings for future generations of NC State students, staff and alumni. It's a task well worth accepting, participants say.
"I have grown to respect what an integral part of the university history the Agromeck is," editor-in-chief John Cooper Elias said. "We have also worked to make the yearbook something that will not only be useful in 50 years to look back on, but something that anyone who was a part of the university during the year would want to look through to remember what that year was like."
For the Windhover, this marked the second year in a row that the literary magazine scored a Gold Crown Award.
"So often NC State is thought of solely as a rigorous engineering school, which it certainly is, but these awards help reflect the diversity of students – and their interests – on our campus," Windhover editor-in-chief Joseph Wright. "It makes a huge, positive statement about NC State."
Student Media – which includes the Agromeck, Windhover, the Technician and Nubian Message newspapers as well as WKNC 88.1 FM – offers NC State students from all colleges and departments a creative outlet as well as a chance to hone real-world job skills for the future. A poll taken several years ago showed that involvement in NC State Student Media has even led to a significant percentage of students rethinking their respective career paths.
"About half of the students surveyed walked through our front door not having any experience in journalism, nor had they worked on any high-school publications prior to their arrival on campus," said Bradley Wilson, coordinator for Student Media advising at NC State. "At the time, 80% of them had no plans to enter a career in journalism, marketing or public relations, but when we surveyed them again a year later, that number dropped to 50%.
"So, for about 30% of our students, involvement in Student Media made a difference in their career choices."
But regardless of major, Student Media offers everyone pursing a degree at NC State countless opportunities to prepare for life after college. NC State does offer a journalism minor (housed in the English department), and all non-entry level positions within the Student Media are paid positions.
Even some entry-level positions are paid as well, Wilson said, with reporters and photographers earning money for all published works.
"One of the things I've pushed our students to realize is that although we produce a yearbook, a literary magazine, two newspapers and live radio, the skills that are required to produce these pieces are commitment, loyalty, teamwork, and the ability to meet deadlines," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're going into medicine, law, business or engineering, those skills are absolutely transferable, and really a lot more important in the big picture than just producing a high-quality yearbook or newspaper."
It's an experience that has left an indelible mark on his NC State career, said Wright, a senior civil engineering and english double-major who doubles as a DJ at WKNC and previously wrote for the Technician.
"The amount of personal growth I've experienced from my leadership role has been enormous," he said. "I've learned how to get people interested in a publication, how to get people involved, how to publicize efficiently and effectively, and honestly just how to handle a great deal of responsibility.
"Not only has it developed my leadership skills, but I've made connections that I am sure I will carry with me for the rest of my life," Wright said. "I've learned more about myself from my role in Student Media than anywhere else in college."
