AppState’s Department of Communication Hosts 2025 NCCMA Conference
The Appalachian, the university’s student-run news organization, and The Peel Literature & Arts Review, the student-run literary magazine, were recently recognized as two of the best college media organizations in North Carolina. The Appalachian was recognized in the “Best of Show - Online News” category and The Peel was recognized in the “Literary Magazine - Best of Show” category of the North Carolina College Media Association (NCCMA) 2024 Statewide College Media Awards. The Appalachian competed in the Large Schools category (more than 8,500 students), competing against other UNC system universities including UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, NC A&T University, and East Carolina University; The Peel competed against every other student-run literary and arts publication in the state, both private and public colleges/universities. NCCMA is an association that supports and encourages college media operations on public and private college campuses. Its annual state-wide College Media Contests include categories for student newspapers, yearbooks and literary magazines.
NCCMA hosts an annual conference at a different college campus in the state providing varied panels and an awards ceremony. This year’s conference was held on Saturday, February 22nd; it was hosted by Appalachian State University and was coordinated by NCCMA (headquartered in the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill) and The Appalachian and The Peel Student Media Adviser & Director Leigh Tauss.
“Finding Stories That Matter,” was the theme of this year’s conference, and attendees were offered a wide range of panels that centered around creating a translation desk, ethical dilemmas, first amendment rights, Hurricane Helene, and more.
The 2025 NCCMA conference was kicked off with an introductory speech given by Moss Brennan ‘21 (Journalism). Brennan is the executive editor of Mountain Times Publications as well as the editor for the Watauga Democrat. His coverage of Hurricane Helene was profiled in the Columbia Journalism Review. Chris Moody, a lecturer in AppState’s Department of Communication, delivered an enrapturing keynote address about the importance of perspective, taking time to be offline, and cultivating sources (“Scoops are your currency,” quipped Moody). Moody encouraged the student journalists in attendance to “allow yourself to see the world through the lens you were given no matter what that was, and you will succeed.”
Numerous Department of Communication faculty members served as speakers or panelist members at the state conference including Austin Bartolomei-Hill, Dr. Andrew Davis, Bob Dillner, Dr. Lynette Holman, Dr. Twange Kasoma, Dr. Elizabeth Melton, Dr. Evan Ringel, and Leigh Tauss. Additionally, The Appalachian’s Business Manager, Ethan Batchelor, presented “Business 101 for Student Media from a Business Manager Perspective” and Translations Editor/Reporter Omar Alvarez Valencia presented “How to Start Your Own Translation Desk”, highlighting their respective roles as student members of the news organization.
The Appalachian is led by Editor-in-Chief Jenna Guzman, a senior double-majoring in Journalism and Public Relations. “It feels absolutely incredible to have The Appalachian recognized at this level. The staff at The Appalachian works hard to produce quality, ethical, engaging and informative content and reporting, so seeing the hard work from those within the paper pay off is very rewarding!” said Guzman. Guzman believes that student-run newspapers play a huge role in giving a voice to people in the college community (student, faculty, staff) as well as the greater community. She knows that the media has the power to shine light on issues that others are facing which can lead to positive changes and/or resolution(s). Guzman understands the significance of amplifying voices and highlighting individuals, allowing The Appalachian’s readers to see themselves represented in the media and in the community through the paper’s coverage. The Editor-in-Chief credits her dedicated and hardworking staff for their “Best of Show - Online News” recognition, mentioning writers, visual artists, multimedia creators, ads, and editors as important parts of the overall success. When asked what sets The Appalachian’s online news apart from other student-run news in the state, Guzman shared this: “I think The Appalachian's online presence has special qualities that set us apart from other college outlets, such as our top stories carousel that allows people to see content without having to press a button, and even more unique, our Spanish translations. As of last semester, The Appalachian has a translation desk that translates our content in Spanish. Content translated in Spanish can be accessed under the Spanish translations tab on our website, and recently has been posted on Instagram as well. Given Boone's large Hispanic population, we wanted to ensure that we are serving everyone and that anyone has access to vital information regardless if they speak English or Spanish. Our Spanish translations sets us apart, as (to my knowledge) not many college newspapers in our state offers this.”
AppState Students Receive Individual Awards for Their Work
In addition to the “Best of Show” awards, many students who contribute work to The Appalachian and The Peel received individual awards for content they created.
LARGE CAMPUSES (more than 8,500)
Cartoon - 1st Place: Yakira Gurganus, “Ghouls Night Out”
Feature Writing - 1st Place: Omar Alvarez Valencia, “The unseen cost of Hurricane Helene on Boone’s Hispanic families”
Illustration/Graphic - Honorable Mention: Rian Hughes, “Field Hockey Graphic”
News Writing - 3rd Place: Colin Wishneski, “Watauga County farmers face new realities after Helene”
Single- or Two-Page Design - Honorable Mention: Rian Hughes, “Boone Bands”
Sports Writing: Trey Blake, “Faith and football: In the mind of Michael Hughes”
LITERARY MAGAZINE
Photography/Art - 2nd Place: : Leonardo Rodriguez, “T.V. With Abuelo”
The Appalachian’s Comics Artist Yakira Gurganus, a senior Interdisciplinary Studies major, received First Place in the “Cartoon” category for “Ghouls Night Out”. “Ghouls Night Out” was the October edition of the long-running “Boonie the Bat” series. Inspired by Halloween, the artist’s favorite holiday, Gurganus set out to experiment with portraying lighting effects in her coloring. Gurganus grew up creating art traditionally and discovered digital art in middle school; she loves the ease of setup/breakdown that digital art provides, but says, “there's nothing as satisfying as feeling your pencil scratch against paper or paint glide across canvas.” “Ghouls Night Out” and the “Boonie the Bat” cartoon series are digital illustrations. When asked what this award means to her, Gurganus shared: “Receiving this kind of recognition for my work is exciting! I have been an artist for what feels like my entire life, and throughout my childhood, I won multiple awards relating to my artistic performance. As I grew older, I suffered from burnout, and it negatively affected my artistic confidence. It has been an ongoing battle trying to come back from it. With struggling to have confidence in my work, I often experience imposter syndrome when I do receive recognition of this magnitude. Slowly, though, with more achievements under my belt and strengthening of my artistic abilities via opportunities at App State, I have learned to be a bit more accepting of my successes, including this one.”
The Appalachian’s Translations Editor and Reporter Omar Alvarez Valencia, a senior Actuarial Science major, received First Place in the “Feature Writing” category for his story “The unseen cost of Hurricane Helene on Boone’s Hispanic families”. Winning First Place is an outstanding achievement in itself, but is even more significant in that it was Alvarez Valencia’s first feature story for The Appalachian as a writer. The award-winning story is a heartbreaking account of the devastation and resiliency of families in Bradford Park, whose mobile homes were destroyed during the storm. Writer Alvarez Valencia, who serves as The Appalachian's translation editor, conducted the interviews for this story in Spanish and translated the entire story so that it could be accessible to readers of both languages. In his reporting, Omar unearthed how a lack of support from FEMA, which does not offer help to non-U.S. citizens, and a language barrier left this community with less support in the aftermath of the storm. As students returned to campus, businesses reopened and most of life in Boone returned to normal, this community was left behind. Being from an immigrant family himself, when Alvarez Valencia was made aware of the obstacles the residents of Bradford Park were facing, he felt called to tell their stories. Alvarez Valencia discovered how challenging it can be to report a story when the subjects of an interview are experiencing tragedy and just how important listening - not asking questions - can be for telling someone else’s story. “Talking to people at some of the lowest points in their life, at times I felt invasive. However, I wasn't just asking questions but actively listening. After long conversations with the residents, it became clear to me these people wanted their stories told” said Alvarez Valencia. The biggest thing Alvarez Valencia learned from writing this award-winning piece that he’ll take into his future reporting is that he is able to give a voice to those who have been neglected and underrepresented. Student Media Advisor & Director Leigh Tauss had this to say about the award-winning feature: “The best student journalism goes after difficult stories no one else is willing to take on. I am certain that had Omar not taken the initiative to report on this community, the stories of these residents would continue to be overlooked.”
“Receiving this award has been incredibly validating. I think it's awesome this story won because it means more light is being shed on this community. I think this article really stood out because of my ability to get interviews with the residents in their native language. I feel like being able to speak with them in Spanish made them feel more comfortable opening up about some of the most tragic events in their life. This gave me better quotes that allowed me to create a more compelling and well-rounded story.” -Omar Alvarez Valencia, a senior Actuarial Science and The Appalachian’s Translation Editor & Reporter, who is planning to pursue a career in Journalism
All awards were announced and presented at the NCCMA conference on Saturday, February 22nd in the Plemmons Student Union at Appalachian State University. The 2026 NCCMA Conference will be held at Elon University.
Student members of The Appalachian were in attendance to receive their awards.
Chris Moody delivers his keynote address at the 2025 NCCMA conference.
Joseph Bathanti reads aloud during his session “How Stories Can Save Us”. Bathanti is the former North Carolina Poet Laureate (2012-14).
Interested in a career in journalism? Hear what our students have to say!
“I created Boonie the Bat as my first published comic to get a taste of what my future career in animation or anything similar may be like. Working with The Appalachian gave me a sense of structure that really helped me learn how to produce quality comics on a deadline. They gave me the freedom to create nearly anything I wanted, within reason, of course, that the public would be able to see monthly. And this isn't the public like posting online to an account with less than 1k followers. This is a physical publication, printed in mass and spread across the city where thousands of people from all walks of life run into, whether they be students, locals, or tourists. I believe that's why my work was able to win this award. There are virtually no constraints on artistic liberty, I was able to express myself exactly how I wanted to, and the positive pressure of having the chance for so many people to see it really drives me to produce to the best of my abilities. I am so grateful for the artistic growth I've witnessed in myself due to working for The Appalachian, and I encourage anyone who is interested in comics to join.” -Yakira Gurganus, a senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies who plans to pursue a career in Tattoo and Animation
“My biggest advice for anyone interested in journalism is to just do it. Journalism is an important industry, as it amplifies the voices of those within our communities and provides valuable information to people. Journalists serve the community, and if you are even the slightest bit interested in making a difference, whether big or small, journalism is a great place to start. Interviewing strangers or talking to officials can seem intimidating at first, but at the end of the day you not only learn more, but you can gain lasting relationships, learn more about something you didn't know prior and it can lead to something great. If you want to gain experience in journalism, or other fields such as art, marketing or business, consider joining The Appalachian. You don't need any experience to join, as we will teach you skills and help you grow. We meet once a week on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in room 137C of Plemmons Student Union. We hope to see you there!” -Jenna Guzman, a senior double-majoring in Journalism and Public Relations and the editor-in-chief of The Appalachian, who is planning to pursue a career in Journalism
By: Elisabeth Borowicz
###
About The Appalachian
The Appalachian has been Appalachian State University’s independent student-run news publication since 1934. We publish a print publication monthly, and send out twice weekly email newsletters during the regular academic year. We are the recipient of the ACP Pacemaker Award, the CMA Pinnacle Award and the NC College Media Association Best of Show award. Learn more at https://theappalachianonline.com/
About The Peel Literature & Arts Review
The Peel Review is Appalachian State University’s student-run literature and arts publication. The Peel Review works to cultivate creative expression in the student body and local community by providing an outlet for creatives to express themselves. To view previously published work, visit thepeelreview.com.
About the Department of Communication
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Communication at Appalachian State University focuses on preparing students to succeed in the varied fields within the communication industry. The department offers five majors – Advertising, Communication Studies, Electronic Media/Broadcasting, Digital Journalism, and Public Relations – and a minor in Communication Studies. Graduates work in a wide range of positions in media, corporate, agency, government, and nonprofit organizations.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,570 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Members of The Appalachian Accept Their Awards
Members of The Appalachian Accept Their Awards