Student Award for Diversity

The Robert G. McGruder Student Award for Diversity

This award honors Robert G. McGruder, a 1963 Kent State graduate and leader in the area of diversity in journalism, and recognizes work published or broadcast in print or online in a Student Media outlet, other professional media outlets such as an internship, or as part of a MDJ classroom assignment. The award is not discipline specific.

The number of winners to be recognized will be chosen by members of the School of Media and Journalism Diversity & Globalization committee each year.

This award is open to undergraduates and graduate students working in a Media and Journalism class, internship or student media outlet for work done during the contest period. The entrant must have done the majority of the work on the project to be considered.

Nominations are ongoing. Submissions must meet these criteria:

Any MDJ student, faculty or staff member may nominate
Work must be completed between Sept. 1, 2022, and Aug. 31, 2023
Student(s) must be in good academic standing
Work must be created as part of an MDJ class, MDJ student group, including student media, or MDJ internship that was “published” in some way. For example, it might include:
- Published student media work
- Group work made public or available to audiences outside of MDJ
- Internship work primarily produced by the student that is shared beyond the organization/business
- Work that is part of a competition judged by people outside MDJ

Winners will be chosen based on the following criteria:

Work must illustrate a positive impact on diversity, equity, inclusion, or belonging as it supports the diversity mission of the School of Media and Journalism
Work must demonstrate excellence in advertising, digital media production, journalism, or public relations
Work should be novel in some way, provide a unique perspective, be relevant and timely, or demonstrate takeaways for the reader regarding DEI&B topics
Work with reach or impact beyond the walls of MDJ is especially welcome

Submit a Nomination

Student Award for Diversity Winners

Winners from the last five years, and nominees from the most recent year, are listed on this page.

2022 Winners

First Place Winner: As Gun Violence Rises, Ohio Communities Look for Solutions, written by Jala Forest, published for the Ohio News Connection
Special Recognition: Bang, Bone, Screw, written by Amanda Stayer, photos by Pierce Bartman, published in Fusion Magazine, Spring 2022

2022 Robert G. McGruder Student Award for Diversity Nominees

Define X, directed by Ailene Joven, produced for the 2021 Spring DMP Senior Production II Class
Greek Life: Inclusion Not Included, written by Moira Armstong, illustrated by Hannah Clotz, published in Fusion Magazine, Spring 2022
How resettled students learn English in the Akron Public Schools, written by Megan McSweeney for The Resettlement Project
I AM, directed by Hana Lebrew, cinematography by Ailen Joven, editing by Juliana Butchko for the Female Filmmakers Initiative
Kent State’s women discuss breaking gender bias, written by Katherine Masko, published in KentWired
Morgana Bluffs Nature Preserve connects Cleveland’s youth with the environment, produced by Chris Abreu in partnership with The NewsLab at Kent State University, published in The Land
'My Favorite Thing is Driving": Afghan Women Embrace Independence in Akron, written by Catie Pusateri for The Resettlement Project
Purchase of farm-to-jar food company aims to boost East Cleveland economy, Black entrepreneurship, written by Brie Camp, published in The Land
Starting Over in Akron, written by Kelly Krabill for The Resettlement Project
Transgender Rights in the New Year, written by Jake Herbolich, published in Fusion Magazine, Spring 2022

2021 Robert G. McGruder Student Award for Diversity Winners

First Place Winner - Looking forward to a Queer-friendly future, written by Angela Molina, illustrated by Livia Kirasic, published in A Magazine, Spring 2021, in collaboration with Fusion Magazine
Special Recognition - Akron Civic Duty, Yulani Rodgers, Khalil Thompson, Amber Cocchiola, Olivia Brown, Ashley Johnson, published as part of the joint Emerging Media Technology and Design Innovation class "Reframing Experience"