By Ashley Zsedenyi, staff writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Campbellsville University was presented with an award for her sponsorship of 11 Kentucky high schools in the Kentucky High School Journalism Association at the Kentucky Press Association’s annual conference in Louisville, Ky., recently.
Stan McKinney, assistant professor of journalism and advisor of The Campus Times, CU’s newspaper, accepted the award on behalf of the university. McKinney also is serving his second year on the Kentucky Press Association (KPA) board.
He said he was very honored to receive the award.
“We are the only university to even sponsor a high school. We sponsored more high schools than any other business, newspaper, etc. last year,” McKinney said.
“I see sponsorship as a way for us to connect with area high schools,” McKinney said. “As a direct result of the sponsorship, I was asked to speak to journalism students at Adair County High School. I hope during our media luncheon in spring some of these high school students can attend. It’s a great way for us to reach prospective students.”
“Membership in KPA provides students with exposure to professionals in journalism, public relations and other fields,” McKinney said.
The KPA conference offers a wide variety of seminars covering photography, design, software, advertising, social media and trends affecting the newspaper industry in general.
McKinney encourages students in the mass communication department to attend the conference every year, because “the professionals who attend KPA are those who some day might hire our students. Attending the conventions is a good way to make contacts.”
“KPA is a great way to keep up with what’s happening in the profession and for students to make important contacts,” McKinney said.
One Campbellsville University student, Lauren Shrader, a junior majoring in mass communication with a minor in business administration from West Chester, Ohio, said she made several connections with media professionals at the convention.
“I didn’t expect to make the connections I did at the Kentucky Press Association Convention. It was extremely beneficial for me to be able to meet people that would allow me to apply for internships this summer and maybe even jobs in the future,” Shrader said.
Rachel Crenshaw, a junior from Shepherdsville, Ky., majoring in public relations with a minor in music, said attending the convention was an “honor.”
“I was very excited about the opportunity to go to the KPA convention and join in the various seminars along with professional journalists and editors from Kentucky,” Crenshaw said.
“I particularly enjoyed the seminar taught by Kurt Greenbaum, from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, about social media. I found the seminar to be very enlightening and hope to use the information I gathered to enhance my performance as a journalist,” she said.
Campbellsville University students met Gov. Steve Beshear Friday during the winter convention of the Kentucky Press Association. Beshear spoke at the group’s luncheon at the Galt House.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.