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Welcome to Student Publications!

92
Years of The All State
3.4
Cumulative Staff GPA
7
National & Regional Awards Since 2020
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Student Publications

Lilly Russell - Best of the South 2022

About Us

Student Publications collaborates with departments in Student Affairs and others on campus to develop and produce digital and print communications. The department also promotes a learning environment for students involved with The All State student newspaper. 

Student Publications is home to APSU's award-winning student newspaper and online news source, The All State. The All State staff includes students of various majors and backgrounds. The All State offers a wealth of opportunities to learn, gain valuable experience in many different fields, meet other APSU students and learn by doing what students enjoy. Whether it's news writing, photography, desgin, advertising, social media, multimedia, video, blogging, copyediting, or leadership, The All State has an opportunity for students who wish to gain experience and contribute to the campus community.

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2022-23 Awards

APSU student newspaper earns regional award

The All State student newspaper at Austin Peay State University earned a regional award in the Southeast Journalism Conference’s Best of the South Awards.

Student Lily Russell garnered recognition for The All State. The SEJC Best of the South Awards competition had entries from more than 20 colleges and universities across the Southeast. The conference and awards ceremony was hosted Feb. 9-11 at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Russell placed second in Best Arts and Entertainment writer for her article, “Dear Ticketmaster, I knew you were trouble. Sincerely, Taylor Swift.” This was a challenging category with entries from top journalism programs.

“My experience at SEJC was great,” Russell said. “For one of my articles to rank second among other college student journalists was a huge accomplishment for me. It really secured the feeling that hard work does pay off. I am so glad as a senior I was able to represent Austin Peay and The All State this year.”

Russell began as a writer for The All State in the spring of 2022. She is currently editor-in-chief of The All State and will graduate in December as a communication media major with a concentration in journalism and a minor in marketing. Her future plans are to write for a magazine such as National Geographic.

Austin Peay State University was well represented earning second among the schools that ranked in the Arts and Entertainment category including Belmont University, Harding University, University of Memphis, Samford University, Troy University, University of Mississippi and University of West Florida. The University of Mississippi had two entries in this category.

2021-22 Awards

The All State earned two 2021 competitive Southeast Journalism Conference Awards

The All State student newspaper at Austin Peay State University earned two regional awards in the Southeast Journalism Conference’s Best of the South Awards in March 2022.

Students Jonathan Nelson and Blaine Kellar garnered recognition for The All State. The SEJC Best of the South Awards competition had 348 entries from nearly 30 colleges and universities across the Southeast. The awards ceremony was hosted live virtually from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nelson, a veteran who served in the Army for over 21 years, placed 6th for Best Opinion/Editorial writer for his piece, “A veteran’s perspective on Afghanistan”. This was a challenging category with 25 entries. “It was an honor to be recognized for expressing my opinion on such a controversial topic. There are many college students who are veterans and I felt it was a subject that needed to be addressed for all of us who had been there," Nelson said.

Nelson began as a writer for The All State in news and opinion and served most recently as senior staff writer and assistant managing editor. He graduated in May 2022 as an English major with a minor in creative writing and plans to pursue a career as a writer. 

Blaine Kellar placed 2nd for Best Sports Writer. He stated, "I am so grateful to place second in this year’s Best of the South awards. To move from seventh place to second place in a year is a great honor, and I can't thank the staff at The All State enough for putting me in a position to succeed.” 

The All State’s second-place award came in a competitive category with 30 entries. Each entry included any combination of three sports game stories, sports news stories and sports features. The three articles submitted for Kellar were “This is college football: Austin Peay grad students to relive historical first win”; “APSU coaches eager for ASUN competition”; and “First-year basketball coaches trying to define success at Austin Peay”.  

A May 2022 graduate, Kellar was a communication media major with a concentration in sports communication. He joined The All State staff two years ago as sports editor and most recently served as interim managing editor. Kellar is currently a professional sports reporter with The Robertson County Connection in Robertson County, Tennessee.


Past Awards

2022 Southeast Journalism Conference

2nd Place

Best Arts and Entertainment Writer
Lily Russell garnered recognition for her article, “Dear Ticketmaster, I knew you were trouble. Sincerely, Taylor Swift.”

2021 Southeast Journalism Conference

8th Place

Best Sports Writer 
Judged on the submission of up to three sports articles in any combination of game stories, sports news stories, sports features and columns that have appeared on a sports page.

Blaine Keller

Submissions were:

    • “Bat Govs continue recruiting pipeline in Clarksville”
    • “Nolan Monaghan and the Last Frontier”
    • “Perseverance key for Govs newest football transfer”


5th Place

Best Opinion-Editorial Writer
Judged on the submission of up to three op ed/perspectives articles.

Maisie Williams

Submissions were:

    • “Govs still wear masks – Montgomery County should too”
    • “Virtual events only bring us further apart”
    • “APSU students should volunteer at the polls”


4th Place

Best Arts and Entertainment Writer 
Judged on the submission of up to three stories covering arts and entertainment topics, including reviews and arts columns.

 Juno von Palko

Submissions included:

    • Review of the Netflix biopic “When They See Us”; “Catastrophe”
    • Review of a film adaptation of the poem collection-turned-musical “Cats”
    • Review of “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”

 
3rd Place

Best News Graphic Designer
Judged on the submission of up to three designs.

Shania Green

Submissions included Black History Month events and a Perspectives piece on the impact of virtual events. 


2nd Place

Best College Newspaper Website (3rd the previous year)

Staff of The All State – Jordan Potenza

 


National Pacemaker Award

In October 2020, Maisie Williams also earned national recognition for The All State with an individual honorable mention national Pacemaker award in the Newspaper Front Page competition from the Associated Collegiate Press. The ACP Pacemaker awards are the preeminent national collegiate journalism awards. Her submitted work, “Govs make history with first home football playoff game win,” featured a full, front-page image depicting the emotion of the historic win.    

During the 2019-2020 academic year, The All State earned two national awards at the National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C., and three regional awards at the Southeast Journalism Conference with their special edition of the tornado that hit Clarksville and campus earning first place for Best Special Event in the Best of the South competition.

 

National College Media Convention

Washington, D.C., Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 2019

Dr. Tracy Nichols, Professor of Communication, accompanied three student staff: Ashley Thompson, Courtney McCormick, and Maisie Williams to the conference. Over 250 sessions were offered in a wide variety of topics from professional journalists, media educators, advisers, and students.

The newspaper and student staff earned the following awards:

  • ACP Individual Awards Honorable Mention: Joseph Palmer, senior (graduated),
    Newspaper Front Page, Design of the Year
  • CMA Pinnacle Awards, Best of Collegiate Design Honorable Mention: Trey Chrystak and Courtney McCormick, Best Photo Illustration

These awards are significant since they are national awards competing with top programs and many submissions from across the country.

 

 

2020 Southeast Journalism Conference

  • 10th Place Best Arts and Entertainment Writer. Juno von Palko. Judged on the submission of up to three stories covering arts and entertainment topics, including reviews and arts columns.
    • Bundy Tapes reveals killer’s mind (Jan. 28, 2019)
    • ‘Joker’ shines, stepping out of Heath Ledger’s shadow (Oct. 30, 2019)
    • Focusing on artistry and #MeToo Movement (Jan. 23, 2019)
  •  9th Place Best Sports Writer. Noah Houck. Judged on the submission of up to three sports articles in any combination of game stories, sports news stories, sports features and columns that have appeared on a sports page.
  • 3rd Place, Best College Newspaper Website, The All State staff.
  • 1st Place Best Special Event Reporter/Editor. The All State staff, Judged on the submission of up to three news or features stories covering a single issue or event unique to a specific campus.
    • Special section, Jan. 29, 2019 - Rebuild, reflect: 20-year anniversary of the downtown Clarksville & APSU tornado

About Our Students

  • College Media Mega Workshop
  • Fall Staff Training Week
  • Associated Press Managing Editors NewsTrain
  • Fall National College Media Convention
  • Spring Staff Training Week
  • Southeast Journalism Conference
  • Spring National College Media Convention
  • Tennessee Associated Press Broadcasters and Media Editor College Awards
  • Associated Collegiate Press
  • Southeast Journalism Conference
  • College Media Association
  • Associated Press
  • Tennessee Associated Collegiate Press
  • Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors (TAPME)
  • Panhellenic Recruitment
  • InterFraternal Council Recruitment
  • Greek Life
  • Honors Program
  • Resident Assistants
  • Service-Learning
  • Various on-campus student employee positions
  • Preview Days
  • Student Organization Involvement Fair
  • G.H.O.S.T.
  • Family Weekend
  • Homecoming
  • Student organizations