Students break MSU communication awards record at MAB

Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Students representing Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, along with MSU’s radio station WMSV-FM 91.1 The Junction, earned more than two dozen student and professional honors at the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters Annual Awards this month, pushing the department past its previous record and to a new high of 102 awards during the academic year.

The honors span news, sports, weather and digital media categories and showcase continued success across multiple platforms and competitions.

“Seeing our students and recent graduates bring home more than 20 awards at this event is incredibly rewarding. It speaks to their work ethic, growth and commitment to storytelling. For me, that’s what it’s all about, helping develop the next generation of journalists who understand the impact of what we do and take pride in doing it the right way,” said Marcus Hunter, associate professor of practice in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, who earned third place in TV Feature Story in the professional category.

“Winning an award while still actively working in the industry means a lot to me because it reinforces that what I’m teaching in the classroom is current, relevant and real,” added Hunter, who is an evening news anchor at WCBI–TV in Columbus. “My students aren’t just learning theory; they’re learning what’s working right now in newsrooms. Being able to bring that experience back to them every day helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world, which is the ultimate goal.”

In the Radio and TV Student Broadcaster of the Year categories, MSU had one winner and four finalists, highlighting student success in both on-air and digital platforms. In the Social Media professional category, WMSV 91.1 The Junction earned second place..

“I am very proud of the hard work that the students of 91.1 The Junction have put in over the past year,” said Becca Thorn, WMSV–FM General Manager. “Watching our students grow into confident, talented broadcasters has been incredibly rewarding. Their success highlights their individual efforts, as well as the collaborative culture that they have helped build, and I’m so grateful to be part of celebrating their many successes. The Social Media award is specifically a team effort led by Gracelyn Johnson, our student social media manager.”

Student winners by city include:

—AMORY—Gracelyn Johnson, sophomore, public relations, second place in Social Media.

—BILOXI—Ashton Stanley, senior, professional meteorology, second place in Social Media. Stanley also was named a Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year finalist.

—HATTIESBURG—Brooklin Gall, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, second place in Social Media. Gall also was named a Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year finalist.

—JENKS, OKLAHOMA—Taylor Howard, Fall 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, TV Student Broadcaster of the Year finalist.

—RICHMOND, KENTUCKY—Haylee Morman, Spring 2025 English graduate, Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year winner. Morman also earned first place in Audio General Excellence; first place in Audio Use of Sound; second place in Audio Newscast; second place in Audio Radio Reporter; and third place in Audio News Story.

—OXFORD—Wesley Webb, senior, political science, second place in Social Media. Webb also was named a Radio Student Broadcaster of the Year finalist.

From MSU’s Department of Geosciences, student weather forecasters who contribute forecasts to the live student newscast, Take 30, swept the Visual Weathercast category.

Winners by city include:

—INDIAN TRAILS, NORTH CAROLINA—Luke Beitzel, senior, professional meteorology, first place, Visual Weathercast.

—WESTWEGO, LOUISIANA—Grace Williams, senior, broadcast meteorology, third place, Visual Weathercast.

—ZURICH, ILLINOIS—Sean Washburn, senior, broadcast meteorology, second place, Visual Weathercast.

2026 individual MBA winners by city include:

—ALABASTER, ALABAMA—Jackson Gregg, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, second place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program.

—BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA—Grace Harvey, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, first place, Visual General Excellence; second place, Visual News Story; third place, Visual Newscast.

—COLDWATER—Dylan Flippo, Spring 2025 graduate in print and digital journalism, second place, Audio Sports Story.

—COLUMBUS––Jaelyn Keown, Fall 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, third place, Visual Newscast.

—FORT MYERS, FLORIDA—Abby Miller, sophomore, print and digital journalism, Audio Sports Story, first place; second place, Audio Use of Sound.

—HAMILTON, ALABAMA—Natalie Robertson, Spring 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, third place, Visual Sportscast or Sports Program.

—INDIAN TRAIL, NORTH CAROLINA—Luke Beitzel, senior, professional meteorology, first place, Visual Weathercast.

—KOSCIUSKO—Ra’Springa Brown, junior, interdisciplinary studies, first place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program.

—MAGEE—Mercy Rain, Spring 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, third place, Visual Sportscast or Sports Program.

—NETTLETON—Treshon Hadley, Fall 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, first place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program.

—OLIVE BRANCH—Thomas Hunt, Spring 2025 graduate in broadcast and digital journalism, third place, Visual Sportscast or Sports Program.

—RUSTON, LOUISIANA—Kate Myers, junior, broadcast and digital journalism, first place, Audio Feature Story.

—STARKVILLE—Tafada Wright, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, first place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program, and Brandon Gandy, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, second place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program.

—STURGIS—Caroline Flint, senior, public relations, first place, Visual Documentary, and second place, Visual General Excellence.

—TOWN CREEK, ALABAMA—Trinitee Johnson, senior, broadcast and digital journalism, first place, Audio Sportscast or Sports Program.

—WESTWEGO, LOUISIANA—Grace Williams, senior, broadcast meteorology, third place, Visual Weathercast.

WMSV 91.1 The Junction is online at www.wmsv.msstate.edu.

For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences or the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre, visit www.cas.msstate.edu or www.comm.msstate.edu.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.