The Tystenac wins five awards at annual convention

Tiffin University’s student newspaper, The Tystenac, won five awards at the Associated Collegiate Press' annual convention in Minneapolis.

After competing with 200 delegates at the organization's Best of the Midwest College Journalism Convention Feb. 17-19, the campus newspaper won three awards in the categories of best four-year university non-weekly publication; best single page design; best editorial, and two awards for best feature story.

“When Dr. Vallo suggested we rebrand the school newspaper to its original name in the fall of 2015, I had no idea that we’d end up with five regional awards less than two years later,” said editor Nick Buchanan, a senior majoring in journalism. “Under my supervision, the university’s student press has taken on a new life. I’m so proud of what it has become.”

In 1973 The Tystenac was awarded a superior rating in appearance and photography in a contest that, according to an issue from that time, was sponsored by the Associated [Collegiate] Press at the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism. The newspaper's name derived from the former business school's focus on typing, stenography and accounting.

“I was reading through the back issues of The Tystenac and saw that the newspaper had received recognition in this contest decades ago when the college was a small business school,” said Tystenac adviser, Dr. Colleen Vallo. “And I thought, ‘Why not now?’ I was especially delighted to discover that the same contest is held today."

Assistant editor Jessica Hollan, a sophomore majoring in forensic psychology, joined the newspaper's staff last year as a freshman. "Now, I can’t believe I am the assistant editor of an award-winning publication. It’s honestly surreal. I could not be more proud of myself, my editor, or my staff,” she said.
In the Best of Show categories, The Tystenac placed 3rd for the best four-year university non-weekly issue; Hollan placed 6th for her editorial, "Females in Trump's America." She placed 7th for her feature article, “Student-made musical Prodigal Hearts to be presented.” Buchanan placed 10th for his feature article, “Feminist poetry duo entertain, call for activism.” The newspaper placed 10th for the best single page design.