UTRGV recognized in journalism competition

Jacqueline Peraza | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On March 26, UTRGV Student Media and Gallery magazine received 34 awards for previously published/broadcast work from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

 Members of The Rider, Vaquero Radio, KVAQ-TV, Pulse and Gallery magazines earned eight first-place, five second-place and 12 third-place awards.

This year, the TIPA Convention was held via live broadcast to adhere to COVID-19 safety measures after the event was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

UTRGV competed against other universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University and Baylor University, among others, in the Division 1 and open categories.

Student Media

Newspaper, radio, TV and magazine received an honorable mention for Student Media with its piece titled, “UTRGV Investigates Lecturer’s Alleged Comments” in the Breaking News contest.

The Rider

For the newspaper, photographer Roxanna Miranda received first place for her multimedia slideshow titled, “UTRGV Pride.” Spanish reporter Paulina Longoria placed first for her news story, “¿Qué eres?”

Miranda and former reporter Maleny Ortega were awarded third place in the Feature Reporting- Video category for “UTRGV Study Shows Benefits of Animal Crossings.” 

Former photographer Amanda Vela placed third in the Multimedia Slideshow contest for her work in “UTRGV Week of Welcome 2020.”

Longoria placed third for her “Become Empowered” blog. She also received an honorable mention for her Spanish feature story, “Un momento agradable de música mexicana”.

Vaquero Radio

Vaquero Radio garnered three first-place awards at the competition. 

Former Assistant Station Manager Jerry Galindo won first with “Vaquero Radio on FX Radio App” in the Advertising/PSA/Promo-Video category.

Former Vaquero News Director and reporter Justin Elizalde placed first in the Feature Reporting-Audio category with his piece, “Competing to Inspire: UTRGV Latina Competes on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.”

The radio staff garnered a first-place award for its “Vaquero Radio March 23 Newscast” in the Newcast-Audio contest. 

The staff also received second place for its “Vaquero Radio College Radio Day: Virtual Concert” and “Vaquero Radio on FX App” advertising campaigns.

Former Vaquero Radio Station Manager Samantha Garza garnered second place for her story, “Texas Set to Reopen,” in the General News Audio category.

Elizalde received second place for his audio, titled “A Changing Tide: Unanticipated Loss and RGV Voter Shift,” in the In-Depth News Reporting category.

Luis Rubio, Vaquero Radio sports reporter, received a third-place award for his Live Sports Coverage audio, “UVU vs. UTRGV.”

Rubio also won third place for “UTRGV takes down New Mexico State 74-63,” that was entered in the Sportcast-Audio category.

Radio received four honorable mentions:

–Station Manager Victor G. Ramirez, Advertising/PSA/Promo-Audio contest, “The Chunky Funky Radio Hour”;

–Former reporter Hector Tamez, Feature Reporting-Audio contest, “Students Set Sail to New Horizons”;

–Garza, General News Multimedia Story contest, “Arrests Made on UTRGV Brownsville Campus”; and

–Ramirez, In-Depth News Reporting-Audio contest, “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Light at the End of the Tunnel.”

KVAQ-TV

The television staff received third place for its “UTRGV-TV Oct. 19 Newscast” in the Newscast-Video contest. 

KVAQ-TV reporter Alan Martinez garnered a third-place prize for “La Real Academia Española Retira la Palabra ‘Elle’” that was entered in the Spanish Multimedia News Reporting contest. 

Former television sports reporter Victoria Cantu’s “UTRGV-TV Sportscast Jan. 27” received third place in the Sportscast-Video category.

Honorable mentions earned by KVAQ-TV:

–Staff, Advertising/PSA/Promo-Video, “UTRGV-TV is Back!”;

–Staff, Television Program, “UTRGV-TV;” and

–TV reporter Hector Tamez, Feature Reporting-Video, “UTRGV Freshman Shares His Experience with Cancer Treatment.”

Pulse magazine

The Pulse staff garnered first place in the Overall Excellence-General Magazine contest.

Michel Flores Tavizón, graphic editor, received first place in Static Ad Design for her work titled, “Call for Illustrators.”

In the Story Package Design-Magazine category, the Pulse staff received second place for “In the Mind of Manuel ‘Raid’ Zamudio.”

In Overall Magazine Design, Pulse garnered third place for “Pulse 005.”

Tavizón placed third in the Static Ad Design category for her work, “Pulse Mockup.”

Gallery magazine

Gallery received a first-place award for its magazine, “Gallery 2020,” in the Overall Excellence-Literary Magazine contest.

Yazmin Sanchez Cortez and Sydney Ribera received second place for the “Gallery 2020 Cover” in the Cover Design-Literary Magazine contest.

Maritzabel Salinas placed third in the Illustration contest for her work, “Safe Way Out.”

 For the full list of awards, click here.